The owners manual for my 84 300SD recommends ATF, and that's what I use.

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1984 300SD TURBO DIESEL

I can tell you from experience..........DO NOT USE Dexron. The fluid causes the seals to distort and you'll have leakage all over the place. The owner's manual recommendation for transmission fluid must be referring to a fluid other than Dexron.

Either use straight power steering fluid or get the fluid from the dealer.

ATF may have been approved way back then, but current ATF's may be different chemically, than they used to be. There are also different types of
ATF.

Again, this is more quibbling about a very, very small dollar difference in price spread over a very long number of months.

Why risk damaging your power steering pump just to challenge the factory approved fluids list?

I just don't understand the logic.

Steve

Use ATF if you want but I know two people off the top of my head on this forum that had there PS pumps start to leak like crazy when they put ATF in.

Talk to Bill M and Brian about how great it is.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I used Dexron ATF in the bimmer a long time ago when I swapped out my p/s hoses. Now I have a leak somewhere that I can't find because I have to add fluid every six months or so. I've got three quarts of Valvoline p/s fluid and a new filter ready to go in as soon as I can snag a helper to turn the wheel for me.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

I am so glad I saw this thread. I had planned to do my power steering fluid and filter yesterday, but time got away from me.

I bought the filter from DieselGiant.com. The "How To" section there lists any "Dexron ATF" as being fine. That was what I was going to use. I mean, shoot, I look to that web site as a source of expert information from a tech that knows his stuff and has years of experience.

If I have digested this information correctly, I am at best taking a big risk using the Dexron III ATF in my '81 300 SD; however, I should be fine using anything labeled as Power Steering fluid off the shelf of my local Auto Zone?

Am I understanding this correctly?

I don't doubt it that leaks may have developed after adding Dexron ATF in those two cases, but was it coincidence, were the seals ready to go anyway or was it caused by the Dexron? Not sure that anyone really knows. I bet there are lots of guys still using Dexron ATF with no leaks. Is it wise to use power steering fluid? Maybe.

Been using ATF in mine since day 1 with no issues though.

Len
'83 240D 345,000 miles original owner

Correct any power steering fluid will do.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200