Power steering fluid

damon5

My car has the NCT this weekend and the power steering level is around the minimum mark,its a 99 petrol manual astra and the car manual gives a specific type.Would any power steering fluid be ok seeing as though its only a small top up amount,cheers....

dooroy

I would make sure to get the correct one - even if you have to go to a dealer.
Using the wrong one could lead to problems with seals etc so not worth the risk.

damon5

dooroy wrote: »

I would make sure to get the correct one - even if you have to go to a dealer.
Using the wrong one could lead to problems with seals etc so not worth the risk.

cheers will do,safer than sorry............

smuggler.ie

Had same issue some years ago.
The thing is that Opel dealers charge some like €50 per liter and that is smallest jar they had.

Was lucky to get a "shot" of fluid from mechanic in official Opel garage free of charge.

martyc5674

damon5 wrote: »

My car has the NCT this weekend and the power steering level is around the minimum mark,its a 99 petrol manual astra and the car manual gives a specific type.Would any power steering fluid be ok seeing as though its only a small top up amount,cheers....

Honestly I’d leave it alone for now ... it’s not going to cause it to fail. If however after it’s tested/retested you want peace of mind top it up then... but in reality it’s probably taken 17 years to get to where it is. I wouldn’t be paying 50 quid anyway for a topup!
Figure out the spec down the road and I guarantee you’ll find a cheap alternative.
Marty.

damon5

Thanks for replies lads,wont be paying 50 euro for sure either way

smuggler.ie

damon5 wrote: »

Thanks for replies lads,wont be paying 50 euro for sure either way

There is another,redneck, option - get clean syringe and visit your nearest car breakers yard . I would say them guys wouldn't mind.

damon5

LOL,LOL,LOL

martyc5674

smuggler.ie wrote: »

There is another,redneck, option - get clean syringe and visit your nearest car breakers yard . I would say them guys wouldn't mind.

Exactly what I was thinking....!

damon5

martyc5674 wrote: »

Exactly what I was thinking....!

Thing is that you dont know what type of fluid you are getting even taking it from an astra around the same year,could be any PS fluid that was close to hand that was used for topping up and not the recommended one for your car that has been used....

smuggler.ie

damon5 wrote: »

Thing is that you dont know what type of fluid you are getting even taking it from an astra around the same year,could be any PS fluid that was close to hand that was used for topping up and not the recommended one for your car that has been used....

yep...

smuggler.ie wrote: »

.......redneck, option ......

dooroy

Does your car have an electric power steering pump or a pump driven by belt ?
It seems that the electric pumps in particular are very sensitive regarding the proper fluid being used.
Have you checked for any signs of leakage at the boots on the rack or the pump itself ?

smuggler.ie

dooroy wrote: »

Does your car have an electric power steering pump or a pump driven by belt ?
It seems that the electric pumps in particular are very sensitive regarding the proper fluid being used.
Have you checked for any signs of leakage at the boots on the rack or the pump itself ?

I think volume between MAX and MIN marks got " wiped " by NCT guys and OP personal pre-NCT checks over years


edit: Of course stay safe and check for leaks

damon5

dooroy wrote: »

Does your car have an electric power steering pump or a pump driven by belt ?
It seems that the electric pumps in particular are very sensitive regarding the proper fluid being used.
Have you checked for any signs of leakage at the boots on the rack or the pump itself ?

Thanks for reply not sure what type of pump that it has,will google that now,never seen any signs of any leakage.
PS .....Just googled it and its an electric pump used for the period 98 to 2004.......