10 best power steering fluids

The incompatibility of some fluids for power steering leads to the fact that, if necessary, simply replenish the system, you have to completely drain the filling and refill. This affects the cost of the process. Before us is a product that is most compatible with all brands of the PSF and Dextron class. Even if the power steering system previously used fluid from automatic transmissions or shock absorbers, topping up the brand will not only not damage the system, but will also improve its performance.

But there are limitations here too. The manufacturer himself and independent testers urge not to mix Comma PSF MVCHF with ATF class fluids.It is not clear what they are guided by when creating such a recommendation, since the brand mixes perfectly with Dextron, but we will leave it to the judgment of professionals. As for recommendations from concerns, there are quite a lot of them. The list includes almost all European brands, as well as several American companies. But there are no Asian brands on the list, although there is not a single ban on pouring this brand into a Japanese or Korean car.

Before us is a fluid for power steering, which can be safely poured into the system of a racing car. At least she has such technical characteristics. The temperature range here is from minus 40 to plus one hundred degrees, and the jumps can be the highest, and the liquid will not react to them in any way: a foam film will not appear on the surface, the viscosity index and other aspects will not change. Of course, the parameter is necessary, but in practice the car never encounters such extreme modes, it turns out that the characteristics are redundant, or, as the manufacturer himself says, “with a margin”.

An interesting fact is that despite the fluid belonging to the PSF class, it mixes easily with ATF lubricants, and this does not affect the quality of work. The parameter is very convenient, since there is no need to completely change the fluid in the system, if you just need to add it. As for recommendations, this product is on the list of many auto manufacturers of American and European origin. But Asian concerns are not on the list.

A distinctive feature of this product is the complete absence of zinc in the composition. It has long been known that in the long term, zinc has a detrimental effect on the operation of mechanisms, and in this case the manufacturer managed to completely eliminate it by raising the price tag. Power steering fluid from LIQUI MOLY is recommended by a number of manufacturers, including American and European brands. But there is not a single car from Korea or Japan on this list, that is, the lubricant is only suitable for cars from Western manufacturers, which is often written about on specialized sites and forums.

To be fair, independent testers tried pouring LIQUI MOLY into a Japanese car, and it happily accepted the liquid. How this will affect in the future is difficult to say, but it is better not to question the recommendations of manufacturers. In addition, the liquid is quite expensive, and for Japanese cars there are analogues much cheaper and in no way inferior in quality.

Despite its European origin, this power steering fluid is recommended mainly by Asian brands. It is the main brand for Japanese, Korean and Chinese cars, and in Europe it is advised by only a few French companies. The reason for this separation is not known, but according to independent tests, it works perfectly both in the latest generation engines and in used cars with power steering.

An important advantage of this brand is the widest temperature range.The liquid does not lose its working qualities even at minus 40 degrees, but when heated, a thin foamy film forms on its surface, which professionals note as a drawback, although the nuance does not affect the quality, at least in the short term. Another advantage is the price of the product. On average, this is 500 rubles per liter of liquid, which, in comparison with other brands, is a very impressive indicator. Other things being equal, this is the best price, and the brand itself has long established itself in the market and is in demand among many car enthusiasts around the world.

This fluid belongs to the PSF class, although there are topics in many professional forums in which they try to fill it in automatic transmissions, and it works great there. That is, it is a compatible lubricant that is universal, and it came to the first place in the ranking for a number of reasons. As independent tests show, the liquid eliminates extraneous noise as much as possible and prevents new ones from appearing. The pump works great and increases its service life. In addition, Motul does not foam when the temperature rises and has the most extensive range.

Multi HF is recommended by many latest generation car manufacturers and is designed specifically for use in modern engines. And the disadvantages include a rather high cost. Yes, the brand is well-known and popular all over the world, but it costs much more than analogues, which are practically not inferior in quality. However, if you are used to exclusively high quality, then this is by far the best choice.

On thematic forums and websites, Formula Shell Multi-Vehicle ATF receives a lot of positive feedback. It is praised for its acceptable viscosity index, versatility of application, wide temperature range and the best price on the market. As independent tests have shown, it is true, only the list of recommendations from the brand is very small. Liquid can be poured into a car of about 10 brands, including European, Asian and Russian brands.

Fluid compatibility is relevant for cars with the recommendation of filling Dextron 3, which significantly increases the list of applications, but the concerns themselves do not particularly favor this brand. What is the reason is unknown, since the main indicators are at a quite acceptable level. Temperature spread from -30 to +100. Flash point 170 degrees. Excellent fluidity and best price. It turns out that the main aspect that does not allow raising Formula Shell Multi-Vehicle ATF higher in the ranking is the list of recommendations from automakers.

Power steering fluid brand Motul Multi ATF has the most extensive list of recommendations. It includes well-known European and American concerns, as well as relatively new Japanese and Chinese manufacturers. Reviews and reviews from independent testers also confirm the best qualities of this product. In particular, there is a wide temperature range here, from minus 40 to plus 100 degrees. According to the manufacturer, the liquid works fine in this range, but according to the test results, it turned out that when heated to 100 degrees, the viscosity index still changes.

But when cooling, the characteristics remain the same, and this is a more significant advantage. Because of this feature, this product is more recommended to be poured into gearbox systems, although the manufacturer insists that this is power steering fluid. It was also noted that the product does not remove pump noise at all. Already a definite minus. In addition, the liquid has a relatively high price, and here it is indicated for one liter.

Most power steering fluids undergo performance tests on brand new engines, so in the manufacturer's recommendation you can see the inscription that it uses exclusively in the latest generation machines. Of course, nothing prevents us from pouring it into an old car, but there are brands designed specifically for them.

Thanks to a balanced set of additives, Zik feels great in both gearboxes and hydraulic systems.There are no restrictions on the novelty of the engine. Moreover, as noted in independent tests, the use of fluid significantly reduces the noise of the pump and even increases its service life. Pleased with the price of the product, one of the lowest on the market. About 350 rubles per liter of liquid, although it will be problematic to find just such a container, since Zik lubricants in retail chains are often represented by 4 liter canisters.

The kinetic viscosity index is one of the most important indicators of a power steering fluid. In most cases, it fluctuates in the range of up to a thousand units, but in this brand the parameter has risen to 1100, and this is the best indicator among competitors. In fact, it gives the highest efficiency. The fluid is used in both hydraulic systems and gearboxes. Viscosity allows lubrication of even loaded gears, which makes the brand universal.

There is a certain minus in this, since mixing liquid with other brands should be done very carefully. A mismatch in viscosity index will not result in immediate consequences, but may affect the life of the assembly. At least that's what many experts and testers say. It should also be noted a unique set of additives that reduce the appearance of corrosion, reduce noise and wear, and also prevent the appearance of a foam layer on the surface. And all at the most attractive, one might say the best price on the market.

The products of the American company Mobil are often called the best, which is not surprising, given the extensive list of automakers that recommend the products of this brand for use in their cars. You can pour Mobile into both an American tractor and a Korean small car, and power steering fluids are no exception.

Here all the characteristics are at their best: the temperature range is from minus 30 to plus 150 degrees. At the same time, the ignition point was located at around 197 degrees, making the liquid as safe as possible. At the height and distraction characteristics. ATF 320 Premium significantly increases the service life of the unit and rarely requires replacement, and this almost completely eliminates the already not very high cost. But for work in a harsh climate, the liquid is not intended. When the temperature drops below 30 degrees, a significant decrease in the viscosity index occurs, which negatively affects the operation of the power steering mechanism. Fortunately, such natural phenomena are found only in the far north, and it is better to look for another option there.