What kind of Power steering fluid?

[apm]

I need to fill up the power steering fluid because I changed the hose and lost some in the process.

What is a good PS fluid out there for an E30 M3?

[nando]

ATF dexron/mercon. I usually get royal purple because it's synthetic, available locally and not all that expensive.

[DCColegrove]

Nando is correct ...

I would add that the fluid should be changed very often the system holds less than a quart and the fluid breaks down rapidly.

I change mine and all my regular service customers at every oil change.

Doing this... I have never had to reseal or replace a rack.

[apm]

so just ATF Dexron? No numbers or weight or anything like that? So I need to get a synthetic Power steering fluid?

[SpecM]

I think it's Dextron III ^

[DCColegrove]

As long as it is DEXRON (no T) you will be fine.

[M3 Ryan]

And it doesn't have to be synthetic, but it is nice to have. I suck all the fluid out of the resivour and replace it every oil service (after doing a major flush on the particulat car already). It is cheap and can save you leaks.
Also, if you have a leaky rack/hoses, try some Valvoline MaxLife ATF With StopLeak in there, I have seen racks go from leaking 1qt every day to no leaks at all after one qt of the MaxLife, it really works!

[Kingb]

I learned the hard way and put PS fluid while my rack was leaking and it ate up my pump and I still had to replace the rack. Leason learned

[apm]

so I bought some PS fluid leak stop yesterday. Do I need to tap it off with half Dexron and half PS fluid leak?

Right now I'm using all PS fluid stop leak and no Dexron at all, and I noticed some weird sound when turning the wheel.

I think something is not quite right here. It still works but I don't like the sound of it. Will it take a while for it to settle down?

[JAM]

dont use that shit, are you high? if something is broken replace the part.

you should only be putting atf in you powersteering fluid res

[apm]

Yeah I already have Dexron ATF but I'm jus trying what he suggested.

See below..

And it doesn't have to be synthetic, but it is nice to have. I suck all the fluid out of the resivour and replace it every oil service (after doing a major flush on the particulat car already). It is cheap and can save you leaks.
Also, if you have a leaky rack/hoses, try some Valvoline MaxLife ATF With StopLeak in there, I have seen racks go from leaking 1qt every day to no leaks at all after one qt of the MaxLife, it really works!

[StereoInstaller1]

WTF, I just looked at mine yesterday. It looked pretty nasty, and is fresh from last spring.

Does it really get that hard of use? I am gonna listen to the techs here and consider it part of an oil change.

What should I use to suck it dry? I don't have a suction device, would gravity draining be OK? Where should I drain from?

Thanks, guys.

Luke

[JAM]

iirc there is a hose clamp that connects the reservoir to the pump, i think that would be your best way of draining it.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Or, get a nifty vac suction pump from HF.

[nando]

WTF, I just looked at mine yesterday. It looked pretty nasty, and is fresh from last spring.

Does it really get that hard of use? I am gonna listen to the techs here and consider it part of an oil change.

What should I use to suck it dry? I don't have a suction device, would gravity draining be OK? Where should I drain from?

Thanks, guys.

Luke

turkey baster, 99 cents at walmart :p