steering pump issues

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

hy guys, i recenlty replaced the steering pump in my 2.5 99, the old one made some loud noise and the steering was losing the assistance suddenly, starsted turning soft, and then went hard, to soft again...
so replaced the pump, brand new, the pulley also is new.
the thing works fine, no assistance failures, but makes a loud noise, like if its failing, i used the common power steering fluid, then today looking at my owners manual, i saw that MERCON ATF is required
can that be the source for the noise?? its like a cat moaning in my engine!!
im gonna replace the fluid as soon as i can, im gonna post the results, anyone has the same issue??
thanks in advance

 

[Jay FX4]

You used power steering fluid for your power steering?!?!?!?! How dare you!!!
Seriously though, as you found out you're only supposed to use ATF, which should help cut the noise. And there's an additive but I can't think of the name of it for the life of me. Supposed to make the pump very quiet....

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

yeah i didnt knew that, thank God the truck came with the owers manual in the glove box, a lot of things i didnt knew, i find em there, didnt even knew all the functions of the a/c
im gonna replace the fluid ASAP, hope stops making noise
thanks a lot!

 

[Jay FX4]

Not your fault for thinking that you would use PS fluid for your PS!
Here, check this out:
http://www.offroadrangers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24607&highlight=power+steering

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

well at least im not the only one lol!! when im coming home, they always know, cuz fo the whining
im gonna try to do this tomorrow
thanks a lot man, hope it works! cuz if not i might think about ..........

 

[dave@threat]

Use some redline synthetic "power steering fluid" Dont use ATF. It foams like a mofo and the seals dont like it which is why so many of the Ford pumps leak. Fluid alone is not what makes them quiet. Trapped air is...

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

thanks i might try that

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

since i couldnt find syntec steering fluid, i went with the MERCON atf the ownres manual specificates, the result: i went from a loud whining to a soft zoom zoom, also my steering got a bit more softer, the pump makes a lot less noise now, even goes quiet when driving in straight road, when turning it just does the little zoom all rangers do.
i was lucky enough to find about this before the pump would get damaged
thanks for the advice and suggestions received

 

[Jay FX4]

Cool, glad it helped. You have a happy pump now.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

Cool, glad it helped. You have a happy pump now.

happy pump= happy driver

 

[Pistons23]

glad you had good results. i have valvoline maxlife power steering fluid in my pump right now. i called valvoline and they say it meets mercon v requirements. even though i drained, refilled, bleed the system, drained refilled, then bleed the system again, the fluid is still filthy. so im going to try and find some sort of vaccum extractor and get all the fluid out then fill with mercon v and a ounce of lucas atf fix.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

yeah good idea, i might try to do that too, to leave the system completely clean