Now first, let me say... My transmission is working fine. Its the automatic tranny that came with the LB9 engines. I believe its 700R4? Anyway... When I checked it last it appeared low. On the transmission I have a few questions...

When I go to the store, what type of fluid should I look for if I need to fill it a little bit? (when I went to auto zone I saw some 2 different kinds of Castrol brand. One for older model ford/gm and one that was for GM. Now that the car is 23 years old, I have no idea what it would be classified as)

I've been getting tips about transmission fluid recently and is it true that transmission fluid can not get any lower in level unless it leaks?

I've purchased "Lucas Transmission Fix Oil" It says it stops slips and hard shifting. I know to add it when the engine is running, but can this also be used as the transmission fluid itself, not just a fix fluid? Again, I already have some fluid in there, its a little low on the level it should be so I'm thinking adding some of this will be fine.

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Now onto power steering...

Here is my big problem at the moment. Basically, in the past 3 days I've been through 2 full bottles of power steering fluid. I've filled it up to recommended level and I find it in the driveway or parking lots where the car has sat a while (like at work). On that note, I have a few questions...

When I put power steering fluid into the car, is some of it stored? As in... when I go to see the amount of power steering fluid in the car, is it not accurate because not all of it can actually touch the dib stick? I'm trying to distinguish if I'm overfilling it or if it is actually leaking.

Second question, My car has just about 118,000 miles on it, is there a piece in your power steering that needs to be replaced frequently or even after 100,000 miles? I bet thats it. I'm thinking it just needs a new hose, but my boss has me working so much at the moment I'm not able to find time to work on it, I just keep adding more fluid when it empties itself out.

Is there a piece in the power steering that major that it can actually empty a full bottle of fluid out in less than 24 hours?

Here is the big thing that I'm hoping will get us an answer... The power steering still works! Even on low or no fluid it still works fine! And the stuff I add leaks out sure, but it never stops working. At one time it made a really loud squeel sound, but I added fluid and it stopped again. So it still works fine and the fluid just leaks out. New hose? Let me know what you think.

 

Using one bottle of that Lucas stuff in place of the same amount of Auto Trans Fluid might be fine. I wouldn't use more than 1 bottle of Lucas. If the bottle of lucas doesn't get you topped off, use Dexron 3 Mercon fluid. Never overfill an automatic. Your trans is probably overdue for a fresh filter. While you're at it, add a drain plug to the pan. It's true that the fluid level only decreases from leaks. And checking fluid with the engine running is half right. The other half is after you've driven it enough to make it go into every gear, and reverse. That way every passage will be full at the expense of the level in the pan. As for your power steering, There is an adjustment for slop, but that's as far as I can get ya. I've never had any troubles with p/s. Sorry

 

Your power steering fluid is leaking out somewhere. There are two hoses from the power steering pump (where you fill it) to the gear box in front of it. Most likely one of these is bad, probably the high pressure line. Clean everything off and find out where the fluid is going. Should be easy enough if it's losing that much.

You're filling the power steering reservoir which sits on top of the pump. It holds 'extra' fluid above what is in the pump and system. The pump will still work without any fluid showing on the dipstick because the dipstick only shows the amount in the reservoir. When you ran the pump too far below the reservoir level it went dry and started squealing, which isn't good for it.

There are no pieces in the pump/gearbox system that require scheduled replacement. Either may wear or fail over time or by happenstance but they are not commonly replaced at a specific mileage.

 

So does that mean I will be fine as long as I keep filling it up for about a week until I can take it to my uncles shop to get checked?

 

You'll probably be fine. Just don't let it run dry.

 

Yeah I had a leak on the power steering pump on my Durango. It was the high pressure line. I kept filling it until the day before I changed it. It got to where it just leaked out too much too fast. So that last day it ran dry for a few miles. I fixed the line but my pump still whines a lot more than it did before. I am sure it will go sooner or later. Thats why it shouldn't be run dry.