Is it Dextron 3 ?

Anything equivalent for OEM I can use for the p/s fluid also?

 

read this about tip tranny fluid. gives some alternates. p/s fluid i don't know. http://www.taligentx.com/passat/maintenance/atfchange/

 

For the power steering fluid, its pretty much regular old hydraulic fluid with some different anti foaming agents. It would be completly safe to use any power sttering fluid to top of your reservoir. For a full drain and fill or flush i would recommend the audi stuff thou.

 

Thanks for the input guys. What is the p/s system capacity, anyone know? Its a FWD 1998 1.8t a4.

 

Do you use "any hydraulic fluid" other then Pentosin 11S or OEM in the power steering.

 

david, I just bought the car a month ago. Today i put in Valvonline synthetic p/s fluid because i was in a jam and the reservoir was empty. It runs fine so far, but im going to continue to look for info on it. I also went to the dealer and talked to the shop "foreman", who seemed to know his stuff in general and he said to use OEM in both the transmission and p/s.

Heres the thing about that though. I used to work in a parts store for 5 years and i eventually came to know significantly more about oil than even the head mechanic at the garage next door to us with the help of Bobistheoilguy.com and i regularly steered people away from the suggestions of professional mechanics. My point from that is, i've run across many people who simply repeat what they've been told and after awhile it becomes "truth". Also, after hearing my fellow sales-people repeat sales pitches read right off the advertisers labels for the thousandth time, i have my suspicions about all sorts of things automotive. But i admit i havn't a clue