I put the wrong power stering fluid in my 98

I have a 1998 Windstar with 101,000 miles. I topped off the power steering with generic fluid 5 days ago. It was low again today, so I took a look around this site. I discovered that I should have not been using generic. What should I do now?

You should have used Mercon/Dexron111. (as you know doubt know now).

I would not panic too much if you just topped it off.

If you would sleep better changing the fluid it is fairly easy to do especially with a helper.

There are steps outlined in this forum a while back so search under steering fluid or something similar.

Basically you need to take the weight off of the front wheels. Remove the return line to the resevoir. Plug the resevoir. Put the hose into a container and while your partner cranks (not starts) the engine and turns the wheel from side to side you fill the resevoir at a rate similar to what goes into the container.

Check the previous post as my memory is not too accurate but the steps I listed are in the ballpark.

I took the return line off mine and pluged were it went in to the filler.to keep it from runnging out.
took a old antifreeze jug and forced it down the the front as close as I could get it to the power steering filler with out it getting in the way of the belts drive system. jacked up the front end where both wheels were off the ground and turn the steering back and forth while adding dextron mercon tranny fluid in. Its takes alot off jumping in and out while you are doing this. try not to run system dry you will hear it squal if you do.Once you added about 4 quarts you are done just make sure there is no air in the system you will see the bubbles if there is air in there.. Put the cap back on each time you do this after adding fluid each time. before you drop it off the jack make sure the air is out of the system or you will drive it out of the drive way and it will squal..then you have to jack it back up again. Make sure you dont over fill.. and again make sure there are no bubbles in the filler. If you do this you want have to worry about the power steering system for a while.

You are FAR from the first person to do what you did. Only difference is....that you found out about it. It would seem logical to add power steering fluid to the power steering.....not transmission fluid.
But for the windstar.....you need transmission fluid in the power steering.....which does not seem logical....unless you have read....or been told. Only way I found the correct fluid....was to go by the FORD specification numbers that were in my owner's manual. Nothing said about transmission fluid. But that was for the '96. Hopefully they changed the wording in the manual at some point after that.

For a good mercon fluid....that is readily available.....I would recommend Mobil 1 ATF. It is a synthetic Mercon....which should be better with the heat.....and give you better cold flow as well.

Thanks for the replies.

What I could not figure out is why I was losing fluid at a rapid rate after I put the wrong stuff in. It turns out I had a rotted high pressure line. Just coincidence that I put the wrong fluid in at the same time I guess.

Thanks for the replies.

What I could not figure out is why I was losing fluid at a rapid rate after I put the wrong stuff in. It turns out I had a rotted high pressure line. Just coincidence that I put the wrong fluid in at the same time I guess.
WELL THAT WOULD MAKE THE FLUSH AND FILL EASY... LOL.