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Thread: Power Steering Fluid - ATF vs CHF11S

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    Millis, MA
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    2002 325xi

    Power Steering Fluid - ATF vs CHF11S

    When I bought my 2002 325xi back in Feb 2018, the power steering reservoir says to use ATF Dexron III in it, and that's what I did use (well, I used Dexron VI because no one carried Dexon III) when I replaced my steering rack at some point last year. And my steering is fairly smooth, so I have no complaints. However, I just got a new reservoir for the purposes of having a new filter, but the new reservoir says to use CHF11S only. So I went to realoem.com to verify what I'm "supposed" to be using, and it too says to use CHF11S. I'm curious as to why the car would come with a reservoir saying to use ATF, but then the manufacturer says to use CHF11S. Is this a cause for concern? Should I look to flush my power steering system so I can put in a CHF11S fluid immediately? Do I ignore it and continue on using ATF?
    Power Steering Reservoir Diagram.png

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    ATLANTA GA
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    456 X3s
    I would Change it...good research... don't ignore it...but first also make sure that it is the original steering.

    Sent from my SM-J727T using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    2002 325xi
    I also read somewhere, I think e46fanatics, that these cars were manufactured and given Dexron III for their power steering fluid. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
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    2003 330cic
    You can use either, but not both. The caps are interchangeable. I would stick with atf as otherwise you would have to completely flush the system. Then throw away the new cap that says chf (swap the o-ring)

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    All E46s sold in the USA use Dexron3 for power steering fluid. I used redline D4ATF.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    2002 325xi
    Thanks, Marco. That's what I read on e46fanatics. I'll stick with ATF then. My issue is that FCPEuro only has ones that say CHF11S on them, haha. And it says it on both the cap and the reservoir itself.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    2018 BMW M240i
    The power steering reservoir is used on a variety of bimmers. Some of those cars’ power steering systems used CH11. Don’t worry, just buy the reservoir and remove the sticker.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    2002 325xi
    It's not a sticker. It's etched into the plastic. :/

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    2018 BMW M240i
    Doesn’t matter. BMW bought a kazzillion if these reservoirs from ZF and installed them in just about every car it built.

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