Agreed. I've had ATF in my power steering for over a year now.

As for the rest, something is fishy. If the crank spins and the cams don't you don't get lucky or unlucky. This is an interference engine, if the belt breaks at 2 rpm or 6k rpm, valves are going to be hitting pistons. We all have the same engines with the same clearances and tolerances.

The only thing that makes sense is it somehow seized with the idler problem and you got lucky the engine stopped while the belt was still on and not broken. If the valves did hit the pistons you will be having misfire codes soon enough but I don't think that happened. Could the shredded belt have interfered with the crank sensor, I can't remember how it's positioned.

 

Almost forgot, my ATF for the power steering is 10cSt which is more than thick enough considering the superior base oil. The cheap factory fluids are expected to sheer, usually very quickly and I would bet after 10,000 miles the fluid I use is at least as thick as the Honda stuff if not thicker. In my opinion, the main worry would be leaks. I'm running pretty close to 100% ATF and about a month ago I thoroughly inspected for leaks and so far so good. Plus the level in the reservoir has not changes so I knew I was probably ok.

I'm not recommending it, at least not yet but it's performed exceptionally well in mine and a drain and fill for several thousand miles surely isn't going to hurt anything.

 

The pump was super loud after removing it for the timing belt. I changed the O-rings and it got a little more quiet but as soon as I changed the fluid it went silent immediately. It feels like new at this point. As for the timing belt, I am just stoked that however it happened, the engine is running good. I could use a valve adjustment but it idles very smooth sitting at 700 and drives nice. Only code I have seen pop up was too lean but that was just after replacing my air filter. The old one was nasty. I erased it and it hasn't come back. I have not felt a misfire or gotten a code for it and I have been driving it every day for over two weeks.

 

If I remember correctly, you had a thread about using ATF in your power steering. Yes?

 

Yep. It's been nothing but great and usually cheaper too. I wish I had done it years ago so I would feel better about recommending it.

 

How could it be cheaper? Power steering fluid is only $3.50 per pint. Takes about two for the change. I used three but I flushed a clean pint through.