How to get air out of power steering system?

[Carlostrece]

My cousin changed my Buick's PSF today. He replaced old Lucas PSF with new Idemitsu PSF.

After he was done it intially sound worse, then sounded better. Why? Does this mean we got air in the system?

If we did get air in the system, did it work itself out of the system thus resolving the problem?

 

[ripcord]

What I've done in the past its to jack up the front of the car and just turn the wheel from lock to lock until it started to sound normal. I think that's all you have to do on most cars.

 

[Dborch41]

Whenever you replace a power steering pump, you should fill the reservoir with as much fluid as it will hold then turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine off. It's best to raise the front wheels off the ground for this. Keep doing this and add fluid as necessary until the level stops dropping, this will purge the majority of the air from the system so the pump won't run dry on the first start.

Hopefully you can try this and see if the pump will start behaving without any damage being done, it's worth a try.

Good luck!

 

[Klutch9]

It can take a while to remove air from a power steering system. A couple years ago I had to replace a PS line in my old Sedona, so basically all the fluid drained out except what was in the rack. I filled it full, sawed the wheel back and forth many times with the engine off. When I started it, the fluid still foamed and overflowed a lot. Took quite a while to get all the air out.

 

[Carlostrece]

What I've done in the past its to jack up the front of the car and just turn the wheel from lock to lock until it started to sound normal. I think that's all you have to do on most cars.

That's what I thought. Too late now. He already drove it after working on it. He said it started sounding quiet and normal again within a minute. So probably it was only a little air.

So I think it worked itself out the hard way.

 

[wtd]

I use this kit and it works very well.
https://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-MVA670-Universal-Connection-Air-Tight/dp/B015XUH31U

 

[pcoxe]

As someone else said, raise the front off the ground and turn the wheel slowly from side to side. You don't want too much pressure to build as that could create foam in the oil. If there is air foam in the oil, you have to let it escape from the reservoir at its own pace.

 

[Carlostrece]

The air is long gone. It quickly disappeared on it's own when my cousin drove the car.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Yeah, I get that when I flush the PSF system too deep. Then the pump starts crying like a baby, gotta give it ATF in a baba to shut it up, then the fluid gets all discolored and bubbly, but it goes away. Usually happens when my wife meanders into the garage and distracts me. Then I show her the dead bolt one way lock for the fire door entrance to the house. I say " Keep it up, and it's goin to be installed ! GO AWAY ! " My man cave !!!! Do I look like I wanna talk to you now ?!?! They don't shut up. Wish I had a detached garage like my 1st house. That was HEAVEN !!!!! " Wha? Can't hear you. Bad reception. Click.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Yeah, I get that when I flush the PSF system too deep. Then the pump starts crying like a baby, gotta give it ATF in a baba to shut it up, then the fluid gets all discolored and bubbly, but it goes away. Usually happens when my wife meanders into the garage and distracts me. Then I show her the dead bolt one way lock for the fire door entrance to the house. I say " Keep it up, and it's goin to be installed ! GO AWAY ! " My man cave !!!! Do I look like I wanna talk to you now ?!?! They don't shut up. Wish I had a detached garage like my 1st house. That was HEAVEN !!!!! " Wha? Can't hear you. Bad reception. Click.

I'd get that same answer from her at the bedroom. Her cave, no access. I try to play nice.

 

[Jetronic]

My cousin changed my Buick's PSF today. He replaced old Lucas PSF with new Idemitsu PSF.

After he was done it intially sound worse, then sounded better. Why? Does this mean we got air in the system?

If we did get air in the system, did it work itself out of the system thus resolving the problem?

I found that squeezing and releasing the return helps in getting air out faster. I guess the higher pressure in the system compresses the air bubbles, more oil gets in and when you release the return the expansion pushes some air out.

Like you found, the air will get out with heat cycles, but I sure don't like the sound on a fresh fill with trappd air.