Is there any way to quiet down Ford PS pump?

[KrisZ]

The can in question is a 2003 Ford Focus.
The PS pump is not that loud, but I can definitely hear it hum at idle inside the cabin.
I read that Ford's PS pumps are on the noisier side and it doesn't affect their longevity, but if I could quiet is down a bit, that would be great.

I have a quart of M1 ATF left and my plan is to siphon out the PS reservoir every once in a while. I don't see PS fluid ever being changed in the service record, so I'm sure that freshening up the fluid will be a good thin, even though it may not quiet down the pump.

What do you think? Is there something else that would work better? All input is welcome.

 

[NHGUY]

Ford's pumps have been bad since the 1970s.Unfortunately you are stuck with the design,not like you can retrofit a Saginaw onto it.

 

[OVERKILL]

Yes, M1 ATF will quiet it down. The results sometimes aren't immediate, but a few drain/fills with that will quiet the noise significantly.

 

[Kruse]

I've had luck with synthetic Mercon V with a little LubeGard red.

 

[MarkStock]

Some folks have seen improvements using a Magnefine filter or changing the filter.

 

[Bgallagher]

Buy a chevy haha

It is a classic Ford issue. I wouldnt really consider it an issue because they are annoying to listen to but extremely reliable. Fresh fluid will help but you are going to have to live with it

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
Buy a chevy haha

It is a classic Ford issue. I wouldnt really consider it an issue because they are annoying to listen to but extremely reliable. Fresh fluid will help but you are going to have to live with it


Basically.

They need periodic fluid changes to stay quiet. If not, they end up whining. And they will work forever whining, it isn't like it affects their reliability..... Just an annoying noise.

 

[Tempest]

My Ranger likes Amsoil ATF. Much quieter after the switch.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
My Ranger likes Amsoil ATF. Much quieter after the switch.


Yes, it works very well as well

 

[tig1]

With a few exceptions I have been driving Fords since the 60s. I have been using M1 ATF since Mobil came out with their ATF in the early 90s as I remember it, and have never had a failure or noisey pump.

 

[jjcom]

I've had pretty good luck using Valvoline Maxlife ATF in quieting down noisy pumps. After a few drain and fills of the reservoir it normally quiets things down a bit.

 

[notech47]

I've used Valvoline MaxLife too. It eliminated a power steering noise with one of my cars.

 

[KrisZ]

Thanks for all the responses!

Looks like my leftover quart of M1 ATF will finally find a home

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Ford's pumps have been bad since the 1970s.Unfortunately you are stuck with the design,not like you can retrofit a Saginaw onto it.


I think Ford actually was sourcing PS pumps from GM back in the 1960s/70s in a lot of cars and trucks.

I have had three of the highly suspect Ford pumps, and oddly enough all three have been very quiet. Even the Explorer with 158K miles and a zero PS maintenance was totally quiet.

I have heard plenty of whiners though, so it's the luck of the draw. As long as the PS is full of ATF and not foaming you are probably fine.

I remember years ago when I worked at JL, a coworker picked up a 90s Taurus at a buy here pay here lot. Its PS was LOUD...opened up the reservoir and it was nothing but a bubbly foam. Not sure what happened there or what had been poured in the PS.

 

[bdcardinal]

Our brake and front end guy that has been doing it for years has a method he swears works. He runs a couple quarts of Mercon V through until it comes out red. Then he ads a bottle of XL-3 friction modifier. I have seen it quiet down pumps, but the ultimate fix is a new pump along with new lines and gearbox/rack.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Our brake and front end guy that has been doing it for years has a method he swears works. He runs a couple quarts of Mercon V through until it comes out red. Then he ads a bottle of XL-3 friction modifier. I have seen it quiet down pumps, but the ultimate fix is a new pump along with new lines and gearbox/rack.


Interesting. I ran 2-3 qts of generic MercV, then ran M1 ATF (didn't want to flush with expensive fluid), and it quieted everything down immediately. That was @ 30K, and it's been dead quiet ever since, just with an evac/fill from the reservoir every other oil change. Mine was really, really whining, too (I could feel the vibration through the wheel).

If the noise ever comes back, maybe I'll try some of the FM.

 

[RF Overlord]

My ex-wife's 2003 Mercury Marauder (not the one in my sig) was purchased used in 2007 and had a P/S whine when turning. I did a few turkey-baster fluid changes as the fluid was fairly dark, and it's been quiet ever since. I still do one at every oil change just to keep the fluid fresh.

I think the key is not what kind of fluid is used, rather that the fluid be fresh.

 

[KrisZ]

I think that on the Focus using something more robust, i.e. synthetic, will have a benefit, as the power steering line runs across the exhaust manifold.

 

[crazy8]

+ 1 on Mercon 5

I was shown a bottle of M 5 the other day and it states it's ok for use in Ford PS systems, I never Knew that :>)

 

[mechtech2]

For sure, put in the full synthetic ATF.
A few turkey baster exchanges should do it just fine.
This is great maintenance, and hopefully it will quiet things down.

For old Ford PS units, a shot of STP [the old thicker stuff] would quiet them down from a few months to years. Not half and half STP, but 1/2 cup or less.