Multiple "flushes" for P/S

[Benzadmiral]

Hey, all,

I got my manual vacuum-pump Topsider out yesterday, drained the power steering fluid in my '97 MB, and refilled with the specified MB fluid. (Comes in a blue bottle; smells like male cat spray, if you know what I mean. Whoo.)

The car drives fine, but what I wonder is this. The manual says the PS holds 1.1 liters. However, I only got out about a third of that, based on how much of the 1-liter blue bottle I poured back in.

I guess the rest is in the steering box and hoses? If I repeat this process twice more (using up the rest of the bottle, and good riddance to that stench), will I have replaced the majority of the P/S fluid?

 

[Volvohead]

Yes. But not all of it.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Volvohead,

From what I've found in 'net research, the best way would be to disconnect the return hose and pour in fluid while a helper runs the engine and twirls the wheel. Unfortunately, I don't have a helper. My friend Miss Linda is scared of cars. I think she worries that the open hood will snap down like an alligator's jaw and take my hand off.

I would also have to remove the under-engine panel so that the old fluid could drain into a collection pan, and I have neither ramps nor anyplace to store 'em.

Better this way for now, I guess, until I'm having some work done that requires the car to go onto a lift.

 

[unDummy]

Multiple siphon/refills is good enough.

Running a vehicle with hose disconnected is asking for problems. Don't do it.

 

[Kestas]

I've flushed the fluid on my Benz, and this vehicle is very amenable to doing a clean job on the inline six. It helps tremendously to do it with the front wheels off the ground. This reduces the pressures in the system.

It's okay to run it with the hose disconnected. In fact, rack rebuilders recommend this method to flush a newly installed unit and prepare it for service.

 

[Volvohead]

Most PS systems are far more forgiving of fluid variances than an automatic transmission system is. As long as the replacement fluid is the correct spec, you have nothing to fear.

If you manage a 75% change out, that should be as good as new fluid for all intensive purposes, for most vehicles.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Every 6 months I vacuum out the PS reservoir and replace with new fluid.

Except with my 1990 F150 which needed 3 PS pumps in 110k miles when I owned it, never had a problem with any other PS unit in many cars/trucks.

I think its a good idea to do...

Take care, bill

 

[PT1]

Quote:

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Multiple siphon/refills is good enough.

Running a vehicle with hose disconnected is asking for problems. Don't do it.

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I agree with this theory as well. You have "freshened" the fluid...do it again in 20-30,000 miles.

 

[heathenbrewing]

Quote:

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Every 6 months I vacuum out the PS reservoir and replace with new fluid.....

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I replace 150 mls. (holds 1.2 qts total) twice a month since new. I use a graduated syringe w/ some tubing on the end to know exactly how much I take out and how much to replace.

Overkill? Most likely, but ATF is cheap....power steering units are not. Plus I like messing with the car.

 

[heathenbrewing]

Oh yeah, it takes me almost 6 minutes to do, including clean up.

 

[onion]

I've been using the turkey basterd method lately on my old Corsica. Seems to work fine.

I've had lots of trouble with this system over the years, so I've recently been swapping it over to Mobil 1 ATF in the p/s system. The pump is a lot quieter now, and it works fine even at 8 degrees this morning.

 

[Steelhead]

using the "pull off the return hose" method of flushing the pwr steering gets out any old pieces of hose interior breakdown, metal cuttings from fittings-orig. machining, etc

turkey baster only gets the ATF

put on an inline filter such as Magnafine

 

[hominid7]

My turkey baster wouldnt fit into my p/s tank so i shoped around and found a turkey 'injector' at walmart. It looked like a long steel and plastic needle syringe. Worked well for P/S as well as brake fluid. Mazda techs recommended to me to suck out as much as i could, refill, run the car a few minutes turning the wheel, and repeat until i go through 2 quarts of ATF in the P/S which would get essentially a complete change.

 

[heathenbrewing]

Theory: Place 1 gallon jug of ATF under properly jacked car. Disconnect one hose and place it in said jug. Disconnect other hose and place in an empty 1.5 gallon jug. Have assistant turn on car and turn wheels back and forth until ATF cycles through the pump and comes out into the other jug.

Would that work?

 

[heathenbrewing]

Assuming of course you place the proper hose in the proper jug.

 

[onion]

Quote:

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Would that work?

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No.

 

[mechtech2]

If you want a mess, risk future leaks and possible stripped parts, start taking lines off of you PS system.
It's not worth it.
Just perform multiple 'turkey baster' flushes [after starting and mixing, of course].