Power Steering fluid
- Thread starter LDJ
- Start date
If you did a simple search on the forum you will know Hondas don't take anything other than their sauces for PS. Go get it from the stealership.
Recently did a turkey baster drain and fill on my Honda Accord. Used PS fluid from the dealer.
I refilled my 2006 CRV with regular store brand PS fluid for Japanese cars. At 300k and after changing hoses due to rust and a PS pump due to operator error (my niece put coolant in the PS reservoir) I found no need to buy Honda fluid. Worked fine.
O'Reilly has a house brand for Honda spec. Ot hit up Amazon or the dealership for Honda/Acura fluid. I've used both.
Obviously not a Honda specific fluid so make sure it's acceptable but I went with this in the Volvo. I was sold on the 100,000 mile lifespan. 
I did some turkey suckers over several months here & there until I got a decent green color since this fluid is green. Perhaps they have another full synthetic product to suit your Acura.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prestone-Full-Synthetic-Power-Steering-Fluid-for-Asian-Vehicles-12-fl-oz/
I did some turkey suckers over several months here & there until I got a decent green color since this fluid is green. Perhaps they have another full synthetic product to suit your Acura.https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prestone-Full-Synthetic-Power-Steering-Fluid-for-Asian-Vehicles-12-fl-oz/
MolaKule
Staff member
There are aftermarket alternatives that are recommended for use in Honda and Acura vehicles.
I looked up a list of complaints for my vehicle by performing a web search and discovered that there were potential issues with steering racks and power steering pumps. I believe that these problems are due to design flaws which are not fluid related.
I looked up a list of complaints for my vehicle by performing a web search and discovered that there were potential issues with steering racks and power steering pumps. I believe that these problems are due to design flaws which are not fluid related.
Genuine Acura PSF
Lets says it was a design flaw, why aren't racks failing all over the place and why wasn't there a recall. The racks that failed could be some adventurous mucking around with non-spec fluids - the folks who complain it failed are folks who necessarily don't tell the whole story. Most are 1Q systems, messing around with non-spec fluids is not worth the time and effort.
I was going off of the list of owner’s complaints filed with NHTSA for my vehicle. There was a recall for a power steering hose that can leak. These problems are related to the construction of components within the power steering system and not the fluid itself.
Yep. Sometimes bathces of defective parts get to the assembly line.
My former employer lost a long time customer over that happening. To be fair, the machinist, the machinist’s supervisor, anybody AFTER that particular OP AND their supervisor, final inspection person, and finally whoever packaged and sent it didn’t notice. The part was a little over 1” too long, back ordered, and the customers line had been down for days at that point. There were 39 other good parts though!
Never heard of a picky psp that wanted a specific oil. I've used whatever atf or psf in every vehicle without issue. Right now I'm using supertech stop leak psf which did a good job reducing the drip to a seep so it doesn't stain anymore. I just wipe the area every oil change. I'll address the leak some other time.
I believe it's just evaporation as I don't see any leaks. I was in Maine at the time when I posted the question, now in NY so I didn't have a dealership to get OEM PS fluid. Needed fluid promptly since I was about to do a 475 mile drive so I went to Autozone and bought Prestone specifically stated Acura on the bottle.
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For that era, definitely Genuine Honda PSF. Used to be called "PSF V". Last time I bought any, it was pretty cheap - maybe $3 a bottle at a Honda dealer. Acura dealers were selling the exact same fluid down to the label. Not sure what the price is now, so maybe the aftermarket alternatives might be worth it.
As far as changing it goes, I've always followed the instructions I remember from my factory service manual for my 1995 Integra. If it uses this style fluid, it's pretty much the same other than the fluid capacity. Remove the return hose and find a way to connect that to another hose. I had a flexible funnel extension that actually fit right in and used that previously. I used some tape just in case and I used an old bottle (also taped) as a receptacle. Start the car, turn it lock to lock and it will come out at fairly low pressure. It will groan and make a lot of noises, but it won't damage the power steering pump since there will be residual fluid in there. Then put the return hose back in and fill it. It might take a few times turning lock to lock to purge the air and topping off, but it's pretty simple. But it's loud and it will sound like something is going to be damaged in the process. I'm kind of amused that Honda service manuals have an open collection container, but it's my understanding that it doesn't just gush out but comes out fairly gently.
As far as changing it goes, I've always followed the instructions I remember from my factory service manual for my 1995 Integra. If it uses this style fluid, it's pretty much the same other than the fluid capacity. Remove the return hose and find a way to connect that to another hose. I had a flexible funnel extension that actually fit right in and used that previously. I used some tape just in case and I used an old bottle (also taped) as a receptacle. Start the car, turn it lock to lock and it will come out at fairly low pressure. It will groan and make a lot of noises, but it won't damage the power steering pump since there will be residual fluid in there. Then put the return hose back in and fill it. It might take a few times turning lock to lock to purge the air and topping off, but it's pretty simple. But it's loud and it will sound like something is going to be damaged in the process. I'm kind of amused that Honda service manuals have an open collection container, but it's my understanding that it doesn't just gush out but comes out fairly gently.
Thank you very much for this valuable information.For that era, definitely Genuine Honda PSF. Used to be called "PSF V". Last time I bought any, it was pretty cheap - maybe $3 a bottle at a Honda dealer. Acura dealers were selling the exact same fluid down to the label. Not sure what the price is now, so maybe the aftermarket alternatives might be worth it.
As far as changing it goes, I've always followed the instructions I remember from my factory service manual for my 1995 Integra. If it uses this style fluid, it's pretty much the same other than the fluid capacity. Remove the return hose and find a way to connect that to another hose. I had a flexible funnel extension that actually fit right in and used that previously. I used some tape just in case and I used an old bottle (also taped) as a receptacle. Start the car, turn it lock to lock and it will come out at fairly low pressure. It will groan and make a lot of noises, but it won't damage the power steering pump since there will be residual fluid in there. Then put the return hose back in and fill it. It might take a few times turning lock to lock to purge the air and topping off, but it's pretty simple. But it's loud and it will sound like something is going to be damaged in the process. I'm kind of amused that Honda service manuals have an open collection container, but it's my understanding that it doesn't just gush out but comes out fairly gently.
I've always used good quality hydraulic oil. Rando HDZ 15 or 32
Depends. Honda has a very specific power steering fluid that's considerably different viscosity than anything else used for power steering systems. Manufacturers of a generic power steering fluid state typically state that they aren't for use in Honda power steering systems. Those that claim otherwise, I'm not sure what to say other than I wouldn't trust such a recommendation.
I get that other manuacturers generally build power steering systems that are tolerant of a wide variety of fluids. Obviously there's "power steering fluid", I think built around an old GM spec. Quite a few are built around automatic transmission fluid. I remember the factory fluid in my 2004 WRX was some brownish liquid even though the reservoir said "Dexron". At the dealer they had Subaru ATF (two types including a "high performance" and both said they were suitable for all Subaru power steering systems.
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