Power steering fluids and...

[Lee4212]

Hello everyone. GREAST site...wow !!
My '05 Impala (3.4 v/6) 45,000 miles. The past bad cold spell in chicagoland was not good.
I was not getting heat inside and coolant looked a bit icy. All of that was repaired and such but the power steering pump made a bad groan/moan when 1st started up in the cold snap,looked like honey it was so thick w/air bubbles. I tried sucking some out with a turkey baster (that works well) then adding fresh fluid with brand name fluids, NEVER cheap-o stuff. It got a bit better noise wise and the color turned a lighter shade, not the ultra dark color it was. Now that the weather is better the moan/groan is much better but you still hear it on turning. I see many p/s fluids that claim this and that...is there a better fluid that may help besides the basic p/s fluid? Or do I just need to buckle down and get a new pump with lines flushed? Steering fells a bit light then it tightens up to what I call a normal feel.
Had a new water pump and thermostat (gm stat) installed along with fresh coolant (they flushed/replaced it in may of 2011!). Shop is highly reguarded as very good from tons of folks. Sorry...long winded but ya got information. I try to do prevent maintenance but that cold spell hurt everyone in the area. THANKS !!

 

[PhillyJoe]

Welcome and congrats on surviving the coldest weather in decades.
I have a '07 Grand Prix and replaced my PS fluid with Valvoline Maxlife fluid last fall. I had a small leak (I have 100k)and a moan/groan and the fluid seemed to help both issues.No issues here with the fluid with our single digit temps last week. I used the turkey baster method which is not easy on the 3.8l engine; the 3.4l must be easier - every engine is easier than the 3.8l.

 

[Wilhelm_D]

Originally Posted By: Lee4212
I was not getting heat inside and coolant looked a bit icy. All of that was repaired and such but the power steering pump made a bad groan/moan when 1st started up in the cold snap,looked like honey it was so thick w/air bubbles. I tried sucking some out with a turkey baster (that works well) then adding fresh fluid with brand name fluids, NEVER cheap-o stuff. It got a bit better noise wise and the color turned a lighter shade, not the ultra dark color it was. Now that the weather is better the moan/groan is much better but you still hear it on turning. I see many p/s fluids that claim this and that...is there a better fluid that may help besides the basic p/s fluid? Or do I just need to buckle down and get a new pump with lines flushed?


Assuming you've gotten all the air out, you might want to try a complete power steering fluid change before going further.

 

[Lee4212]

I am going to look at it for any air bubbles as it warms up, if so i'll do the turn wheel until it stops method several times and see if that helps. Shop wants about 125 bucks or so to do a change so I thought why not try it at home myself even though it's slower.
Turn off car, get some out and add new, let it run to circulate then do over until clear. I guess all p/s fluids will get very thick in very cold temps. Never had issues on my cars in the 70's but maybe it's also better pumps back then.

 

[Lee4212]

In one aspect i'm glad I didn't have to go to work due to that nasty cold and the trains being ultra late or broken down then the walk to work in Chicago. Just lost a weeks of pay that all ! UGH !! What hurts more, lost pay or the nasty cold spell. Going out to look at p/s fluids later today.

 

[Wilhelm_D]

Originally Posted By: Lee4212
I guess all p/s fluids will get very thick in very cold temps. Never had issues on my cars in the 70's but maybe it's also better pumps back then.


If you move to a synthetic power steering fluid, you should find the low temperature performance is better.

I have also used Lubegard in various power steering units. They make one just for power steering, but I believe it's the same as the Lubegard ATF product with a different color dye.

If you use something other than a commercial flushing unit, what the Lubegard will do is add some "lubricity" to the remaining older fluid left behind by the baster method.

 

[andyd]

Take off the return line and pump the system dry. Then refill with ATF. When the winter is over, drain out the ATF and refill with PSF. My old stuff does great on ATF.

 

[Rolla07]

Can you use ATF for your PS system? Id get a quality synthetic P/S fluid or use Mobil 1 ATF. My car calls for ATF and I am using the M1 syn ATF and it works like a charm. I used the baster method. For you Id recommend swapping it out every 2 weeks or so for a couple months and than judge whether further action is necessary or not. I dont think swapping it out than turning the wheel will allow you to mix with enough of the old stuff..you would likely just be wasting new fluid removing it that soon. Good luck!

 

[Drew99GT]

Most GMs spec a specific power steering fluid with a GM part number. Gm in fact makes a synthetic blend power steering fluid designed for cold weather (under -20F). I'd try that; I use it along with Lubegard Power Steering Fluid Protectant in my mom's 2007 Impala and it has drastically decreased the power steering grown in extreme cold weather.

http://paceperformance.com/i-5134256-123...-container.html

 

[Lee4212]

Well I got it so it's now mostly clear, a little old stuff still in it but not much. I still hear the moaning but it's not too bad, much quieter. Test comes when it get's colder, in the low 30's for now. Could a bad or tired steering rack make the pump noisy with maybe pressure issues?
The car has been flawless up to this point.

 

[strat81]

I've had good luck with the Lubegard PSF additive with a noisy GM PS pump attached to a 5.3L V8.

Fresh NAPA-brand PSF didn't help. Sucked that stuff out and replaced with Valvoline MaxLife Power Steering Fluid with the Lubegard stuff added.

Amazon sells Lubegard products.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Most GMs spec a specific power steering fluid with a GM part number. Gm in fact makes a synthetic blend power steering fluid designed for cold weather (under -20F). I'd try that; I use it along with Lubegard Power Steering Fluid Protectant in my mom's 2007 Impala and it has drastically decreased the power steering grown in extreme cold weather.

http://paceperformance.com/i-5134256-123...-container.html


The stealerships get a king's ransom for this stuff.

In an emergency situation I have paid $18.00/quart for it, and that was a DISCOUNTED price!!!

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
In an emergency situation I have paid $18.00/quart for it, and that was a DISCOUNTED price!!!

Buy the Pentosin Euro stuff some day and tell me how that goes, especially in an emergency situation.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
In an emergency situation I have paid $18.00/quart for it, and that was a DISCOUNTED price!!!

Buy the Pentosin Euro stuff some day and tell me how that goes, especially in an emergency situation.

I would have tried the high VI CHF 202 stuff (OR the even better yet 11S) IF I was anywhere near a NAPA, or an import parts store, BUT I was right at the dealer (had a fuel pump installed), and my reservoir was so dry (AND NOISY/PULSING/SMOKING when I opened the cap) I could barely turn the wheel, and THIS was all they had in stock (not even the MUCH cheaper, mineral based, summer formula).

I can also get the relatively high VI Red Line product for ~$15.00 USD/qt., just again, NOT at the dealer.

 

[SHOZ]

My car takes the CHF 202 and at $20 a L it's not worth it IMHO. In the past I've just used synthetic ATF and never had a problem.

Rather than take off hoses and dump the fluid I would gradually change the fluid out. Draining the reservoir and refilling. Do that once a month then after a while when it stays nice and clean do it once a year.

If the fluid is horribly dirty then I would use some generic ATF and change it as often as needed checking a drop on a white napkin. Then switch to the synthetic ATF.

 

[Garak]

I was referring mostly to the price, where up here it is around $30 a litre. When the Audi was leaking fluid, I fixed the leak very quickly, I assure you.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Garak
I was referring mostly to the price, where up here it is around $30 a litre.


OK, got it! (I did not know that it was so much way up in the North Country.)

Our NAPAs only get like ~$22.00/liter, and it is about $20.00 and change at our Pep Boyz stores.

 

[Garak]

Actually, the VW dealer had the best price, go figure. It was around $25 or so a litre.

 

[Lee4212]

Update. So far the p/s pump is pretty quiet. I did manage to get most of the old fluid out and new Prestone back in. It's not near as noisy as it was but with the new super cold front Monday thru Wednesday coming in I will see how it is then.
Had new water pump and stat put in, i get heat but not near as hot in the cabin as I did before and I still get the inside front window icing up now and then. Bad heater core?? Sometimes all the windows ice up, not always but mainly the front inside windshield..again, not every day. Could a bad core not let enough heat inside?? If I try to clean the glass any cleaner spray kind of looks like small water droplets on the glass. due to leaky core? Also it can look like a smear after cleaning.