PS Fluid Replacement: Never?

[S2000driver]

All the Honda's I've owned with P/S don't have fluid replacement in the maintenance schedule.

Look in the shop manual, it says to change it only when the system has been opened for service. If so, I think you break into one of the hoses off the resovoir as a drain, and turn the wheel while adding new fluid.

There is a fairly large resovoir which I believe also works as a filter. Evidently, Honda P/S fluid doesn't significantly wear out, and the resovoir has sufficient filtration for the life of the system. I've never needed to have a Honda P/S system repaired.

Is this similar with other makes of cars?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I've got an '89 Accord. The P/S is leaking. I might try the Auto-RX fix that worked for an Acura on the board.

 

[S2000driver]

quote:

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Originally posted by GROUCHO MARX:
I've got an '89 Accord. The P/S is leaking. I might try the Auto-RX fix that worked for an Acura on the board.

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You may want to find out where it's leaking from first. Then see if somebody else has found a fix at http://www.3geez.com/

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I'll look at that link. In the meantime, I've found the Honda fluid for a buck a 12 oz. bottle

 

[Patman]

Manuals also never say to change brake fluid, and some don't even say to change fuel filters, but it's still a good idea to do all of these things (including the PS) every two years.

 

[metroplex]

Manuals say never to change the gear oil. Yeah right.

I don't change the PS fluid in my 2000 Vic regularly, I did extract 90% of the Mercon ATF and replaced it with Mobil 1 synthetic ATF.

Synthetics play an important role everywhere. I don't see why the PS Fluid reservoir makes a difference

My Vic also came with a power steering fluid cooler and a tranny oil cooler.

Makes for good auto-xing experiences ?

 

[Malibu]

Although the owners manuals of Asian and European cars sold in the USA may not mention brake fluid / fuel filter / power steering fluid changes, they frequently do in cars they sell in other countries. This is a clue that quality car manufacturer will recommend preventive maintainance when there is no marketing pressure to build maintainance free cars like there is in the USA.

So a neat way to find out the optimum maintainance schedule for an Asian or European car is to get ahold of an owners manual for the the car sold in other countries. Ebay commonly offers these manuals.

 

[Steve_RI]

VW recommends every two years or 24,000 miles for brake fluid. I have a 2002 Passat, my first, so I don't know how long VW has recommended this....nothing on p/s fluid though.

[ January 20, 2003, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: Steve_RI ]

 

[S2000driver]

Just checked out the maintenance schedule for my S2000, no clutch fluid replacement schedule.

I figure I'll turkey baste the resovoir when I do the brake fluid (since it uses the same fluid), then maybe every other time bleed fresh fluid through the entire system. Does that sound like a plan?

Oh, and no power steering fluid changes will be required with this car for sure. Since it's all electronic (no fluid at all)

[ January 20, 2003, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: S2000driver ]

 

[S2000driver]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
Manuals also never say to change brake fluid, and some don't even say to change fuel filters, but it's still a good idea to do all of these things (including the PS) every two years.

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Don't say never

Honda recommends changing the brake fluid every 3 years regardless of miles. It used to be 2 years / 30,000 miles I think. They stopped putting fuel filter in the maintenance, I think gasoline is required to be very clean nowadays.

 

[metroplex]

The turkey baster only works to remove fluid from the reservoir not the lines.

I'd extract as much of the old fluid as possible, and then bleed flush the brakes.