When to have Power Steering Fluid Replaced?

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fazzer

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Hello, after changing all my other fluids I noticed I have never changed the power steering fluid in over 8 years! Is there a interval that it should be replaced ?

Also it is a closed system. How would you flush it,or Would you just suck out the fluid from the resivor and replace it a few times? Is there also a detergant you could put in to clean the power steering pump and then pump fluid to clean it out and replace the fluid. Has anybody paid for power steering flush, and what did you pay to have the service done.

I realize this may be overkill, I might as well do all the fluids and sleep good at night. THANKS!!
 
No detergents are necessary at all. It'd do much more harm than good.

Just suck the fluid out of the reservoir with a turkey baster/suction gun, refill it, turn the wheel a few times (with the engine running, of course), rinse, repeat a few times. Don't suck so much fluid out that you cause the pump to suck air and cavitate (I.E. don't suck the reservoir absolutely empty).

Bet that fluid is gonna look nasty.
 
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How often do you do it? I've thought of using the turkey baster method but was wondering if I get air in the system would it cause my ps to not work right or will it self purge?
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
How often do you do it? I've thought of using the turkey baster method but was wondering if I get air in the system would it cause my ps to not work right or will it self purge?


Don't suck the reservoir dry. Just suck it down to a little below the low line, refill it, turn wheel back and forth, suck it down, refill, turn wheel back and forth, etc. My Subaru has a pretty average size reservoir and I'd say every time you suck the fluid out you'll get about 1/3 of a quart.

As for how often? I've done it twice. Once at ~30k, again at ~60k. Both times the fluid (Castrol Synthetic ATF) has looked dark and nasty and smelled burnt, strangely enough. Plant to do it again at about 90k. Can't hurt anything.
 
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How much do most vehicles hold? Isn't their fluid in the entire steering rack also? My vehicle is 2wd so it has a steering rack. I'll have to look it up.
 
My truck calls for atf+4. I wonder if I could put amsoil in their or should I just stick with atf+4 like valvoline from autozone.
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
My truck calls for atf+4. I wonder if I could put amsoil in their or should I just stick with atf+4 like valvoline from autozone.
definitely stay with the ATF+4...if I recall, Amsoil states it's compatible with ATF+4...BUT, their fluid is not listed on the center of quality assurance web site...as being a "registered" license holder....basically, you can't actually put the "ATF+4" brand on the bottle unless it's been passed by the "Center for Quality Assurance" or something....is what it sounds like to me....BUT I never heard of this, until I heard about the whole ATF+4 fiasco.....which is supposedly recommended for ALL vehicles 2000 and up....

http://www.centerforqa.com/licensedatf4brands.html has the list of "approved" brands.

Granted, the Royal Purple, or the Amsoil probably would not "hurt" but eh....some transmissions are extremely picky, and when for example Royal Purple's "Max ATF" is compatible for/with 22+ ATF specs, how "Universal" can it really be? You know what I mean? I can't quite fathem the concept, being "compatible" with all these specs, all in one fluid? Now don't get me wrong, there is also a list (much smaller....lol) of fluids it is NOT compatible with though:
Aisin Warner AW-1, Ford Type F, Ford Mercon SP & Mercon LV, GM Dexron VI, Mercedes Benz MB 236.12 & 236.14, Shell M1375.4 (ZF 6-Speed AT) and Toyota WS. Max ATF is not recommended for use in any CVT applications.

But then again, even Amsoil is in the similar boat here...they list ATF+4 on their site too....but are not listed on the above mentioned center for quality assurance site...

I personally wouldn't use it under any warranty period obviously...

But from the sounds of it, any old ATF+4, whether it be Mobil 1, or cheap Super Tech for $3.16/quart should provide the same protection and longevity.....


Oh wow, how off topic we are now ATF in a P/S thread
wink.gif
Back on topic lol,

Originally Posted By: fazzer
Is there also a detergant you could put in to clean the power steering pump and then pump fluid to clean it out and replace the fluid.


The only thing I've ever heard of is MMO, no more than 16 oz. Allegedly most Power Steering fluid is simply light weight oil anyways, so the MMO "fits the bill" here as well...though it has no mention of this usage on the Marvel Mystery Oil bottle itself....

Other than that, I'd say change it out every 30-60k....or as you perform the other "major" maintenance....I've heard of some people hooking the hoses to a pump of sorts, and turning the wheel from "left to right" full turn, lock to lock, over a dozen times, until fresh fluid starts coming out.

If your P/S doesn't contain a filter, I'd personally go this route.....but I don't think detergents are really that necessary...but I can't see them hurting either...I've used 10 oz. of MMO in my P/S as "top off" fluid in a pinch, no problems thus far.
 
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I also use a turkey baster for P/S fluid. I changed mine at 120k back in December with 1.5 quarts of fluid, and it was flushed by Nissan at around 90k. It came out looking very dark purple and smelling terrible. Never gonna let it get that bad again. I used Genuine Nissan PSF (didn't know any better at the time) but at 126,460 miles currently the fluid is still red and smelling okay. Will use synthetic ATF next time, maybe Mobil 1 ATF since it's easy to find.
 
The design of my reservoir didn't let me fit a turkey baster, but had a hose near the bottom. I unclamped it, drained, reclamped, and filled up with fresh ATF. Unless your system is particulary hard on the fluid, I can't see this needing to be changed very often.
 
what kinda car do you have? I think that factors into this a little.

Many (most) Fords seem really sensitive to air getting in there, and it can take forever for the air to purge. They actually have a special tool to both purge the air and fill the system, and after getting air in mine I ended up fashioning a homemade version of the tool to vacuum out the air. So, I'd probably just do a "suck out and refill" if it were a Ford. The Ford pumps also seem to run hot, and to whine, so changing it with a better fluid seems to really help.

Otherwise, at 80K, I'd probably do a flush, the method you use will be determined (a little) by the car. On some cars (Subaru and Honda come to mind), I think it's easier to do a full flush than the turkey baster method.

Once you flush it, you may consider just doing a single evac/fill at a regular interval, say once a year or every other/third oil change.
 
Do the turkey baster flush.
But afterwards start it and turn the wheel, and repeat the process a number of times.
Try to use the whole qt of ATF.
You'll end up with a pretty good change - lots of new fluid.
And it requires no parts removal and there is no mess.
 
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Quote:
How much do most vehicles hold?


Anywhere from 250 to 350 mL in the reservoir. That's about eight to eleven ounces. Light and HD trucks can use upwards of 750 mL to over a quart.

By using the Turkey Baster method, you slowly introduce new fluids for a gentle cleaning effect.

If this is a newer GM vehicle, suggest you use AMSOIL power steering fluid.

If the manuf. allows you to substitute ATF for the PSF, use any good OTC power steering fluid or ATF, or AMSOIL power steering fluid.
 
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I've always changed it at the same time I change the transmission fluid and coolant. Which is around every 40k miles. I just do the turkey baster method over the course of about 3 weekends. It takes just over 1qt of valvoline maxlife trans fluid.
 
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