Post Your Latest Power Steering Fluid Change

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
9,103
Location
MN
Here's a thread for us rare few (perhaps not?) who actually change their Power Steering Fluid.

Full change or Turkey Baster (TB), it don't matter.

I'll go 1st with the last vehicle's change only:

- 2000 Saturn SL2, 37,104 miles purchased 1 week ago.

- Out: Original GM PS fluid.

- In: Twice (so far): Amsoil ATF via Turkey Baster
 
Nissan Navara over the last 8 years Castrol Transmax Z x3L

Caprice over the last year and some Penrite PSA x 2 L

turkey baster method.
 
All my Nissans:
Turkey baster, Mobil 1 ATF.

Mustang, P/S pump leaking shaft seal, Napa PSF.
Will be changing the pump next weekend. Then Mobil 1 ATF.

Dave
 
I regularly change the PS fluid in both vehicles, mostly because we bought each of them used and I'm a clean fluid fiend.

I've changed the Acura's fluid about 4x now, by pumping out the reservoir and re-filling with new. I've done the Honda's twice by that method.

Using Honda Genuine PS Fluid in both.
 
Originally Posted By: rjacket
2012 Bugatti Veyron 1000 miles
Out: Original fluid
In: ST PS Fluid


Really? Really?
crackmeup2.gif


Every oil change (16 - 30k km; roughly once a year) I use my mityvac 7400 extractor to suck out the PSF of both VWs and replace with fresh Pentosin CHF11s. A 1 liter tin is $20 but it lasts a long time... especially when you don't have to replace the rack prematurely by keeping the fluid fresh.
 
81 MB 240D. Sucked it out, changed the PS filter (super easy), refilled the reservoir with MB fluid.
 
2005 Audi S4 sedan 6MT

Out: OEM VAG fluid (Pentosin, I believe)

In: Swepco 715

Method: turkey baster


swep-715640x480.jpg
 
01 F250 7.3L PSD----->3months ago

Method: Complete Flush Through Hydro Boost
Fluid: 4qts ATF Synthetic

Added Magnafine P/S Filter between hydro boost & pump
will change filter every 15k miles.


Will do this flush every 30K miles from here on out
{Takes about 30min once set up}

After old ATF settled in the clear 2gal jug, I was so glad I did this flush. Really opened my eyes to how important this needs to be added into my maintenance routine.
 
2007 Honda Civic 1.8L Auto.

First PS fluid change @ 128,000 miles. Did a complete flush via the Honda service manual using 8 bottles on Honda PS fluid. (disconnected the return line and ran about 8 bottle of fluid through the system as the engine idled and the wife was turning the steering wheel side to side) Basically kept flushing until super clean fluid was coming out.

I plan to repeat this in about 6 months (to allow the new fluid in there right now to have plenty of time to clean as it's already turning dark after only a month and 3,000 miles. I guess it's cleaning the leftovers from the last 130,000 miles)

Then i'll leave the fluid in there for 60-100k depending on the driving conditions.
 
04 camry LE:

turkey baster PSF fluid change twice already since it was acquired almost 4 yrs ago, with Wallymart supatech PSF and a bit of lube control.

typically, this car's PSF gets changed every 3 yrs. Still holding up well.

Q.

my 07 fit runs on electrical servo assisted power steering so no fluid change required.
 
- 02 BMW 330ci (sold) M1 ATF - Mityvac about 3/4L at every oil change
- 09 Honda Ody - Mityvac the little reservoir and refill with Honda fluid every year.
 
06 Focus - several fluid changes via shampoo pump to evacuate, then just pour in new fluid.
All I use on my vehicles is Mobil 1 ATF, which by the way is about 10 bucks a quart now!! Owwie!

I try to do this every 6 months or so to keep the fluid fresh in both vehicles.
 
Escort Zx2
204k miles
Turkey baster method with RP Max ATF twice a year..No problems to report
 
I'm a little surprised at what I am reading. Power steering fluid is not even on most manufacturer's maintenance and there are people changing it once a year!

When I changed mine after 7 years, I did 3 partial extract and fills a week apart. Based on the system capacity and amount extracted / filled that meant I ended up changing 60% of the original fluid.

On the 3rd extract and fill the extracted fluid looked identical to fresh fluid. Each extract and fill was only changing about 27% of the overall capacity, but over 3 treatments with time in between, it was enough to clean the system after 7 years.

I checked again several weeks after doing this, and the fluid was as clean as the new fluid.

I'll check it again in a few months to be sure, but this way I ended up only using a quart. If I need to do some more, it will be less than a quart. Heck another quart will mean I've practically completely exchanged all the fluid, with one quart used to do a thorough cleaning over time and another quart in there as fresh fluid for several more years.

In that respect, it seems a waste of fluids and $ to run 8 bottles through the system to flush it.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: rjacket
I'm a little surprised at what I am reading.....In that respect, it seems a waste of fluids and $ to run 8 bottles through the system to flush it.


I think it's really car-dependent. In my past Volvos, I did a flush with Pentosin @ 50K-75K. It always looked pretty good, and never had any PS issues. With my Ford, the pump was screaming like a scalded cat @ 40K. I did a full flush @ 40K, then do an evac/fill at the reservoir one a year (M1 ATF). The fluid starts to get pretty dark, and I actually notice a difference after the drain/fill, so obviously the old fluid is getting beaten up for some reason. I can only guess that the routing of the hoses and the amount of heat the unit sees has something to do with it.

I flushed the original fluid in a friend's CRV @ 60K and it looked pretty good, felt fine. A year later the fluid is still completely clear. So I guess "it depends".
 
Back
Top