How to flush the power steering?

[BigCars4Ever]

Can anyone explain how to flush the power steering system? I'm closing in on 85K and It's looking dirty. Thanks in advance!

[Black_Noise]

first get something that can suck up liquid. Start car jack up front so both wheels are off the ground.

Suck out resivoir till its almost empty.... do let it go dry or pump will cavitate.
Top off with fresh fuild.
Then wheel back and forth a couple times.

Repeat these steps about 3-4 times.

Turn wheels to all the way to lock one way, repeat drain and refill procedure again.
Turn wheels to lock the other way. repeat drain and refill again.

This should get MOSTLY ALL of the old fluid flushed out.

You will need a couple of quarts of PS fluid.

Thats a lamens version of how we do it at work... but we have a pump machine that will pump out the old and pump in new, it only takes about 10 mins with the machine

[BigCars4Ever]

Found this on a Mustang site. Does this sound like a good way to do it? Seems like you could get almost all of it out this way.

Flushed my power steering fluid this weekend and was amazed at the crap that came out, rancid hot chocolate comes to mind. I have never seen power steering fluid go bad like that, especially when the van only has 45k on it. No wonder it was making some bad noises. I tried emptying the reservoir a couple times to get some new fluid but eventually just flushed it with 2 qts of Mobil1 synthetic which should be able to take the heat better. Just for kicks I checked my Nissan with 100k on it, fluid was still perfectly red. Noises are gone the power steering acts and sounds as good as new.

If the steps haven't been posted before here's the Ford manual steps.

- Empty as much fluid from the reservoir as possible
- Pull the fuel pump relay
- Remove the return line from the power steering reservoir (mine didn't want to come off so I cut it off since I had plenty of slack in the hose), make sure you have shop towels under the line
- Place a small length of hose over the opening in the reservoir and clamp shut
- Place the return line in a clear length of hose run to a bucket, 5/8"
inside diameter will fit tightly without the need for a clamp
- Raise the front wheels on jackstands
- While you get ready to pour new ATF into the reservoir, have your helper crank the engine while turning the wheels from stop to stop. Do not hold the wheel against the stops for more than 3 seconds. Also since the starter motor is being used do not crank more than 15 seconds at a time and give it a 1 minute rest in between.
- Watch the fluid coming out, once it is clear of old fluid stop cranking
and reassemble
- Refill fluid to proper level
- Make sure you purge the air out of the system, I made the mistake of going for a test drive before purging and it sounded like the engine was coming apart.
- To purge lower the wheels on the ground, start the engine and turn the wheels back and forth quickly but do not hit the stops.
- Stop the engine and refill the reservoir to proper level, repeat until the
fluid does not drop anymore.

Hope this isn't a repeat of past posts, it was a quick and easy process and completely flushes the system of old fluid.

[Bulten Rauder]

Some things (like this) are best left to the experts with the proper resources (ie. good mechanic with good facility). This is not a big expense.

[252life]

It's very easy to do.

Remove the bottom hose (put the hose into a cut off plastic bottle or similar) from P/S reservoir and run engine for a few seconds.

Reattach the hose and fill the reservoir, start engine turn lock to lock a few times, then fill some more, finished.


(A pump from a soap bottle is perfect to use to pump out the fluid from the reservoir before you remove the hose.)

[Bulten Rauder]

A pump from a soap bottle is perfect to use to pump out the fluid from the reservoir...

I like this idea. Very good idea :up:

[BigCars4Ever]

I'm going to give this a shot next week.

[Gre8one7]

I do it the same way as black noise. But maybe thats just how us Iowans do it lol.

[armandjones82]

If the steps haven't been posted before here's the Ford manual steps.

- Empty as much fluid from the reservoir as possible
- Pull the fuel pump relay
- Remove the return line from the power steering reservoir (http://www.car-stuff.com/powersteeringreservoir.htm) (mine didn't want to come off so I cut it off since I had plenty of slack in the hose), make sure you have shop towels under the line
- Place a small length of hose over the opening in the reservoir and clamp shut
- Place the return line in a clear length of hose run to a bucket, 5/8"
inside diameter will fit tightly without the need for a clamp
- Raise the front wheels on jackstands
- While you get ready to pour new ATF into the reservoir, have your helper crank the engine while turning the wheels from stop to stop. Do not hold the wheel against the stops for more than 3 seconds. Also since the starter motor is being used do not crank more than 15 seconds at a time and give it a 1 minute rest in between.
- Watch the fluid coming out, once it is clear of old fluid stop cranking
and reassemble
- Refill fluid to proper level
- Make sure you purge the air out of the system, I made the mistake of going for a test drive before purging and it sounded like the engine was coming apart.
- To purge lower the wheels on the ground, start the engine and turn the wheels back and forth quickly but do not hit the stops.
- Stop the engine and refill the reservoir to proper level, repeat until the
fluid does not drop anymore.

Hope this isn't a repeat of past posts, it was a quick and easy process and completely flushes the system of old fluid.
What do you mean with purging the air out of the system?? sorry I am a nooooobie newbie.. How do you purge the air out?

[Blackened300a]

I pull the belt off the engine, then remove the return line off the pump and turn the pulley by hand to pull the fluid through. I just don't feel right turning the engine 1000 RPMs with no fluid in the pump.

[fastblackmerc]

What do you mean with purging the air out of the system?? sorry I am a nooooobie newbie.. How do you purge the air out?

You turn the steering wheel from lock to lock and it will get the air out of the system.

[burt ragio]

How do you know what line is the return line ?

[Blackened300a]

How do you know what line is the return line ?

Its clamped. Pressure lines have a threaded fitting.

[Chevyguy]

It's very easy to do.

Remove the bottom hose (put the hose into a cut off plastic bottle or similar) from P/S reservoir and run engine for a few seconds.

Reattach the hose and fill the reservoir, start engine turn lock to lock a few times, then fill some more, finished.


(A pump from a soap bottle is perfect to use to pump out the fluid from the reservoir before you remove the hose.)

I did that with my old 93 Crown Vic and the fluid shot out of the hose, overwhelmed the quart container I had to catch the fluid and created a Tsunami like experience.

Now I pull the fuel pump or PCM relay and just use the starter to SLOWLY empty the system.


When you refill the system you have to run the steering back and forth from lock to lock a few times this purges the air from the system. Once the pump turns quiet you are done.

[Taemian]

Thats a lamens version of how we do it at work...

I think you mean "layman's" version;)

[JOEMERC]

I do the turkey baster method to take out what i can several times a year to freshen the fluid,and the master cylinder too.