Power steer fluid??
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 11:42
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jonboy
Hi
I want to drain and flush my power steering
Can anyone please tell me what is the best way to go about this?(is there a line i can undo and pump it out?)
And how much fluid will i need to fill it back up(what do they Hold?)
And is there a special power steering fluid i need to put back in?
The car is a 2004 prado
Cheers Jon
Reply By: Peter 2 - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 13:00
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 13:00
You can disconnect the return (low pressure side) on the pump or cooler and run it into a bucket, run the engine for10- 20 secs, stop,refill and run again until fluid is clean going into bucket. If there is easy/safe access to the reservoir while the engine is running you can get an assistant to fill it while the engine is running saving abit of time.
Don't run it dry as it will stuff the pump very quickly as
well as having to bleed the air out which can be difficult sometimes.
The system usually only holds a couple of litres at the most.
I get
mine changed when the auto is serviced as it can make a big mess ;-)))
There is special power steering fluid but a good quality ATF is what they usually use.
AnswerID:
222446
Follow Up By: thomasando - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 19:32
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 19:32
I used this method on my '97 80 series diesel. Worked
well. I used about 2.5L of ATF to do the whole job.
FollowupID:
483348
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:20
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:20
Hi there Peter this is exactly how I do
mine how you have described and have never had any trouble. Still have the original pump on
mine 18 year old. Steve M
FollowupID:
483361
Reply By: Member - John R (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:07
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:07
Err, why would you need to change the P.S. fluid on a 3 year
old car?
AnswerID:
222527
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:22
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 20:22
Why wouldnt you ?? It does just as much work as tranny, gets condensation etc so keeps the internals in good nick. Steve M
FollowupID:
483362
Follow Up By: Member - John R (NSW) - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 08:51
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 08:51
Hi Steve,
I'd dispute that a PS (which is just a simple pump) "does as much work as a tranny", considering it has very few moving parts, no clutches etc. and doesn't need a cooler. :-)
The only time I'd bother changing it is if it became contaminated for some reason.
Jonboy, the book doesn't specify a change interval (even under severe conditions). It does, however recommend Dexron 2 or 3 for topups. The only difference between regular ATF and PS fluid (assuming it meets spec) is the dye colour.
FollowupID:
483437
Follow Up By: Member - John R (NSW) - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 08:53
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 08:53
"The only difference between regular ATF and PS fluid (assuming it meets spec) is the dye colour."
Ooops - AND retail price :-)
FollowupID:
483438
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 10:50
Monday, Feb 19, 2007 at 10:50
Yeah true there
John didnt think of clutch packs etc, but I know in my old (01 VX) commodore the fluid use to go very dark quit quickly and it did actually have a power steer cooler which ran down and infront of the radiator standard. It was scheduled in my maintenance books that it be changed every 40 thou, so I use to do it. Funny thing is my old lux even thou I change it never goes dark like the commodore use to. Will be interseting to see if the new toyota (my wifes car) will go dark or stay the same colour
bright pink like the lux does. Steve M
FollowupID:
483479