Poor Man Power Steering Fluid Change

[satown210]

I am a big fan of keeping fluids clean and changed.

I recently let the dealer do my transmission.

I decided to do my power steering and save my self $150+.

Easiest no mess way way is to get a pump from something like a handsoap bottle. ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAN OF ANY SOAPS CHEMICALS ETC!. You don't want to contaminate your system. Pop the cap off the power steering reservoir and use the little pump to empty the reservoir. There is a baffle that sits in the reservoir so you need to guide the pickup tube to the sides of reservoir to be able to get all the fluid out. I pumped the old fluid into an empty soda bottle. Managed to do it without spilling a drop. Refill it with Dexron VI.

Drive it for the day and then do it again. Do it a few times and you will eventually end up replacing all of the fluid.

[Ilya]

Yep! Way to go.

I bought a turkey baster just for the garage though lol. Don't want no Dexron on my Thanksgiving bird lol. But soap bottle dispenser is obviously cheaper and I'm pretty sure we ALL have them.

[cliffyk]

Draining and refilling the reservoir does not "change" the system's 1.0 L of p/s fluid, it just makes it a mix of used and new fluid.

Let's assume for sake of argument that the reservoir holds 0.33 L of fluid; by emptying and refilling the reservoir (and runnnig the engine for a bit) the system now has a mix of 0.67 L (67%) old and 0.33 L (33%) new fluid. Suck the reservoir dry again and the system will have 0.67 L of fluid remaining, that comprised of 1/3 new and 2/3 old fluid--or 0.45 L old and 0.22 L new fluid, filling the reservoir adds another 0.33 L of fresh fluid, so the system's 1 L of fluid becomes 0.45 L (45% )old and (0.22+0.33) 0.55 L (55%) new.

Do it it a couple or three more times and you will be closer to having "changed" the fluid.

The third time the reservoir is drained remaining 2/3L in the system will be 45% (0.3 L) old and 55% (0.37 L) new; adding another 0.33 L of new fluid makes the total 1L of fluid 0.3 L old and 0.7 L new (70% new):

A fourth cycle will leave 0.2 L of old fluid and 0.47 L new in the system--so adding that 0.33 L of new fluid results in 0.2 L old and 0.8 L new (80% new in the system);

Fifth time get closer to the goal. The 0.67 L remaining will be 20% (0.13 L) old and 80% (0.54 L) new When the reservoir is filled this time the system will contain 0.13 L old and 0.87 L new, or 87% new fluid--not completely changed but probably close enough.

If those who have done this know the reservoir capacity I can redo the math anget some more accurate numbers...

[Ilya]

Draining and refilling the reservoir does not "change" the system's 1.0 L of p/s fluid, it just makes it a mix of used and new fluid.

That's what he said. Do it multiple times. Eventually, you'll be left with like 90% new fluid after 4-5 attempts. Good enough IMO.

[satown210]

FYI, I tried a turkey baster too but the reservoir hole is too small and you can only suck out about a 1/3 of the reservoir that way. With the pump I was able to empty it completely as the pickup tube was small enough to fit to the bottom and next to the baffle.

You can buy two quarts of fluid and empty / refill the reservoir about 8 times or more. That should get you close to a complete swap. If not you will be much better off anyways replacing old brown burnt fluid with fresh. You'll be in it for about $18.00.

I enjoy doing work myself. With my apartments tiny one car garage, getting under the car is no longer an option. If you don't mind paying for the service then by all means. I let the dealer do my trans, and next will be the rear diff and brake fluid. I'll probably do the coolant myself.

[Larz]

Every mechanic will tell you it is important to keep the power steering fluid in good condition. They will warn you that today's cars PS systems use higher pressure and smaller internal parts which make clean fluid a necessity to avoid failure of the pump, seals, and rack. However, if you ask 10 specialists when the fluid should be changed, you will get at least 8 different guidelines. They differ from a long as every 4-5 years to as often as every 30,000 miles. The only thing you can be sure of is that changing it too often is better than letting it go too long without change. When you consider that doing it yourself costs about the same as or less than an oil / filter change while replacing parts will costs 100's of dollars, it really doesn't matter to me if I end up chnaging fluid too often. I barely add about 8,000 miles per year so I have decided NOT to use mileage as the interval. I go by time and change mine every two years because fluids don't just break down from mileage, but also from age. I have NO doubt that every two years is a bit overkill and probably not needed, but it's such a cheap project I do it anyway.

Here is how I do it:
I buy a cheap siphon pump from Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Manua ... iphon.TRS0
and use a large plastic bottle with a screw cap to dispose of the fluid.
With the engine cold, remove the reservoir cap and place one end of the siphon inside the reservoir and the other inside to large plastic bottle. Pump all the fluid out of the reservoir.
Start the car momentarily and turn the steering wheel to the left and right as far it will turn. Do that twice and shut off the engine. The reservoir will fill up with old fluid again.
Siphon all the fluid from the reservoir again.
I repeat this a total of THREE times. That removes almost all the fluid from the system.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-Power- ... ering.TRS0
Fill it very slowly to allow air to escape from the PS hose as you fill the tank. Fill to the COLD LINE on the outside of the tank.
Once again, start the engine and turn the steering wheel all the way left and right twice. The fluid will be taken into the system and air will be expelled into the reservoir. Shut the engine off.
Refill the reservoir again to the COLD line on the outside of the tank. Replace the cap, drive the car for a few miles, and let it sit until it completely cools. In the morning, or after the engine is completely cool again, check the reservoir and fill it (if needed) to the COLD full line. Inspect the PS fluid and you will notice it is reddish instead of brown, and it is more slick than the older fluid as well.
This does NOT completely flush the system, but doing this every two years will surely prevent the PS system from running on old, dirty fluid. If you want to get closer to completely changing out all the fluid, just follow the above procedure again until you are satisfied all the old fluid is gone, but make sure you have enough new fluid to replace what you siphon.

[satown210]

That method introduces air into the system and starves the pump. To each their own, but I'd rather not do it like that. Once you get air into the system and the power steering fluid gets churned with air, it takes a while to bleed it and get it topped off.

[Ilya]

That method introduces air into the system and starves the pump. To each their own, but I'd rather not do it like that. Once you get air into the system and the power steering fluid gets churned with air, it takes a while to bleed it and get it topped off.

How do you do it? Inquiring minds want to know.

[satown210]

If I read correctly, he said he empties the reservoir, then runs the motor for a bit to push more fluid into the reservoir a few times. He does this before adding anymore fluid.

If you read the posts I list exactly how I do it. I am not saying his method is wrong but I would not do it due to air and starving a pump for fluid even if just for a few seconds at a time.

[EdBwoy]

I like the poor man method of skinning the cat. It's not a complete overhaul (no system ever is), but it employs the principle of solution by dilution very well... with very little mess, and is fairly quick.

I could do it once every week, month or 10x in a day if time allows.
I use syringes with skinny flexible tubes attached so I can do it while checking the oil and not break a sweat. Eventually the fluid will clear up.

[cliffyk]

Draining and refilling the reservoir does not "change" the system's 1.0 L of p/s fluid, it just makes it a mix of used and new fluid.

That's what he said. Do it multiple times. Eventually, you'll be left with like 90% new fluid after 4-5 attempts. Good enough IMO.

THanks, I had missed that--need to improve my reading skills...

[Ilya]

If I read correctly, he said he empties the reservoir, then runs the motor for a bit to push more fluid into the reservoir a few times. He does this before adding anymore fluid.

If you read the posts I list exactly how I do it. I am not saying his method is wrong but I would not do it due to air and starving a pump for fluid even if just for a few seconds at a time.

lol my bad...I didn't notice that you were the OP . I agree with your method. I thought you were another poster calling out the original post lol. My bad. Carry on.

[Shkhrp]

in my odyssey and corollas, I can remove the PS return hose (I have a decent service manual with some pictures) and direct it into to waste oil container. Then proceed to empty the reservoir and refill it with fresh fluid, only then I will start the engine and turn steering, holding for 3 seconds at the right and left extreme points. Shut off the car, refill the reservoir. Repeat twice. Top off the reservoir to end the job. I could replace about a liter of old fluid with new.
I have recently bought a 2006 M35 and the PS fluid is ready for a flush. Can some one please let me know location of return line (a diagram and a picture or two would really make a difference) in relation to the ps fluid reservoir. This could help a lot.Thank you.

[mikedamageinc]

The easiest way to do this without making a mess, without putting air in, and without mixing is to get a brake bleeder from harbor freight $20 which is already worth it for brakes. Pull all the old fluid from reservoir, pull off return line and cap reservoir fitting, fill with new fluid, jack front end up with wheels in the air, turn accessories on and turn wheel back and forth while keeping reservoir full and watch fluid coming out of hose, when turns red and fresh, reconnect hose. Continue turning wheel back and forth just in case air got in. Turn car on and drive, making lots of turns in culdesacs and recheck fluid level.

[Larz]

That method introduces air into the system and starves the pump. To each their own, but I'd rather not do it like that. Once you get air into the system and the power steering fluid gets churned with air, it takes a while to bleed it and get it topped off.

No air gets into the system my way. Turning the wheel simply forces more old fluid up into the reservoir. I double-checked this with an Infiniti tech. The pump is NEVER without fluid using my method as there is always enough remaining fluid in the lines into and out of the actual pump. Per the tech, it is quite hard to make the system send air to the pump as the system is designed to send any air into the reservoir where it becomes trapped and results in a low level on the reservoir markings. It's like the cooling system where air will actually 'travel' through the whole system.
If you refill the reservoir EACH time you syphon the fluid, it is impossible to send air to the pump because fluid enters the system from the bottom of the reservoir where no air can remain. - that's simple physics. The pump itself will never have air in it unless the fluid in the reservoir and the lines is completely removed and not replaced.

[yeller]

Every mechanic will tell you it is important to keep the power steering fluid in good condition. They will warn you that today's cars PS systems use higher pressure and smaller internal parts which make clean fluid a necessity to avoid failure of the pump, seals, and rack. However, if you ask 10 specialists when the fluid should be changed, you will get at least 8 different guidelines. They differ from a long as every 4-5 years to as often as every 30,000 miles. The only thing you can be sure of is that changing it too often is better than letting it go too long without change. When you consider that doing it yourself costs about the same as or less than an oil / filter change while replacing parts will costs 100's of dollars, it really doesn't matter to me if I end up chnaging fluid too often. I barely add about 8,000 miles per year so I have decided NOT to use mileage as the interval. I go by time and change mine every two years because fluids don't just break down from mileage, but also from age. I have NO doubt that every two years is a bit overkill and probably not needed, but it's such a cheap project I do it anyway.

Here is how I do it:
I buy a cheap siphon pump from Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Manua ... iphon.TRS0
and use a large plastic bottle with a screw cap to dispose of the fluid.
With the engine cold, remove the reservoir cap and place one end of the siphon inside the reservoir and the other inside to large plastic bottle. Pump all the fluid out of the reservoir.
Start the car momentarily and turn the steering wheel to the left and right as far it will turn. Do that twice and shut off the engine. The reservoir will fill up with old fluid again.
Siphon all the fluid from the reservoir again.
I repeat this a total of THREE times. That removes almost all the fluid from the system.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-Power- ... ering.TRS0
Fill it very slowly to allow air to escape from the PS hose as you fill the tank. Fill to the COLD LINE on the outside of the tank.
Once again, start the engine and turn the steering wheel all the way left and right twice. The fluid will be taken into the system and air will be expelled into the reservoir. Shut the engine off.
Refill the reservoir again to the COLD line on the outside of the tank. Replace the cap, drive the car for a few miles, and let it sit until it completely cools. In the morning, or after the engine is completely cool again, check the reservoir and fill it (if needed) to the COLD full line. Inspect the PS fluid and you will notice it is reddish instead of brown, and it is more slick than the older fluid as well.
This does NOT completely flush the system, but doing this every two years will surely prevent the PS system from running on old, dirty fluid. If you want to get closer to completely changing out all the fluid, just follow the above procedure again until you are satisfied all the old fluid is gone, but make sure you have enough new fluid to replace what you siphon.

Thanks for the details. Looking through my maintenance history I realized mine hasn't been changed in over 100k miles. Going to get these parts and change the fluid this weekend.