Power Steering flush

[mjonson]

Does anyone know how to do a power steering flush on a 1992 Q45? Any help would be greatly appriciated.

[Q45denver]

Just drain and fill. Not really necessary as a turkey baster works fine. Just don't use on turkey afterwards.

[Mint Q45A]

I just happened to change the fluid on mine on Thanksgiving.....This is what I did in order to get most of the old fluid replaced:

Preparation1. Empty the reservoir using the turkey baster 2. Disconnect the return line going to the reservoir (small hose going upwards on the side)3. Plug the hole on the pipe going into the reservoir - I used a plastic cap the fit perfectly4. Cut a piece of approx. 3 ft of garden hose5. Connect the piece of hose to the end of the return line - the one you disconnected from the reservoir. You may want to use a hose clamp so that you don't make much of a mess....6. Route the other end of the hose to an empty bottle - I used a two litter soda bottle. You may want to set it on the floor - assuming the hose reaches. This bottle will collect all the old fluid...

Now you are ready to start "exchanging" the old fluid....but you need an assitant to help you....

1. Fill the reservoir with fresh fluid (ATF Mercon III). You can fill it up to the rim. Make sure the plug on the side pipe doesn't leak...2. While closely watching the level of the fluid, have your assistant start the car, but be ready to shut it down after just a couple of seconds3. You will see how quickly the pump starts sucking in the fluid from the reservoir and spitting the old fluid into the plastic bottle. Make sure you signal your assistant to shut the car down as soon as you see the level in the reservoir is half way down....otherwise you run the risk of letting the pump catch air... 3. Repeat this process a few times until you see clean fluid coming out the other end (into the bottle)4. Have your assistant turn the wheel as far as possible to one side while the car is running. Repeat to the other side...5. Once you feel that there's no more dirty fluid coming out, start the car one more time but do not refill it. This will allow you to remove the plug on the side tube and reconnect the return line. NOTE: It may be a little challenging to disconnect the garden hose from the return line without spilling some fluid... 6. Once you connect the return line to the reservoir, you can fill it - be carefull to not overfill it - the operating level is well below the rim...

I used approximately 3qts of fluid to do the whole thing.

This might not be a true "power flush" but it did exchange the old fluid....Hope this helps...

[maxnix]

Actually Sun (SnapOn) and BG both have machines to extract and fill, or if really bad, mechanically flush the PS fluid through the system.

Drain and fill is an incomplete solution as the rack cannot be turned from one extreme of travel to the other extreme to release all the contaminanted fluid.

There is always a simpler, cheaper way that is not as effective as doing it correctly. Allow for 1 gallon for the continuous extraction and refill method. More for the low pressure system flush. If you use M1 ATF, be sure to sue a seal conditioner like a BG shop will.

http://www.bgfindashop.com

[StarPD]

Actually Sun (SnapOn) and BG both have machines to extract and fill, or if really bad, mechanically flush the PS fluid through the system.

Drain and fill is an incomplete solution as the rack cannot be turned from one extreme of travel to the other extreme to release all the contaminanted fluid.

There is always a simpler, cheaper way that is not as effective as doing it correctly. Allow for 1 gallon for the continuous extraction and refill method. More for the low pressure system flush. If you use M1 ATF, be sure to sue a seal conditioner like a BG shop will.

http://www.bgfindashop.com

I just had the steering system on my '05 Q45 flushed at the dealer. Cost me $165 with a 10% parts discounts, labor, misc, etc. I consider it cheap compared to buying parts, especialy since doing a complete flush gets all, or at least almost all old stuff out of the system.

[Skibane]

Slightly OT, but the "turkey baster" only works on first-generation Qs - The later models have a non-removable debris screen at the top of the PS fluid reservoir.

[qship96]

I just had the steering system on my '05 Q45 flushed at the dealer. Cost me $165 with a 10% parts discounts, labor, misc, etc. I consider it cheap compared to buying parts, especialy since doing a complete flush gets all, or at least almost all old stuff out of the system.

Wow, $165.00 for a power steering flush with the discount?Lets see, on my 1996q, I have turkey-basted 1 quart of synthetic ATF thru the system every year at a total cost of $5.00 x12 years=total cost of $60.00, as compared to $165.00 x12 years=$1980.00 - what a waste of money, as my $60.00 investment has my steering system still operating as new at 205,000 miles with original rack,pump,and zero leaks! Plenty of better ways to blow 2k more effectively on a Q