My PS steering fluid looks black... why?

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  • JubJub
    Wrencher
    • Feb 2011
    • 256

    #1

    My PS steering fluid looks black... why?

    Hey guys just a quick background on the car and whats been done:

    1986 325e
    Injectors sent out for cleaning, intake manifold removed, timing belt and acc belts replaced, sparks replaced, dist cap/rotor replaced

    Everything was reassembled. I went to crank it and it fired up, but rev'd between 1-2k for a minute or two before idling just below 1k (seems a bit high). It made me think I had a vaccum leak but its only when you just start it, otherwise it doesn't fluctuate like that.

    In the process of double checking the engine the ps/atf line that hooks up to my radiator started to leak. I shut it off, cleaned up the spill and left it to come back to this week.

    That said I went out and bought more fluid to add since I lose some and noticed that inside my reservoir the fluid has the consistency of water and is black. (but when it leaked by the radiator it was red)

    Does anyone know why? Is there water that got in there somehow? ( I flushed out the old coolant with water). I'm afraid I'm going to have to drain all the PS/ATF fluid. Is this normal for it to be black? Would adding more fluid remedy the situation?
  • davem
    Mod Crazy
    • Jun 2010
    • 705

    #2
    It's probably never been drained. Drain it and refill it a couple times to get clean fluid in the system. Replace the PS reservoir, it has a filter in it.

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    • JubJub
      Wrencher
      • Feb 2011
      • 256

      #3
      Where is the nut that I can drain it from? And would you happen to know the capacity for the system? (I'm on an automatic transmission)

      Comment

      • bimmerteck
        Mod Crazy
        • Mar 2009
        • 762

        #4
        Although you Power steering and Transmission may use the same type of fluid they are independent of each other. If you were leaking from the transmission cooler line you will need to top up your transmission. ;)

        Comment

        • clydesdale
          Mod Crazy
          • Aug 2006
          • 631

          #5
          Go under the car from the driver's side, the big honking bolt starring at you on the pump is a 22mm bolt. Loosen that up and let it drain out. When you remove the banjo bolt, don't loose the two copper crush rings. Then turn the wheels lock to lock 10 times to dump the fluid. Put the fitting back on and fill it up.

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