Easiest, best way to change power steering fluid

[parkerbink]

I was checking my fluids, basking in the psudo perfection that is my car now that all the work is done and it occured to me to see the color of the ps fluid which is not visible due to the fact that the little stick on the lid is black so I wiped it on a white paper towel and damn if it is not filthy.

It is the only fluid I have not personally changed so I pulled out the ole Bentley and it gives the capacity, the way to replace the pump, the rack whatever else there is but all it says about the fluid it that it need be Dextron I or II (shit I have been putting ps fluid) and that there is no drain plug and that's it.

So how do I r&r the freaking fluid?

Thanks

[AdamF 88iS]

Disconnect some hoses and let it drian until youre satisfied with how empty you've gotten it.

[parkerbink]

Would that not leave the fluid that is in the pump and anywhere else that is before/after the hoses?

Thanks

[AdamF 88iS]

Would that not leave the fluid that is in the pump and anywhere else that is before/after the hoses?

Thanks

Yea, it would, but you'd empty out the bottle as soon as you disconnected the intake hose (easiest one to get); and the bottle is where the majority of the fluid is in the system. Best you can do aside from that is turn the steering lock to lock with something still disconnected (preferably the return line) to get as much out of the rack as possible.

If it really bothers you, you can do a refill, run the car, then drain again to flush it out, but it's not really worth the time.

Whatever you do, don't run the car with no fluid in there. Your pump will hate you for it.

[parkerbink]

Cool, Thanks!

[trashcop 80s 80s]

I am planning on doing this during the christmas break. So is it ok to use ps fluid? I was going to use some Valvoline synthetic ps fluid, or should I take it back and use Dexron.

[rs4pro3]

There is a large drain bolt on the Rack it self, not sure if it will get all the fluid out, But ussualy when I ship a rack, I undo that bolt and let it sit overnight to get the fluid out.

[parkerbink]

I have been putting ps fluid in since I got the car over a year ago (I have not put in much as it does not leak) Bentley says Dextron I or II and I assume this is why my fluid is black and weird. I figure it must be right if it is in the Bentley.

There is a large drain bolt on the Rack it self, not sure if it will get all the fluid out, But ussualy when I ship a rack, I undo that bolt and let it sit overnight to get the fluid out.

Thanks for the tip. I am on my way to the garage to do it.

[nando]

I am planning on doing this during the christmas break. So is it ok to use ps fluid? I was going to use some Valvoline synthetic ps fluid, or should I take it back and use Dexron.

the system is designed for ATF. don't use anything else if you like your car.. and it's not like it's hard to find or anything.

[erik325i]

You are supposed to use ATF as stated in the Bentley.
I guess PS fluid will work temporarily (as you figured out), but it is best to switch to ATF next time.
-Erik

[trashcop 80s 80s]

There is a large drain bolt on the Rack it self, not sure if it will get all the fluid out, But ussualy when I ship a rack, I undo that bolt and let it sit overnight to get the fluid out.

The one that is a 22mm? I tried pulling that once, then there was another nut, I pulled that off and nothing came out. I think the only way to do it is to pull a hose.

Would it work if I pulled the return line and had someone turning the wheel while I add fluid in the tank to give it a flush? THe fluid looks pretty nasty and I want to try to get as much out as I can.

[Digitalwave]

You are supposed to use ATF as stated in the Bentley.
I guess PS fluid will work temporarily (as you figured out), but it is best to switch to ATF next time.
-Erik

Yeah, it also says ATF ONLY right on the cap of the resevoir.

[bimmer8604]

Use ATF.

My shitty ass instructer at school told me i could use PS fluid, and after we did a flush(we have a nifty machine) about a week later it started leaking like a MOFO. So i had to flush it again with ATF. Still leaking, but not as bad as before.

Do some people not see that it says ATF ONLY on the cap? and just sit there and STILL put in the wrong stuff? I did it only because I believed my instructer, plus all the fluid was free. I dont think it hurt anything, but i'm doing a new rack soon(mines fubared)

Kyle

[parkerbink]

Mine does not say that, why is it a stretch to think POWER STEERING FLUID would go in the POWER STEERING SYSTEM? I have had no ill effects and I have now fully flushed my system & put in ATF.

[bimmer8604]

just check ur owners book, should say it in there.

Glad you got it changed...

Kyle