Would you consider the power steering fluid a normal maintenance item?
How would one flush and refill it?
What kind of fluid and how much?
Thanks, Marc B.
Would you consider the power steering fluid a normal maintenance item?
How would one flush and refill it?
What kind of fluid and how much?
Thanks, Marc B.
Some people say yes some no, Personally i have never changed mine have seen no problems.
it wouldnt hurt to change it, i changed mine, valvoline if i remember correctly makes a powersteering flush kit kinda thing, at my work we had a fluid extractor you hooked up to a air line and sucked it out, then put the flush in, turn wheels back and forth suck it out, refill, turn, and so on and so on. i dont see why a hand extractor wont work,
if your going to do all of this, go ahead and get some amsoil transmission fluid to refill it with
when i change my trans fluid, i change my PS fluid. i just suck out the fluid in the reservoir and put in new. i then run it and then do it again until i use up the quart. i just use the same fluid as i put in my trans.
A power steering pump is only a pressure system. It has no clutches or frictional surfaces to contend with, just maintain pressure. It does not "wear" out. It can get dirty over time but if you drive on paved streets and are not driving thru water that the windshield is breaking water, there is no reason to change it....unless you just need something to do.
Would you consider the power steering fluid a normal maintenance item?:
Yes!! Every vehicle I've ever changed the fluid in resulted in a very noticeable difference. Not something you need to change every oil change or so, but every 50,000 doesn't hurt a thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjb1032
How would one flush and refill it?:
The vast majority of the system fluid is in the reservoir. Use a turkey baster and get as much out as possible and replace. If you're really anal (like me) you can remove the hoses at various points from the sytem and let it drain, but it really doesn't result in that much more fluid being evacuated to justify the labor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjb1032
What kind of fluid and how much?:
Amsoil ATF (or if you insist, any other fluid that meets Ford Type F fluid [check your owners manual to be sure though...it'll say]) Just replace with what ever quantity is required to bring it back to the fill line on the reservior. I think the whole system is less than a quart.
Thanks Guys for the replys,
If you've seen the paint work I've done on this truck.....
I'm just trying my damnest to make it last. This was my dream purchase back in 04, and with 2 kids I know I won't be able to buy a newer truck anytime soon.
The simple maint. things I can do I will.
The rust fight will be tougher especially here in Mass.
I'm still thinking of even removing door panels and trying to get paint into the lowest door seams where rust could start.
I hate rust, it sucks to see your nice car/truck look like crap after 5 years cause the rust has started.
I know....move from Mass....I would but I know the wife and kids will find me!
I'm getting a power steering whine when it's cold out so today I'm changing the fluid to see if it helps any. I'm not really counting on it changing much but it's worth a shot.
I'm getting a power steering whine when it's cold out so today I'm changing the fluid to see if it helps any. I'm not really counting on it changing much but it's worth a shot.
Any updates after the fluid change? Debating on going the full synthetic route on mine too, just to try to get rid of the cold morning whine...
Just do it!!, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!!,I have done this in the past a few times and the "whine" is gone.I have always used Amsoil ATF or Amsoil PSF (power steering fluid) depending on the required application.
Correct,use ATF for "Ford truck" applications, "some other applications" use PSF. I was not advocating PSF for our trucks,simply stating that I have used both for different vehicles with the same results. (always check Amsoil application tables for your vehicle!).
I would disagree that the power steering never needs service and below is proof in the form of before and after power steering fluid oil analysis. Power steering pumps are vane types and the industry standard for oil cleanliness on that type of pump is about ISO 18/16/13 to get a good lifetime from the pump, with particle 5 micron and above being listed as the most harmful. Also, rack and pinion seals and housing are sensitive to contaminants. I'm not saying you can't get out of warranty or get to 100K by NOT changing your PS fluid, just that you increase the odds of never having to work on the system by either changing the fluid or installing an inline filter (such as a Magnefine) into the return line. In most cases, the fluid doesn't "wear out" but it gets loaded with contaminants that cause a chain reaction of wear, i.e. one abrasive particle creates two more, they create two each and so on.
Note that in both cases, even though the fluid had been changed previous, that was still dirtier than the generic "industry standard" ISO cleanliness code for the type of system. There may be more exact information for these particular applications, but I couldn't obtain it and it's likely considered proprietary by FoMoCo.
These tests were done on two of my trucks, an '05 F-150HD 4x4 (rack & pinion) and an '86 F-250HD 4x4 (recirc. ball). Note that the systems had a full or partial oil change before the Magnefines were added to the return lines on both trucks, so the "before" numbers reflect that. In the case of the '86 truck, I have only done partial changes via a turkey baster every 30K, so the oil was still dark. Also note that I tried not to drain any more fluid than could be helped during the filter installation process. By pinching the hoses closed, that was pretty easy, but I did have to add a small amount of new fluid in both cases.
Also note that these were "real" (optical) particle counts done by Oilcheck, not a pore blockage contaminant analysis.
Samples were taken via suction gun, oil hot and engine running.
Truck 1: 1986 F-250 137K miles (about 3K on a partial fluid change, fluid still dark)
ISO Code Before: 21/18/14
4-6um- 1,006,050/100ml
6-14um-160,340/100ml
14-21um- 5,539/100ml
21-38um- 2,616/100ml
38-70um- 154/100ml
>70 um- 0
After 289 Miles w/Magnefine filter
ISO Code After: 18/16/13
4-6um- 159,870/100ml
6-14um-50,720/100ml
14-21um- 3,385/100ml
21-38um- 1,231/100ml
38-70um- 154/100ml
>70um- 0
Note the reduction in the small particles. Considering the Magnefine is a 35um (absolute) filter, all that small stuff must be ferrous and is being intercepted by the magnet. Note also that this was only 289 miles!
Truck 2: 2005 F-150 16K miles (full fluid change/flush 5K previous to test)
ISO Code Before: 20/17/12
4-6um- 545,820/100ml
6-14um-107,520/100ml
14-21um- 2,001/100ml
21-38um- 154/100ml
38-70um- 0/100ml
>70um- 0
After 552 miles w/Magnefine
ISO Code: 17/15/12
4-6um- 68,110/100ml
6-14um-22,320/100ml
14-21um- 1,365/100ml
21-38um- 546/100ml
38-70um- 137/100ml
>70um- 0
DKSTONE05 - Did it get rid of the whine? Mine started whining a little today. Headed to Colorado to roam the back country and trying to get this thing road trip 4x4 all day ready!
I changed my power steering fluid twice to try to get rid of the cold start "cat in a blender" sound with little success. First tried Amsoil and noticed no change really.....went to Redline PS fluid and noticed the some of the whine went down but I still have the horrific cold start-up noise. It only acts up when the mercury hits around -25 celcuis so I guess these are one of those Ford things I'm going to have to live with.
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**Power Steering Change? YES....**
Linear Mode
