Ho do you flush a power steering system?
#11
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lmao thanks I needed that ![Very Happy](https://www.gmforum.com/gm/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
yea I personally would not try the wesson oil thing ... ever... but he swore by it just one of those weird trick some people use that I get a kick out of. so I thought I would share just cause.
just drain it and refil it until you get clean fluid some of the stuff is actually water based and can go bad over time so get the old stuff out and refill and you should be fine. if it is seriously gunked up trans fluid is good high detergent oil and will clean that stuff out.
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yea I personally would not try the wesson oil thing ... ever... but he swore by it just one of those weird trick some people use that I get a kick out of. so I thought I would share just cause.
just drain it and refil it until you get clean fluid some of the stuff is actually water based and can go bad over time so get the old stuff out and refill and you should be fine. if it is seriously gunked up trans fluid is good high detergent oil and will clean that stuff out.
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#12
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That was the plan to use some transmission fluid to clean out the system. I am hoping that by doing this it will help free up the turning on the car because it is sticking pretty bad. The car could drive in a circle with out my holding the steering wheel if I decide to do that but I won't.
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sticking sounds like the rack and pinion to me. I dont know especially without looking at it but I am concerned now it is more than just getting your pump cleaned out. keep us posted and IF i can keep my computer going I will keep checking in
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I was able to get a helping hand to help me flush the system. I got the front wheels off the ground and disconnected the return line from the pump and flushed it that way. I was turning the wheel lock to lock and my friend was feeding it 2 quarts of transmission fluid and the about 4 quarts of power steering fluid. After t we got nothing but clear fluid from the return line so we reconnected the line and got the remaining air from the power steering system and wow what a difference it made on my steering. Also I needed a wheel alignment to and that made it even better along with the new tires I just put on the front of the car.
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I was able to get a helping hand to help me flush the system. I got the front wheels off the ground and disconnected the return line from the pump and flushed it that way. I was turning the wheel lock to lock and my friend was feeding it 2 quarts of transmission fluid and the about 4 quarts of power steering fluid. After t we got nothing but clear fluid from the return line so we reconnected the line and got the remaining air from the power steering system and wow what a difference it made on my steering. Also I needed a wheel alignment to and that made it even better along with the new tires I just put on the front of the car.
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back in the old days we used to do alignments with a broom handle.
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last tie i did that was a few years ago after changing out my tie rod ends took into the shop and they said it didnt need an alignment...still got it
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#16
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Both Brake & Power steering are the most neglected fluids in a vehicle to be changed out.
Glad the flush worked well! Most newer vehicles have a scheduled maintenance for the flush and it is a good idea to perform this occasionally. If once a year you suction out the steering pump reservoir you will keep the fluid in better condition. When I remove the fluid in the reservoir I always use LubeGard power steering fluid as replacement.
LUBEGARD Power Steering Fluid
The seals will be protected the fluid will not become as hot and the lubrication capabilities of the LubeGard is superior in every aspects. You will notice you PS pump get quiet almost immediately. In cold weather the steering wheel turns easily, you dont get that hard turning feel at -20.
LubeGard is a synthetic safe to use in vehicle that use power steering fluid or vehicles that use ATF.
Glad the flush worked well! Most newer vehicles have a scheduled maintenance for the flush and it is a good idea to perform this occasionally. If once a year you suction out the steering pump reservoir you will keep the fluid in better condition. When I remove the fluid in the reservoir I always use LubeGard power steering fluid as replacement.
LUBEGARD Power Steering Fluid
The seals will be protected the fluid will not become as hot and the lubrication capabilities of the LubeGard is superior in every aspects. You will notice you PS pump get quiet almost immediately. In cold weather the steering wheel turns easily, you dont get that hard turning feel at -20.
LubeGard is a synthetic safe to use in vehicle that use power steering fluid or vehicles that use ATF.
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#17
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A few months back I did a brake fluid flush on the car to when I had a rear brake line brake on me. So after I had a good friend of mine rebuild the brakes in the rear it had leaked all of the fluid out so pretty much after the repairs was done I was running clean fluid threw the braking system on the car.
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That is good that you got clean new brake fluid and a repaired line.
Once again most new cars recommend that the brake & Power steering fluids be flushed every 2-3 years.
Always refer to owner'* manual regarding the correct brake fluid for the vehicle.
Most no longer recommend DOT3 as DOT4 & 5 are the norms today.
Also instead of a turkey baster, I use a Veterinary syringe with a long rubber hose for suctioning out the old fluids. It works very well and allows easier access to the PS pump reservoir and goes in there deep.
https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/...ingrefill3-jpg
Once again most new cars recommend that the brake & Power steering fluids be flushed every 2-3 years.
Always refer to owner'* manual regarding the correct brake fluid for the vehicle.
Most no longer recommend DOT3 as DOT4 & 5 are the norms today.
Also instead of a turkey baster, I use a Veterinary syringe with a long rubber hose for suctioning out the old fluids. It works very well and allows easier access to the PS pump reservoir and goes in there deep.
https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/...ingrefill3-jpg
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#19
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That is good that you got clean new brake fluid and a repaired line.
Once again most new cars recommend that the brake & Power steering fluids be flushed every 2-3 years.
Always refer to owner'* manual regarding the correct brake fluid for the vehicle.
Most no longer recommend DOT3 as DOT4 & 5 are the norms today.
Also instead of a turkey baster, I use a Veterinary syringe with a long rubber hose for suctioning out the old fluids. It works very well and allows easier access to the PS pump reservoir and goes in there deep.
https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/...ingrefill3-jpg
Once again most new cars recommend that the brake & Power steering fluids be flushed every 2-3 years.
Always refer to owner'* manual regarding the correct brake fluid for the vehicle.
Most no longer recommend DOT3 as DOT4 & 5 are the norms today.
Also instead of a turkey baster, I use a Veterinary syringe with a long rubber hose for suctioning out the old fluids. It works very well and allows easier access to the PS pump reservoir and goes in there deep.
https://www.gmforum.com/attachments/...ingrefill3-jpg
You can run DOT 5.1 (also glycol based) in a DOT 3&4 brake system, but never DOT 5 (silicon based) .
#20
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I did the turkey baster method recently and used the GM cold climate power steering fluid and it really smoothed things out. (Last summer I had completely flushed the system with all new Lucas power steering fluid with a few ounces of Lucas stop leak.) That helped a lot with the low speed hard steering but the steering was still a little stiff during the winter. I did not want to open everything back up so I decided to try the turkey baster method. I had a math teacher friend figure out the dilution ratio so that I could estimate how much fluid was replaced. I changed out about 60-70ish percent. The steering is buttah smooth now and hopefully will keep the seals happy and be smooth during the winter. So far so good.