How to do a power steering flush? Options

[HectortheRican]

I tried searching, but it was very inconclusive for me.

Could someone explain how to do it or point me to a thread that does? It would be much appreciated.

Edit: Did a bit of Google searching and found that all I might have to do is just drain the reservoir from the lowest point, fill to max with fresh fluid, lock the steering wheel left then right, fill the reservoir to max again and I should be good.

Can anyone confirm? Also, what fluid do I need to use? I stupidly left my repair manual with the list of proper fluids in Albuquerque...

This post has been edited by HectortheRican: Jun 5, 2012 - 4:53 PM

[enderswift]

I'm not a fan of the method you just described so I came up with my own approach and it worked great.

heres what I did:

1. drain the power steering reservoir as much as possible
2. Disconnect the suction line at the base of the reservoir
3. Disconnect the pressure line that feeds back into the reservoir
4. Fill a clean washer fluid gallon with two quarts of new power steering fluid
5. Take the suction line and submerge it in the gallon of clean fluid (you may have to extend the line with a length of hose depending on where you place the gallon)
6. Take another clean gallon and put the pressure line into it
7. Have a friend start the car and turn the wheel left and right

The power steering system will suck up fresh fluid from the gallon you prepared earlier, and spit out the old fluid into the other gallon (The fluid will drain fast so be ready to turn off the car before the suction line takes in any air). When you see that the fluid exiting the pressure line is a nice red color, turn the car off and reconnect everything to the stock reservoir. Top off the reservoir and you're done.

This approach is much easier than constantly draining and filling the reservoir with a turkey baster, and ensures that your power steering has 100% new fluid. The only down side is that it has the potential to get messy, but if you're careful you shouldn't have a problem.

This post has been edited by enderswift: Jun 6, 2012 - 1:22 AM

[trdproven]

im not sure if theres really a way to truly flush besides draining as much of the reservoir into a container, and whatever hoses, lines you can get to to have fluid come out.

but again if you think its related to your problem in your other thread, double-check first, because you don't want to waste your time, you still gotta bleed the system too. make sure you have the proper procedure for that if you do so anyway.