power steering fluid change?'s

[mazdarotary]

Hey guys just recently I have noticed my steering to be a bit tough when I start out in the morning when it is cold. I took a look at the power steering reservoir and noticed it was a bit low on fluid and the fluid was nasty brown color. I added some fluid yesterday and tried sucking out the old brown stuff but it was taking forever. What is the best way to drain the system?If I drain it do I have to worry about the system getting air bound?Is having this brown stuff in there hurting the pump?My guess is yes. I have had the truck a little over a year and have never drained it. I suppose it slipped my mind because none of my other vehicles have power steering. Thanks in advance.



Chris

92 D250 CC

83 Mazda RX-7

74 Mazda Rotary truck

 

[RGT]

I use a small bucket with pump arrangement used for doing oil changes, it has a stiff 1/4 dia tube that I can snake down to the bottom of the reservoir, you don't get it all, but I change it regularly.....

 

[Hunter4x4]

Here's another way:



You can pop off the return line, have a helper start the truck, let the old fluid dump into a waste pail or pan, and as the PS pump is running with the engine pour new fluid into the resevoir. Pour until you get clean fluid coming out of the return line and then hollar at your helper to kill the engine. It should happen pretty quick because there's not a lot of fluid in the PS system like there is in an auto transmission. Button everything up and you're done!!



This method purges all the old fluid and impurities out of the system including the steering box.



Good luck!

 

[EZGZ]

I was on a trip and my steering made a bang as I made a turn.

I could hardly drive it. It would jerk suddenly and scared me to death.

Went straight to a front end shop to let them have a look. They wanted to replace the steering box and tie rods and really stick it to me.

I called a friend who told me to check the level and look for leaks.



No leaks.

Sucked it all out of the resovoir with a turkey bastor and replaced it with power steering conditioner. It took a while to work, but the control valve that was sticking loosend up and has been fine ever since.

My mechanic buddy said to just leave it in there and run it which I have for a few years now with no problems.

 

[CDegner]

I recently changed mine by sucking out as much fluid as I could using a large syringe with about 10" of aquarium line on the end. I can feed it down to the bottom of the reservoir and suck out about 6 1/2oz. at a time. I refill with new. Drive the truck for a day and did the same thing over 10 days. By the end, my fluid is very light. Not the fastest way to do it but it worked.



BTW, I went back with Valvoline synthetic PS fluid.



Carl

 

[RWWinslow]

Approx. 100,000 miles ago I got tired of steering gear box problems, etc. When I changed the last steering gear box I installed a hydraulic filter and housing on the suction side of the pump. I use a Fleetguard hydraulic filter and a standard Prinz filter mounting. Converted to ATF for the power steering fluid and have not had to change any more gear boxes. I change the filter and therefore most of the fluid once every 6 months. This truck spends a lot of time off road and the power steering has always been a weak point - with filtration and ATF fluid - not any longer.

 

[JLEONARD]

I replaced MOST of mine last summer... ... ...

What happened was the pump outlet line started leaking... only on a tirn of course... ..... thanks to New England salted winter roads... .

Made it home thanks to a trip to NAPA and the purchase of 2 quarts "to go".

Made it to my son's shop and a new hose.....

Replaced the line and thank goodness no damage was done, thanks to a couple of stops along the 20 minute trip to refill the resevoir.

Dodged (pun intended) a bullet on that one!!

Damn... sometimes it's better to be lucky than good!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!

E C Jay