Power steering fluid

[TGVET]

I've got 143K now on my 05/3500 SRW and I really think changing the fluid is an important maintenance item. Does anyone have an easy/best way to get this done other than simply trying to suck it out of the from the filler reservoir which takes forever ? I've considered disconnecting one of the lines (feed or return) whether running or not, but I'm not going to do anything until I get the proper way.



Thanks for your help.



Rob

 

[Bob4x4]

I agree it should be on the maint. list. I do mine at no more than 15k,but I have a nifty lil dual pump set up that makes it easy. I pump sucks it out one refills with fresh fluid while running. Of course you never want to run it low. W/out a set up like I use it will just take more time and fluid to perform



Bob

 

[TGVET]

Hi Bob,



Can you elaborate on your pump setup. I'd like to get mine done ASAP.



Thanks for the reply.



Rob

 

[rbattelle]

Sounds like Bob's got a good idea and I look forward to an explanation of his setup.

I've decided to do mine by the turkey baster method a little bit (16 oz. ) every oil change until it's all swapped over.

The first time I did it was at 78k and the fluid that came out looked and smelled exactly like fresh ATF-4.

The "official" method is to pull one of the hoses on the power steering cooler to drain the system. That method actually sounds pretty simple, I don't know why I'm not doing it.

Ryan

 

[MMeier]

The "official" method is to pull one of the hoses on the power steering cooler to drain the system. That method actually sounds pretty simple, I don't know why I'm not doing it.



Ryan

Thats the way I do mine, usually every other oil filter change. ( 20-25k miles)

 

[Bob4x4]

Ok guys,The whole set up is hard mounted in a cheapie plastic tool box. 2 pumps(small rv type water pumps) wired to a standard 2 gang switch box like used in a house. Power is fed from a cable with alligator clips to conect to the vehicle batt. It just uses clear hose so you can see the condition of the fluid. 2 2 quart clear bottles with holes in the tops for the hoses. I clean fluid and the other for the waste fluid. Run the truck to keep the system flowing vacuum out some old refill with new till the complete tranfer is complete.



If you have the latest style p. s resevoir and hydro boost the system holds over 3 qts



Bob

 

[Wayne M.]

I just dropped my PS fluid on the last PM for the first time (68K). I just took off the left hose (whichever runs up to the resivoir) and let gravity work. My fluid was a bit dark, kinda like fluid from a healthy transmission. I refilled with ATF+4 of course.

 

[Bob4x4]

If you just do a drain and refill you will get air in the system. This is hard on the pump and will shorten it's life. The very thing you are trying to fight by doing the service in the first place. Dodge actualy has a vacum bleed tool set up now to cut the air problem. The price of a new pump for the 3rd gen has trippled since it came out in 03.



Bob

 

[JCasper]

I just dropped my PS fluid on the last PM for the first time (68K). I just took off the left hose (whichever runs up to the resivoir) and let gravity work. My fluid was a bit dark, kinda like fluid from a healthy transmission. I refilled with ATF+4 of course.

That's what I did to

If you just do a drain and refill you will get air in the system. This is hard on the pump and will shorten it's life. The very thing you are trying to fight by doing the service in the first place. Dodge actualy has a vacum bleed tool set up now to cut the air problem. The price of a new pump for the 3rd gen has trippled since it came out in 03.



Bob

Uh Oh

 

[rbattelle]

If you just do a drain and refill you will get air in the system. This is hard on the pump and will shorten it's life. The very thing you are trying to fight by doing the service in the first place. Dodge actualy has a vacum bleed tool set up now to cut the air problem. The price of a new pump for the 3rd gen has trippled since it came out in 03.

Well, I guess that's why I'm doing the turkey baster method.



Ryan

 

[Wayne M.]

In my 25 years in the trade, I have never seen a quick PS pump failure due to cavitation- they die a long death. There are all kinds of transfusion methods for trannys and such, but I have found that if you drain and refill, and not catch air on the refill (the hard part) you'll be fine. I don't like sucking out the old fluid unless the sucker is surgically clean- it increases chance of contamination. Air in a PS system is sometimes unavoidable- like when repalacing components.

 

[Bob4x4]

In my 25 years in the trade, I have never seen a quick PS pump failure due to cavitation- they die a long death. There are all kinds of transfusion methods for trannys and such, but I have found that if you drain and refill, and not catch air on the refill (the hard part) you'll be fine. I don't like sucking out the old fluid unless the sucker is surgically clean- it increases chance of contamination. Air in a PS system is sometimes unavoidable- like when repalacing components.

:-laf did I use the word Quick? I always wear latex when I am doing surgeries no worries



Bob

P. S. well over 30 in the industry

 

[JCasper]

:-laf did I use the word Quick? I always wear latex when I am doing surgeries no worries



Bob

P. S. well over 30 in the industry

Over 30? Is that why they call you "old man bob"? :-laf

 

[Wayne M.]

ACDELCO Part # 36717268 {#88962823}

PUMP,P/S(REMAN) W/O RESERVOIR

$64. 99



ACDELCO Part # 36717157 {#88962820}

PUMP,P/S(REMAN) with RESERVOIR

$114. 79

PS pumps as listed @ rockauto.com..... Not that it makes it OK to be careless.



Hey Bob what does that Vacuum bleed tool look like? I don't get to see what the dealer tech's have available.



I hope your RV water pumps have diaphgrams or impellers or whatever element they have made of a material compatible with the ATF+4.

 

[Bob4x4]

Over 30? Is that why they call you "old man bob"? :-laf

Something like that :-laf

 

[Bob4x4]

ACDELCO Part # 36717268 {#88962823}

PUMP,P/S(REMAN) W/O RESERVOIR

$64. 99



ACDELCO Part # 36717157 {#88962820}

PUMP,P/S(REMAN) with RESERVOIR

$114. 79

PS pumps as listed @ rockauto.com..... Not that it makes it OK to be careless.



Hey Bob what does that Vacuum bleed tool look like? I don't get to see what the dealer tech's have available.



I hope your RV water pumps have diaphgrams or impellers or whatever element they have made of a material compatible with the ATF+4.

The tool fits in the filler neck and seals with an o-ring. Has a nipple on the outside to use with a hand held vacuum pump such as would be used to bleed brakes (with resevoir).



I currently have 2 of the pump set-ups 1 at the house and the other is on loan to an off road shop. Both are over 3 years old and have serviced many vehicles.



I don't remember the exact cost of the factory pump price but it is around the $ 175 mark. It started out at $65. It comes with the pulley and resevoir which by the way has been improved. I have read many reports of DIY guys destroying pumps in their attempts to install the pulley



Bob

 

[JJPage]

Do you have to use ATF+4(for the ps)? I suppose this is a rather stupid question, It is probably what Chrysler specs.



I use Dexron III in my Transmission, and have an abundance of it, but no ATF+4.



Jess

 

[Bob4x4]

ATF 4 is a bit better than the 3. Dodge also has a new atf4 based P/S fluid that feels like it has more lube to it part # is 05166226aa.

Many guys are having very good service from Redline and Valvoline syntech also. I would not try the atf3 with all the other choices out there.



Bob

 

[JJPage]

Yes, for the small amount that the ps uses(compared to the trans), I think I'll buy the ATF+4. Thanks!

 

[TGVET]

WOW, Thanks for all the good replies, much information that makes me want the tool the dealer uses.