Power Steering Fluid Volume?

[Coupeboy]

Hi - I want to drain the black gunk out of my steering system and replace with nice new fluid. Does anyone know the volume I need before I discover the 1.5 litres of Dexron in my garage is not enough? Thanks. ps plan to drain it at the power steering pump.

[bobbrown]

Not sure of the amount of fluid required but the service manual states to drain it at the rack and then prime the system on the starter with out the engine starting, Personally I think this is going to create more problems than you had to start with like hoses that do not want to come off and break when they do. If it was me I would drain the reserviour and refill with new fluid then repeat after a short run may be even doing it 3 or 4 time at least you should have removed most of the old stuff this way.

Bob

[tigerdog]

I agree with Bob on this. A turkey baster is fine for removing the old fluid. Unfortunately, mine is self-changing - a lovely leak means I have to top off frequently and I've gone through nearly a litre in the last year. Still, it's much cheaper and easier than changing the steering rack. I suppose you could pull the return hose at the tank, plug the tank hole then crank the engine to pump old fluid out the return hose. Top the tank as you crank until clean fluid comes out then replace the hose. That way, if a hose end does get messed up, at least it's one that's easy to reach.

Of course, neither of us have answered your question about fluid volume.

[saska]

Hi - I want to drain the black gunk out of my steering system and replace with nice new fluid. Does anyone know the volume I need before I discover the 1.5 litres of Dexron in my garage is not enough?

Neither the owner's handbook nor the service manual give the refill amount.

ps plan to drain it at the power steering pump.

I'm with tigerdog and bbrown on this one draining from the reservoir, multiple times if necessary.
If you do remove pipes from the steering rack read the general service manual carefully and ensure you disconnect the correct pipes otherwise you may damage the PAS pump.

[GeoffSmith]

When I had to remove the pipe from the rack to repair a hose, it sheared off. I wouldn't go messing with them unless absolutely necessary.

[steve matthews]

Turkey baster all the way. You can remove and change at will. Over the course of
a couple days all will be new. No broken fittings or hoses.
Fed. reservoir holds about 10 0zs.
Steve

[bobbrown]

Fed. reservoir holds about 10 0zs.
Steve

10 fluid ounces = 0.284 ltr, so with 1.5 litres you can change it 5 times that should do the trick.

[GeoffSmith]

Unfortunately, mine is self-changing - a lovely leak means I have to top off frequently and I've gone through nearly a litre in the last year.

And Obama complains about BP.

[tigerdog]

And as a shareholder in BP, I resemble that remark!!! Erm, yes, well, my PS fluid seems mostly to be contaminating the large sheets of cardboard I keep on the garage floor. Last I looked, no shrimp fishermen were effected. It seems to leak more while sitting than under pressure and running. Another "one of these days" projects.

[lotusgirlmarie]

There's only a US quart or so in the whole lot. When I had to change out my rack a few years back due to a stupid t^£t blowing a light, I only had to fill it with one bottle. The PS resevoir has a windage tray so best to drain it by removing the lines from the base. As there is only a couple of inces of rubber in those lines be prepared for a messy job. A baster won't help much bc of the tray.

[Coupeboy]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Removal without disturbing any of the connections is the right way to go (although the Lotus aftersale RHD steering rack at £127 looks tempting). As an alterative to a turkey baster it should be possible to 'suck' fluid out of the reservoir/hoses with a rubber hand pump. I bought one off amazon to put oil into my BMW gearbox (very successful) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-43904-Fu ... 59&sr=8-13.

[tigerdog]

The PS resevoir has a windage tray...

That explains why it took so many iterations to get my changed in the first place. Nice catch and one I'd never have expected. As usual, Marie, YOU ROCK!

[dapinky]

Personally, i have used the 'take the low pressure pipe off the pump' method for the last few times i have removed the reservoir (easiest way to get at the altenator) it is only a jubilee clip and pull the rubber pipe away, allowing the reservoir to empty into a suitable receptacle - you'd be surprised how much fluid is held in that pipe from reservoir to pump, so it is a good idea to top up the pot whilst pipe is still off to replace the volume of fluid until you get clean fluid out, then put pipe back onto pump, and re-fill the pot.