Let's talk power steering flushing

[signcrafter]

I'm a believer in changing fluids, it's cheap and usually pretty easy to do. I do brake fluid, coolant, and trans fluid at regular intervals. But for whatever reason I've never changed the power steering fluid unless I replace a part. Want to add a power steering fluid change to my routine. Been watching some youtube videos on it and seems it's pretty common to get problems from air in the system.

What is the easiest way to get do a PS fluid exchange at home? Would a mityvac extractor like this, http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-7400.aspx or it's air powered version work to empty the resovior? Trying to keep the mess to a minimum and some can be a pain to just undo the hose. Or would the filter screen prevent the sucking out of the fluid? Any other ideas on getting as much fluid out of the system so I can add new?

For the bleeding of the PS system it seems like some are fine just turning lock to lock and some systems have issues with air. In a couple videos I watched it shows using a mityvac hand pump and an adapter like this, http://www.etoolcart.com/power-steering-evac-adapter-mty-mva660.aspx. I like to have the tools to take care of any issue that might come up when doing something. Don't really want to change the fluid and find I have an issue bleeding it and then have to order the tools to fix it. So if there's a chance I will need these to bleed the system I would like to have them on hand. If I don't need them then it was cheap insurance!

So what do I need to change the power steering fluid? I work on mine and my families vehicles so have some GM, Chrysler, Ford, and Honda if that matters.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

I'm not sure about that add on piece but I have a Mityvac that I use for power steering flushes on Mercedes. I'm not too familiar with other cars but Mercedes is pretty straight forward, it's a filterless system that you stick the tube in, get out as much as you can... refill, do steering lock to lock with the car actually moving to prevent damage to the steering links and continue the process until you go through one liter of Pentosin CHF.

I'm sure removing the filter should be straight forward, unless you'd need to replace the reservoir as well. When doing PS flushes on Mercedes, depending on age or mileage... I'll replace the rubber gaskets as well.

I love my Mityvac... it's a lifesaver at times. I'm sure most cars are different...

 

[signcrafter]

I'm not sure about that add on piece but I have a Mityvac that I use for power steering flushes on Mercedes. I'm not too familiar with other cars but Mercedes is pretty straight forward, it's a filterless system that you stick the tube in, get out as much as you can... refill, do steering lock to lock with the car actually moving to prevent damage to the steering links and continue the process until you go through one liter of Pentosin CHF.

I'm sure removing the filter should be straight forward, unless you'd need to replace the reservoir as well. When doing PS flushes on Mercedes, depending on age or mileage... I'll replace the rubber gaskets as well.

I love my Mityvac... it's a lifesaver at times. I'm sure most cars are different...

What model mityvac do you have? The add on piece is for systems that are hard to bleed. Probably not needed on most systems as long as doing the lock to lock bleeds it.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

What model mityvac do you have? The add on piece is for systems that are hard to bleed. Probably not needed on most systems as long as doing the lock to lock bleeds it.

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SR7TC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use it mainly for oil changes since Merc's have oil capacity of about 8 liters... if I need to do a PS flush, I'll clean it out really good using Simple Green or Awesome the night before. I can literally change oil in a suit with them... if you own a car with the oil filter on the top of the engine, you can probably change your oil with it as well depending on the dipstick design.

 

[Skin]

use the output line of the reservoir if its right there. Need 2 people, one to keep an eye on the level and one to go lock to lock. You won't get air into the systems with this method. I usually use a gallon worth of fluid and use my spill free funnel as an extension of the reservoir so I'm not in any danger of it running dry. Goes through the fluid in about 30 seconds so its a very quick change.

 

[JustBob]

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SR7TC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use it mainly for oil changes since Merc's have oil capacity of about 8 liters... if I need to do a PS flush, I'll clean it out really good using Simple Green or Awesome the night before. I can literally change oil in a suit with them... if you own a car with the oil filter on the top of the engine, you can probably change your oil with it as well depending on the dipstick design.

I have the same unit and had to do 2 flushes in the last 3 months due to the first gear box replacement went bad. The easy and most thurough way to flush with this unit or a powered version of it, is to take both hoses off of the gear box. Place the hose from the flushing unit onto the power side or output of the steering pump and **** all of the old fluid out(use your hand or something durable to seal off the steering pump cap opening).

Attach a short piece of hose to the return line of the steering pump and place the other end into a quart container of new power steering fluid. Apply vacuum until all fluid is sucked out of the quart container and through the pump.

Next part is easier with 2 people but can be done with only one. Reattach the lines to the gearbox, take the return line off next to the pump(some pumps have a clamp here that holds the hose) and place into 1/2 gallon or larger container. Fill steering pump full with new fluid, crank and run engine while turning steering wheel for a few seconds at a time to get the air out and the fluid flowing. Do not run very long unless you have someone watching to make sure you do not run the pump dry.

This will push the new fluid from the pump through the gearbox flushing out the old fluid that is left in the box. Continue adding fluid to the pump and flushing the gearbox until the fluid come out clean. The gearbox does not hold much, so this should only take a couple seconds once the fluid is flowing. Reattach hose to pump, refill system and bleed out the air, check for leaks.

 

[signcrafter]

I guess I was hoping the mityvac would **** out as much as possible. I understand it won't "flush" the system and get the fluid out of anything except the resovoir. But if it will **** 1/3 or half the fluid out to allow for some new that is fine with me. Something quick and easy to do every so many miles to keep some fresh fluid in the system.

 

[bcradio]

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SR7TC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use it mainly for oil changes since Merc's have oil capacity of about 8 liters... if I need to do a PS flush, I'll clean it out really good using Simple Green or Awesome the night before. I can literally change oil in a suit with them... if you own a car with the oil filter on the top of the engine, you can probably change your oil with it as well depending on the dipstick design.

Couple questions:

How do you change the oil with this thing? Through the dipstick?

Why do you clean it out? Aren't you changing fluids, so you are disposing of the fluid that goes into this thing?

 

[Lotek]

I guess I was hoping the mityvac would **** out as much as possible. I understand it won't "flush" the system and get the fluid out of anything except the resovoir. But if it will **** 1/3 or half the fluid out to allow for some new that is fine with me. Something quick and easy to do every so many miles to keep some fresh fluid in the system.

Drain and fill, run the motor, lock to lock, repeat until fluid looks clear.

 

[kursplat]

turkey baster. i usually do about 1/2 and drive it for a while then 1/2 again. ya it doesn't get it all, but it's better than what most people do, nothing...
just have a small bottle or something next to the filler neck so your not trying to move it over the fender and not spill

 

[DHCrocks]

I don't know if this the best way but it certainly is the easiest. I use a hand transfer pump, the $9 job they sell at autoparts stores. simply stick the suction tube into the reservoir and pump out all fluid. replace with new fluid. start car and cycle steering back ond forth a few times to pump fluid through. Repeat process several times. I usually do a full quart of ATF. Although this is not a full exchange or flush it does get out a lot of the old fluid and you can tell by the color in the reservoir that the fliud is much cleaner now. I've never had a problem with air bubbles, as long as you don't start it up before you top off the fluid you should be ok.

 

[Givl Reggin]

Be sure to also change the air in your tires regularly (like twice a year)... it really helps to extend their life.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

Couple questions:

How do you change the oil with this thing? Through the dipstick?

Why do you clean it out? Aren't you changing fluids, so you are disposing of the fluid that goes into this thing?

Yeah through the dipstick, all Mercedes have been designed for top side oil changes... The dipstick goes to the very bottom of the oil pan.

What I'll do is dispose the fluids, then clean out the nasty residue that it leaves behind. If you are asking if I do it legally, yes I do. The reason for cleaning it is because you can also use it as an evacuator. You can simply fill in fluid and pump it into the reservoir. I don't use that method, I actually just use a measuring cup, so I know how much I'm putting in. Am I OCD? Yes I am. I like everything as clean as possible.

 

[jamesc]

some shops will put in a flushing additive, then run the vehicle to work it in then **** out the old stuff, and then add new fluid then cycle the steering and repeat. until the fluid is clean then add a conditioner.

my work currently just ***** out and refills, until about 2 litres have been used then your done.

 

[simplec6]

Be sure to also change the air in your tires regularly (like twice a year)... it really helps to extend their life.

Source?

 

[signcrafter]

some shops will put in a flushing additive, then run the vehicle to work it in then **** out the old stuff, and then add new fluid then cycle the steering and repeat. until the fluid is clean then add a conditioner.

my work currently just ***** out and refills, until about 2 litres have been used then your done.

This is what I am wanting to do. No flushing chemicals, no unhooking hoses. Just a quick job to replace some of the fluid. What do you use to **** the old fluid out? The mityvac?

 

[RM209]

turkey baster. i usually do about 1/2 and drive it for a while then 1/2 again. ya it doesn't get it all, but it's better than what most people do, nothing...
just have a small bottle or something next to the filler neck so your not trying to move it over the fender and not spill

Yup, same here. Not the fastest way, but probably the easiest, particularly if it's difficult to remove the drain line.

RM209

 

[DoubleA]

One tech showed me an interesting way of swapping fluid in your ps system. It doesn't work on every system but quite a few it does. You need some type of mighty vac.

First your ps reservor will usually have two hoses connected to it. Usually bigger hose goes to pump and smaller one is return from rack.

Grab a rubber cap and take off the small return line from the reservor. Cap the ****** on the reservor so it doesn't leak all over. Hook your mighty vac hose to the return hose you just removed from reservor.

Now get your new ps fluid ready to pour into the reservor. Turn on your mighty vac and the fluid level in the reservor should start dropping. Add fluid at the same rate your sucking fluid out as to not let the reservor go dry. Once fresh fluid is getting sucked into the mighty vac your done.

Remove mighty vac hose from return line. Remove the temporary cap from the ****** on the reservor and pop your return line back on ****** and clamp it. Ur dun!

 

[Hammer1963]

use the output line of the reservoir if its right there. Need 2 people, one to keep an eye on the level and one to go lock to lock. You won't get air into the systems with this method. I usually use a gallon worth of fluid and use my spill free funnel as an extension of the reservoir so I'm not in any danger of it running dry. Goes through the fluid in about 30 seconds so its a very quick change.

I basically do the same process using a catch bucket and a feed funnel. This method will result in virtually new fluid throughout the system. Fluid is cheap, pumps, racks and reservoirs are not.

 

[6-Speed]

Used the Mityvac 7201 to drain the oil from my Dad's E350 last month ... it worked really well.

 

[MattPersman]

Turkey baster would be cheapest no doubt. Pull the fluid out of the res top off fire it run the steering wheel back and forth pull some more out top off, repeat till it looks better. Mityvac is cooler and more man points though

 

[kursplat]

Turkey baster would be cheapest no doubt. Pull the fluid out of the res top off fire it run the steering wheel back and forth pull some more out top off, repeat till it looks better. Mityvac is cooler and more man points though

MORE MAN POINTS!!
what's more man points, a lighter or flint and steel? while buying a mityvac is cool, upgrading the kitchen tool to garage status on the fly gets you survivalist points