Any reason NOT to replace power steering fluid?

[StageLeft]

In the past I've replaced PS fluid with a turkey baster. I'd pull all the fluid from the reservoir, replace it, then drive it for a bit and next time it stops do the same thing. After several times most of the fluid has been replaced and this is extremely easy. Is there any reason not to do it? Power steering/automatic transmission fluid is really cheap and I know when I did this in the past the new fluid looked a lot cleaner than the old.

 

[radioouman]

Is there any reason to replace your power steering fluid? I've never replaced it on any car, other than the one with a leaking power steering hose.

 

[darom]

You should replace it. On my 98 Camaro the p/s was never replaced. At 110k miles when I bought the car, the fluid turned into a thick nasty sludge. Your pump will work harder pumping the thicker higher viscosity fluid.

 

[mooseracing]

No there is no reason not to. It will help preserve the life of teh system and sometimes quiet others down. I notice most that quiet down are rack and pinion setups, they seem to benefit the most from fresh fluid.

Originally posted by: radioouman
Is there any reason to replace your power steering fluid? I've never replaced it on any car, other than the one with a leaking power steering hose.

So you don't care that the oil is breaking down and has moisture in it?

I don't know about you but I usually have a vehicle longer than 5yrs, I want them to last with minor repair, one of the main reasons I try to change all fluids (not counting engine oil) at least yearly depending on conditions.

 

[Pacfanweb]

No reason not to.

 

[spigot]

I've always done it. Once I get all I can with my syringe, I usually bump the key for a second or two to turn the pump over and I'll get a little more to suck out.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nope, there is no reason not to. It is likely one of the routine services recommended in your owners manual too.

 

[Bignate603]

Pretty much every fluid in your car should be changed at some point. The biggest one that people are told not to change is the automatic transmission fluid on an older car. That's not completely true. You SHOULD replace the fluid. You SHOULD NOT flush the transmission. Just drain it, top it off, run it, and top it off. Repeat that a few times and most of the fluid would be replaced. If you flush it on an older vehicle you can end up making it leak.

 

[sjwaste]

You can change it with the car running. I do it on the Supra. Just take the return hose going into the reservoir, put it into your discard container, start it up, and pour in PS fluid until the stuff coming out of the return is clean. Using clear tubing w/ that job helps a lot.

If you don't, the stuff starts to get burnt and you'll pick up some debris in there anyway. Eventually it clogs up the screen at the bottom of your PS reservoir and impedes the flow. If you hear a whining sound when you fully turn the wheels, esp when cold, you know you're either low or not getting enough flow. If it gets that far you usually have to take out the PS res to clean it.

Better to change it now.

EDIT: don't forget to bleed it when you're done, especially if it gets a little low while you're changing it. If you can, park on a slight incline w/ the PS res cap off and turn the wheels side to side until the fluid in the res isn't getting foamy anymore. Make sure to keep topping it as you do this, since you want to replace that air w/ fluid. This part's good for a 2 man job.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
This part's good for a 2 man job.

Sexist:|



Or wait, maybe you're gay. Now I'M the bigot

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: mooseracing
No there is no reason not to. It will help preserve the life of teh system and sometimes quiet others down. I notice most that quiet down are rack and pinion setups, they seem to benefit the most from fresh fluid.

Originally posted by: radioouman
Is there any reason to replace your power steering fluid? I've never replaced it on any car, other than the one with a leaking power steering hose.

So you don't care that the oil is breaking down and has moisture in it?

I don't know about you but I usually have a vehicle longer than 5yrs, I want them to last with minor repair, one of the main reasons I try to change all fluids (not counting engine oil) at least yearly depending on conditions.

Ok... its up to you. I've never bothered to change the fluid in my '93 Dakota and it has 216,000 miles now. I did change the fluid in my '94 Dakota at 127,000 miles because the high pressure hose developed a leak. However, the '94 now has a noisy pump because it was run without fluid. The '93 is fine.

I just don't see why there would be a need to change that fluid, especially if you are going to do something that could damage the pump such as run it without fluid.

 

[BlackTigers]

Originally posted by: radioouman

Originally posted by: mooseracing
No there is no reason not to. It will help preserve the life of teh system and sometimes quiet others down. I notice most that quiet down are rack and pinion setups, they seem to benefit the most from fresh fluid.

Originally posted by: radioouman
Is there any reason to replace your power steering fluid? I've never replaced it on any car, other than the one with a leaking power steering hose.

So you don't care that the oil is breaking down and has moisture in it?

I don't know about you but I usually have a vehicle longer than 5yrs, I want them to last with minor repair, one of the main reasons I try to change all fluids (not counting engine oil) at least yearly depending on conditions.

Ok... its up to you. I've never bothered to change the fluid in my '93 Dakota and it has 216,000 miles now. I did change the fluid in my '94 Dakota at 127,000 miles because the high pressure hose developed a leak. However, the '94 now has a noisy pump because it was run without fluid. The '93 is fine.

I just don't see why there would be a need to change that fluid, especially if you are going to do something that could damage the pump such as run it without fluid.

Where did he even hint at running something without fluid?