Power Steering Flush?

Anyone do a power steering flush yet? My PS fluid is starting to look pretty nasty and very dark. I guess if no one replies, I'll take a look at the FSM and pull the return hose to drain the system a little at a time, similar to the DIY ATF flush...

 

^+1, i was thinking i needed to do this as well, keep this thread updated!

 

I just did this, it was super easy. I have the 2.7L 4 cyl engine.

Raise the front of the truck high enough so the tires are off the ground. Use jack stands to rest it on.

Suck out or turkey baste as much of the PS fluid out of the reservoir as you can. Place an old towel or some old rags around the reservoir, because it's inevitable that you'll spill some. Disconnect the return line ( the upper one ) from the resorvoir, and plug off the nipple you pulled the line from. I just used a short piece of tubing with a bolt stuck in the end of it. Attach a 3 or 4 foot piece of clear transfer hose to the return line and drape it down to the ground through the engine housing. I used a plastic connector piece to connect the lines. Put the end of the clear hose in a container. I used a one gallon milk jug.

Refill the reservoir with fresh fluid to the top. Get in the cab, turn the key to the on position and then turn the steering wheel all the way to the left very slowly. You will see the old fluid coming out through the clear hose down to the jug. Then slowly turn the wheel all the way to the right. Now go and put more fresh fluid in your reservoir, then go turn the wheel all the way the other way. Keep doing this back and forth with your steering wheel, BUT NEVER LET THE RESERVOIR RUN LOW ON FRESH FLUID. If you do, you'll let air into the system. The original fluid is amber colored, and since I used ATF fluid ( which is red of course ) it was easy to tell when the new fluid was coming out. Stop when you see new fluid. Now unhook the return line from the transfer line and re-attach it to the reservoir. Don't forget to put the clamp back in place. Clean up the area and top off the reservoir to the correct level, lower the truck and you're done. Check the level one more time after the first drive to be sure. I used about 1 and1/4 of a quart of ATF.

 

^ sweet dude, thanks for that very detailed writeup, i appreciate it!! i'll do this tomorrow now!

 

Much appreciated! Will do this along with an oil change, ATF change next weekend.

 

Thanks for the write up...just did the change with my 2010 v6. Ended up using almost exactly one quart. FYI, I used a 2 liter bottle and it sits down in the engine bay perfectly so that you don't need to extend the return hose.

 

Is the return line also the top one on the rezzy in the 4.0 v-6? Thanks

 

Bump. I am also wondering which line is the return line so I can do this tomorrow. Also anyone replace the power steering filter? I didn't know it had one until I looked on rockauto. I figure thats a good thing to do when you flush it, no?

 

I just take a small pump like on a soap dispenser... Pull out what you can get, refill it. repeat after driving a few days. I know you never get it all, but it is a sealed system. I do it every 20k. Amsoil is compatible. After 2 or 3 flushes I like to think I get 80% new. Never replaced a pump or had a leak with my last three trucks or my old mans! I do the brakes the same, except I open the rear bleeders, (two man job) take it down as low as I can, fill it up and repeat until the fluid cleans up. I do that around 40k.
Not to say that the above is not correct, but I have great success with this.

 

Found power steering filter at O'reily's for $16.99. It was a universal type but had the correct neck diameter. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/MPPB/991FLT4.oap?ck=Search_991flt4_-1_2795&keyword=991flt4
Now I just got to find where that filter is.

 

Bump for filter location, also do you use same fluid as the transmission?

 

When i did this, I worked the rack from the passenger side wheel pushing it side to side rather than running back and forth from the steering wheel to the reservoir. I also ran it dry in the process so had to start over. Then I refilled it after hitting each wheel lock.

 

My wife had an 09 Dodge Charger and at an oil change, they noted the PS oil was "dirty". WTF? How does that happen - sealed up system? I pulled all of the fluid out - flushed carefully and so on. Refilled with the stuff Dodge recommended. So in a short time it turned dirty and started " steering right funny" she said. Extended warranty changed it out. Found out that Dodge trucks had changed official rack fluid to ATF - but not the Charger. My go-to mechanic checked with his buds - and what we found was that the racks were built with a composite center piston. The piston was coming apart in the recommended PS fluid - disintegrating. The new rack had the same POS parts in it. When the fluid went dirty again - we traded it for a Ford. The junk Dodge part needed a better piston - to make it work right and they were happy to give us a bad part to run out the warranty. Dirty PS fluid makes me very suspicious now.

 

The reservoir has a screen that acts like a "filter" although I've heard of members installing an in-line filter onto the return line of the PS. Also, no the ATF for our trucks (Toyota WS) is not the same for the power steering and power steering fluid is not recommended for our trucks. I know, confusing right? However, any Dexron II or III ATF will work, with the most accessible being Valvoline Maxlife ATF, which is what I used. Reason being ATF is actually a better fluid than dedicated power steering fluid (I forget the specifics, another thread here mentions why).

 

What about dexron VI? Would that work as well too?

 

Just beware that Dex VI has a lower viscosity than Dex III and that may affect the steering feel some. Toy specs Dex III automatic transmission fluid for the reasons being the seals have been tested for compatibility and they have determined that is their preferred viscosity along with other hydraulic and friction characteristics inherent to the fluid when they designed the system.

The whole Dex thing is actually licensing from General Motors whereas if one says their product was GM compatible Dex III they have to pay GM to say that. However GM no longer recognizes and licenses Dex III. That does not necessarily imply you should use something else. If you chose to go with what the factory says just look around and learn how to read the labels on bottles. There are still plenty ATFs around that are Dex III.

 

I flushed mine but never thought about a filter. Think I’m going to add one of these:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PNB351002

 

Dodge P/S fluid is ATF+4 - designed for MOPAR vehicles. Same fluid that's used in their transmissions.

 

thanks for the info on viscosity, i hadn't looked up the differences and I appreciate your willingness to share. i will exchange my Dex VI for III. I'm just getting back into the Taco world after my run with a 92 FJ80, I love that beast but with the amount of driving I do, it just wasn't feasible to keep, so it's for sale

 

Smart man. If you have and automatic get two and put one on the return line from the trans cooler back to the trans. BTW, there is a similar version of the magnefine filter you linked that shows up on sale at PepBoys sometimes for about $10 ea. It use to be P1320.