Power Steering Screen Clogged--Why?

My power steering was whining, so did a search and found all kinds of info. on the fact that the screen at the bottom of the reservoir gets plugged and starves the pump. Sure enough, that's my problem. I'll pull the pump, clean the screen, flush the old fluid..., but I'm wondering why it gets plugged in the first place. Is the crud clogging the filter a sign of another problem in the rack or pump?

 

If I had to guess, I'd say rubber bits in the steering system degrading over time.

 

RapidRoy, you may have already seen Timmy's video below, but just in case you haven't........
Like 0xDEADBEEF stated above, I think it's just wear in the system. Like everything mechanical it "could" represent a larger problem but I doubt it.
I purchased my '03 new and have periodically sucked out the old power steering fluid and replaced with fresh. Last year I was getting just a little bit of whine in the mornings so I followed Timmy's video below. Using a flashlight, there was definitely more light going through the screen afterwards.
My friend has a '06 Honda Passport and had the same issue.......screen blockage.

https://youtu.be/5k61KXRK8bM

 

This is on your 2020 truck??

I think your on the way to a major failure the truck being that new !!

15 or 20 years would be normal to clean the screen not brand new !!

My screen needed cleaned after 20 years and 250,000 miles

 

The reason why a power steering reservoir screen will become clogged is from lack of maintenance. Power steering fluid just like brake fluid is one of those fluids that gets forgotten when it comes to servicing your vehicle. We usually remember to change our engine oil, trans fluid, transfer case gear oil and differential gear oils but a power steering fluid renewal gets missed. I'm pretty sure most of us on forums like this have seen pictures of somebody showing what it looks like after they pulled their valve covers off. If the previous owner(s) took good care of the vehicle and did regular oil changes, the cam shafts and related parts will look clean. For the engines that were abused and long intervals were allowed between oil changes, the area under the valve covers has huge sludge build-up. Same goes for power steering fluid. If you don't renew it regularly, deposits will form in the fluid and build up at the reservoir screen. Since making the video above, I did the same job on my 98 4runner and decided to take the fluid filtration one step further and I added an in-line magnetic filter to the return line before the reservoir. These types of filter will last for 30k miles. With a filter like this, you won't ever have to do a cleaning of your reservoir screen again. But, the main lesson is, don't ignore your power steering system. At every engine oil change, I suck out the contents of the reservoir with a fluid pump, fill it back up with fresh ATF, start the rig, turn the wheels lock to lock a couple times and then repeat this process one or two more times. Exchanging a portion of the fluid capacity of the power steering system at every oil change will keep the fluid in good shape.

Here's a link to the magnetic filter I use: https://amzn.to/35p6heN

Here's a link to the pump I use to suck the fluid out of the power steering reservoir: Mitivac Fluid Extractor https://amzn.to/2q0m7xz

 

Interesting. I do the same thing. I used to do it to the trans as well, suck out 2 quarts at every oil change and add 2 fresh quarts. Now that there's no trans dipstick in most newer cars I'm having to rethink that. I'm considering adding a Fumoto valve to the trans so I can drain and add a couple of quarts now and then. I use an oil sampling pump that just so happens to fit glass gallon jugs. It's similar to this one: https://www.amsoil.com/p/oil-analysis-pump-g1206/

 

Sorry, I need to update my profile. Not on my 2020. I picked up a Gen1 with nearly 300k on the clock. As an aside, I love the thing. It's been a blast to work on--being a gearhead is really a disease.

 

Thanks for the update I was thinking 2020 and a clogged screen already did not sound good.

 

I dont think you have to pull off the whole pump unless you have another reason to do so. Just suck out the reservoir with a Turkey baster and unbolt the reservoir from the pump.

 

I've been thinking about that (taking it off versus leaving it on for cleaning). Here's my reasoning for taking it off. First, the screen is fairly course, so whatever is floating around in the fluid is likely still there in small sizes as well. Second, I need to replace the belt so I'm partway there anyway. Third, using the Timmy method doesn't necessarily mean the whole screen is unplugged, just mostly unplugged. Seems to me that getting the reservoir off, back flushing it with solvent of some kind is the only way to make sure all the crud is out of the screen. Finally, I want to check the pump out and make sure the seal and bearings are all in good shape. I'm probably being too anal about it, but I enjoy doing the maintenance and figure it won't take all that much longer to get it out and back in.

 

At one point a couple of years ago I was fighting a difficult problem with my power steering system. I kept losing pressure at the rack and the pump would start whining like it was being starved. I replaced 3 auto zone pumps and 2 racks, made sure screen in bottom was see through clean but was still having same issue where I was simply not getting circulation of fluid. I finally replaced the high pressure side and return line completely with brand new lines and that fixed the problem for good. I believe the factory rubber lines start to degrade internally and that's what clogs the system and or at some point allows the hose to cave in on itself creating a blockage in the line. From the outside you would have never have been able to tell. Lesson learned to keep that system clean but also, lines matter too...

 

Thank you for that information. It could very well be that what I'm seeing in the screen is degrading hose bits. I think I'll replace those lines just in case!

 

Thanks for this. It may be my problems. I will do it before I do the rack!