How NOT to flush your power steering fluid

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RokRoland

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Ok, this is intended more as a warning than as an example.

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I realize the pic is not really showing the details near the steering box very well, but however there should be enough to figure out what went wrong. To clarify, the clear line is connected with M18 to hose adapter at the steering box, other end going to a waste oil container.
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I intended to start engine and keep fluid topped up at the reservoir until all old fluid came out to the canister. Can you guess what happened instead?
 

RokRoland

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Did it end up puking fluid all over the wheel well & ABS module thing?

You're on to something.

So, yeah, I hooked up the drain line into the wrong place on the steering box. With the setup shown, the pressure line from pump is open in the engine bay and the return line (which gets no fluid) is going to the canister.

As reference to anyone who is trying this: M16 line is the return from steering box, M18 line is the pressure line from pump, so the pictured connection shall not be followed.

So as to answer your question, almost, before starting the engine I did put a empty container of ATF over the line because I thought something might drip. Well, that filled almost completely, pump cavitated pretty quickly, air filled all lines...

I didn't have an M16 to hose adapter handy so I just drained what I could in the end, about a quart's worth of black stuff, and topped up with new ATF. It took a while to bleed the system (connect all lines, top up fluid, raise front of car, turn wheel from lock to lock without starting the engine some 40 times while keeping fluid level topped up) and I once also managed to get foaming ATF coming out of the canister due to some air still being trapped in the system. That looked like a really gross version of strawberry chocolate milkshake. Quite interesting.

In the end, now I have at least 50% of new ATF in the power steering, so that should be better than having just the stuff that factory put in it in the 80s. Once finding the proper adapters I will do a full flush.
 

DerekTheGreat

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Yeah I've put two power steering pumps on my GF's '92 F150 in the past month. I've found that they pump out their reservoir really fast haha. So I've taken to priming them by hand with the belt disconnected and the return line emptying into a container. Those things still end up being noisy until after being driven awhile.
 

mistaake

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Yeah I've put two power steering pumps on my GF's '92 F150 in the past month. I've found that they pump out their reservoir really fast haha. So I've taken to priming them by hand with the belt disconnected and the return line emptying into a container. Those things still end up being noisy until after being driven awhile.
I found that pulling the fuel pump fuse/relay and then cranking the engine is helpful in bleeding the system, because it turns the pump, just at a more reasonable speed.
 

DerekTheGreat

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I hear ya but I don't want to wear out my bearings and such just to drive that pump. Call me crazy but that's whats going on in my head, dry bearings and starter motor wear.
 

MatSLO

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Which fluid is everybody running in their power steering pumps?
When mine was replaced 3 years ago, the mechanic put in some ATF (dexron III) . At the time, I didn't know much and I asssumed the mechanic knew what he was doing.

But it turns out you should use special power steering fluid?
My main question is - what is this fluid called and most importantly, how can I obtain it in Europe?
 

RokRoland

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I find myself posting this one a lot lately...the GM factory manual procedure for bleeding the steering system. Note steps 1-4 in particular

Is this the same for all models? Sounds like a simple-ish way to do the bleeding.

I hear ya but I don't want to wear out my bearings and such just to drive that pump. Call me crazy but that's whats going on in my head, dry bearings and starter motor wear.

With starter motor you are correct, however, cranking the engine should provide oil pressure anyway.

Which fluid is everybody running in their power steering pumps?
When mine was replaced 3 years ago, the mechanic put in some ATF (dexron III) . At the time, I didn't know much and I asssumed the mechanic knew what he was doing.

But it turns out you should use special power steering fluid?
My main question is - what is this fluid called and most importantly, how can I obtain it in Europe?

It is a good question. Nevertheless having ATF should be better than having nothing at all. I'd also like to know if there's a difference between the 80s and 90s vehicles with regards to fluid specification.
 
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