How to fully drain powersteering fluid

[DioXidE]

Hey folks,

After 2 track days and a few skids my powersteering fluid is f*cked. Its all black and I think its boiled itself. Ive also lost power steering at low speeds.

I tried using a syringe to remove the fluid from the reseviour and replaced it with fresh fluid, this helped for like a microsecond. I think I need to do a full flush.

Do I just undo the return line back to the reseviour and turn the car on and let the pump, pump it all out?

BTW - fitting a p/s cooler asap lol.

Cheers

Arif

[Timmay5.7]

I have done one like this at a workshop before.
Best with a mate in the car steering full lock to full lock while it bleeds out and you topping it up. - Think more like a brake flush.

[vyls1wa]

Im after the same answer, ive been lazy, mines well over due for a full flush, i was leaning towards getting a 5L bottle of fluid and and letting it pump from that into a bucket. extending the hoses, jsut to do it, but i was thinking a few litres would give it a good flush out not just replacing the fluid itself. Thats my ill informed idea

[DioXidE]

which hose is the return from the res?

[IJ.]

which hose is the return from the res?

Small line.

[white lie]

Can't say i've looked at it, but wouldn't it be the other way around? Like most hydraulic systems, small line is the feed as it holds more pressure, larger line for return.

[IJ.]

He's talking about on the Reservoir, Large line is the Feed into the pump small line is the return from the Rack, it has a 3mm restrictor in the hose as well.

To fully bleed/flush the system you'd remove this line put it into a 1 litre bottle plug up the barb on the Reservoir then run the engine at idle turning the steering gently and pour fresh fluid into the reservoir until the return hose runs clean.

Also a good idea to run a filter in that line Magnafine do one that works well.

[stumps57L]

If you want to drain the whole system take the inspection plate off under the car and there are some rubber hoses with clamps that go to the factory cooler infront of the radiator. This passes through the radiator (next to) on the drivers side. If you find where the steel mounts to the rubber hoses you can empty the lot. I have done this twice when replacing the factory steering cooler.

[DioXidE]

thanks guys...

so there is a factory cooler there? Can I run my own cooler instead of the factory one?

[vyls1wa]

Yes there is a factory one, (pretty average) and yes you can use an aftermarket one

check out PWR (a sponser) they have a cooler setup for 218 or there abouts, comes with everything you need to get it installed. i just got their trans cooler and have to say, its better quality than i expected, couldnt fault its quality at all and instructions are spot on.

A pwr power steering kit is on the list for myself

[IJ.]

thanks guys...

so there is a factory cooler there? Can I run my own cooler instead of the factory one?

V6 one is a joke, V8 one slightly less of a joke but could still do with being replaced,Cooler and a Filter and your Pwr Steer will thank you for years to come!

[QldKev]

If you want to drain the whole system take the inspection plate off under the car and there are some rubber hoses with clamps that go to the factory cooler infront of the radiator. This passes through the radiator (next to) on the drivers side. If you find where the steel mounts to the rubber hoses you can empty the lot. I have done this twice when replacing the factory steering cooler.


When you drop the line, do you need to start the engine and turn the steering from side to side, or will it just drain itself?

Once it is drained what is the refil capacity, and then is there a procedure to bleed the system?

QldKev

[Toddler78]

When you drop the line, do you need to start the engine and turn the steering from side to side, or will it just drain itself?

Once it is drained what is the refil capacity, and then is there a procedure to bleed the system?

QldKev


no you will need to start the car, let idle and turn the steering from lock to lock to get all the fluid out, as there are effectly gates in the rack that will hold onto the fluid. also you will need to top up as you go, you will need a continuous feed of fluid so as to not stuff the seals.

in regards to bleed in procedure, top your fluid up let run, turning the wheel lock to lock to get rid of all air bubbles, do this at least three times each lock, top the fluid back up again and take for a small drive, then recheck your fluid level and your done

[QldKev]

ok, thanks for the reply. :bow:

may give it a go this weekend.

[abi]

Related to this, is 'Transmax z' the bees knees for power steering?

For the line filter, what part number should I look for?

[aratic]

Any synthetic will do the job well. Problem with Transmax Z is that its only sold in 4L containers, and PS system only uses around ~1L, plus say another 1L for flushing

[stumps57L]

If you are putting a cooler in yourself do this at the same time, as i did.

Take the front bar off and the inspection plate off and you will see how the factory cooler works. Its a big looped metal pipe. there are hard lines that run through the radiator panel on the drives side of the radiator. These then join to some short rubber hoses.

There is a little screw that holds the hard line in position next to the radiator and you may need to hammer it off to remove (otherwise take the rad out). Run your new hoses through the same spot and join them up to the next lot of hard lines.

Once you do this it will all make sense.

[IJ.]

Related to this, is 'Transmax z' the bees knees for power steering?

For the line filter, what part number should I look for?

These are the ones I use. (http://www.magnefine.com/html/filtration.html)