Power Steering Flush-How?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Power Steering Flush-How?
Since I now spend some time recommending this to owners of 1990s GM vehicles, it occured to me that I have never changed my own fluid :bb . All seems well with the steering system in my 1979 but why not! So how do I drain/flush the power steering fluid?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (paul79)
Mine self drained this winter :rolleyes: I would think undoing to 2 hoses from the pump to the control valve will drain the great majority of it, my garage floor is testimony to that. Or a baster or suction pump(like the one used to pull differntial fluid) out of the top of the pump.
I just got done doing pump, hoses and rebuilding the cylinder. So I'm all new fluid.
Scott
I just got done doing pump, hoses and rebuilding the cylinder. So I'm all new fluid.
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (Scott78)
I THINK (watch Jim Shea jump in here and tell me what an idiot I am!) that you can remove the low pressure return line to your pump (the one with the hose clamp) and put it in a jar. Turn your engine over but I wouldn't think you would want to let it start. Crank it for a few seconds, each time watching to ensure you don't empty the pump. Then refill as necessary. This is not a GM procedure but something I think might work.
Gary
Gary
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (GaryS)
I tried the suction-out-the-top method with limited success. (It is hard to get much out from the top). However, while changing the hoses pretty much all the fluid drained out after I unscrewed the hose at the control valve. MJ
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (MNJack)
With your front tires off the ground. Disconnect the lowest pump line from the ram with your tank cap off. Let the pump drain and them turn your steering lock to lock and that forces all the oil out of the ram.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (gkull)
With your front tires off the ground. Disconnect the lowest pump line from the ram with your tank cap off. Let the pump drain and them turn your steering lock to lock and that forces all the oil out of the ram.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (gkull)
The last post sounds best to me. You could actually start your engine to speed up the process. You just don't want to run with a completely dry pump for any length of time and you certainly don't want to rev the engine up during this time. The idea is to get as much of the old fluid out and the new fluid into the system as possible.
And I'm sure you have heard my final recommendation before, but here it is again. Refill with genuine GM power steering fluid. Available from any GM dealer. It was specifically forumulated to work with the Saginaw pump.
And I'm sure you have heard my final recommendation before, but here it is again. Refill with genuine GM power steering fluid. Available from any GM dealer. It was specifically forumulated to work with the Saginaw pump.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (Jim Shea)
Thanks Jim and All. I am now working at a GM dealer so I will have access to the correct fluid. But is the fluid used in new cars the same as the old?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (paul79)
Can't say that today's GM fluid is exactly the same as the stuff 25 years ago. However, the pump cam ring, vanes, rotor, plates, driveshaft, and bushings are all pretty much the same materials. Today's fluid has to pass the same durability tests with the Saginaw pump.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,479
Likes: 3
From: Quincy IL
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (Jim Shea)
Reading thru everyone's posts because my pump is starting to leak, at least i think that's the culprit. i've got everything wiped down and i'm checking for leaks. when i bought the car almost 6 yrs ago, it had a rebuilt pump from Autozone, the hoses were bad and the control valve leaked, the slave cylinder was and is fine. so i put on a rebuilt control valve from Autozone and new hoses. HERE'S MY QUESTION, when i bought the car it had auto trans fluid in the power steering pump instead of power steering fluid. now i understand that the auto trans fluid will eat my hoses, which it hasn't done yet. well, i'm still checking. anyway, can i keep using auto trans fluid and if not how do I do a total flush on all the power steering components and what do i use??? I'm pretty sure the pump is leaking and that's one expense, but if the hoses are contaminated that's another $50 to $60. any help appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (Gary79)
I don't think that ATF will eat your hoses. ATF is generically the same type fluid as PS fluid. It has a bunch of additives specifially to work in automatic transmissions as compared to PS fluid which has additives specifically to work with the Saginaw pump.
You should try to get as much of the ATF out as practical but I wouldn't worry about mixing the remaining ATF with the new PS fluid.
BTW, I just posted a PS pump leak chart that shows the various areas on the pump that can leak. I should probably update it because when it was created (25+ years ago) they didn't anticipate corrosion and/or fatigue of some of the brazed joints on the power steering pump reservoir. You can find it at: http://www.corvettefaq.com under Steering; P-Pump Leak Points Pic.
You should try to get as much of the ATF out as practical but I wouldn't worry about mixing the remaining ATF with the new PS fluid.
BTW, I just posted a PS pump leak chart that shows the various areas on the pump that can leak. I should probably update it because when it was created (25+ years ago) they didn't anticipate corrosion and/or fatigue of some of the brazed joints on the power steering pump reservoir. You can find it at: http://www.corvettefaq.com under Steering; P-Pump Leak Points Pic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Power Steering Flush-How? (paul79)
Yesterday, Terry Rudy posted an updated picture of the Saginaw P-Pump with its various leak points. I tried to show the various locations on the pump that can leak fluid (including the brazed return tube and the filler neck). It's entitled P-Pump Leak Points Pic.
