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power steering fluid flush

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Old Oct 31, 2012 | 08:54 PM
  #1  
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power steering fluid flush

hi guys,

i've been busy with work and lately, i've also been scouring the internet and this forum for the exact procedure on how to flush the power steering fluid on a 6.0.

from what i've already gathered, here are the info so far. use mobil 1 fully-synthetic ATF. about 3 to 4 quarts.

get 3/8" ID hose. how long?

use a couple of empty gallon bottles to catch the waste fluid.

i have a rough idea on where to pull off the line, but where exactly? a pic will be great.

also, where do i fill up the new fluid?

i'm thinking of installing an inline filter from Magnefine. can someone provide me with the link to the exact filter to get? i'm thinking 3/8" but i'll wait for actual confirmation from y'all first. also, where is the best place to install the magnefine filter? i've seen it where some folks who have the 7.3 actually install it down below by the radiator area. i've also read somewhere on the internet that it can be installed on the same line which i pull out to drain the fluid. will a kind fella please chime in and confirm the exact procedure for me?

i'm also guessing that with the new filter installed, i will need 2 hose clamps and i was thinking of changing out the entire hose for that section. good idea or not?

as with everything about me, i'm cursed and inclined to mess things up and screw up. hence, i've gone the FTE way and i seek confirmation before anything else.

sorry guys, but i'm kinda paranoid about messing up (which i usually do). lol.

anyway, thanks in advance to everybody chiming in.
 
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Old Oct 31, 2012 | 09:06 PM
  #2  
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Hose needs to be long enough to reach the bucket! LOL

Here is a good thread with some info you might need:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12353421
 
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Old Nov 1, 2012 | 08:18 AM
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Thanks man. I forgot bout that. I was more fixated on power steering fluid flush n that was what I was searching about.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2012 | 07:44 PM
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Below is a posting I made several years ago that I hope can help you. First, before you get started, make sure you read your owners manual to determine the proper fluid to use. Different years use different fluid.

Second, I haven't changed the filter as it is really a bypass filter. The fluid looked good before the change with no evidence of particulants and at 85K with the new fluid, it looks good now.

Power Steering System Flush

<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d1d1e1; COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->On my last trip to the dealer for fuel system problems which turned out to be a broken ICP sensor, they tried to sell me a power steering system flush. I decided to do it myself. It was a tad messy but it was relatively straightforward. Others have written about this before and I used their advice. I also added an inline Magnafine filter which has also been previously discussed. My truck is a 2003 6.0 F250 with 60K miles. It uses ATF in the power steering reservoir.

Materials Needed:

3 Quarts of MerconV ATF. (MerconV is the successor to Mercon)
4 Feet of 3/8" clear tubing from the home center ($1.00)
1 3/8" connector to connect the tubing to the line from the PS
1 3/8" bolt inserted in 2" of the above clear tubing to make a plug
1 Magnefine 3/8" filter with 2 hose clamps (19.95 w/shipping on the net)
1 Sharp knife to cut the hydroboost return hose
1 Pliers to use on pinch clamps on hoses on reservoir
1 Screwdriver to tighten clamps on filter
1 Gallon jug to catch the flushed ATF
1 Small hand pump I normally use to fill the differential
1 Step stool to get up on
Some rags

Here's how to do it:

1. Empty the reservoir with the hand pump into the jug.
2. Remove the return hose from the power steering that goes into the bottom of the reservoir. There are two return hoses the same size. One goes up to the hydraboost which is under the master cylinder. The other one goes to the power steering. Plug the bottom of the reservoir with the homemade plug.
3. Next, connect the clear tubing to the power steering return hose. Insert the other end of the hose in the jug. Immediately, fill the reservoir before you do anything else.
4. Call Spouse to come outside for a good time. It's best if she brings her ipod and a book. That will cut down on the "Are you done yet" dialogue.
5. Have her start the engine and turn the wheel to one side. Shut off the engine. The fluid started pumping into the jug before the wheel was turned and during the turning. Check the color of the fluid. The old stuff looked ok to me but we continued on.
6. The key here is to make sure that you do not let the reservoir go dry. Fill it up and do it again until you have used about 1 3/4 quarts of new ATF.
7. At this point, the reservoir is near the bottom. Reinstall the power steering return line to the reservoir. Fill the reservoir with ATF.
8. Remove the hydraboost line from the reservoir at the hydraboost. Put the clear plastic tubing on the nipple on the hydraboost. Have Spouse pump the brakes and watch the fluid. When it is clear, stop.
9. Cut the hydraboost return line and insert the Magnefine filter with the arrow towards the reservoir. Install the clamps. Connect the return line to the hydraboost and fill up the reservoir.
10. Have Spouse start the engine and turn the wheel while you peer into the reservoir checking for bubbles. No bubbles, no problem.
11. Have Spouse pump the brake peddle a few times. I had a few bubbles from the filter settling in. After a few more pumps, the bubbles disappeared.
12. Take the truck for a spin around the block and check for proper steering and brakes. I believe that the brakes actually seemed a little tighter.

Conclusion:

The ATF in the reservoir looked surprisingly good. However, the price of all the mechanical components could bankrupt me so a little preventative maintenance which consists of a $20 filter and 3 quarts of ATF is cheap insurance.

Thanks to all who have contributed before on this topic.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2012 | 11:04 PM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by Texas Bob
Below is a posting I made several years ago that I hope can help you. First, before you get started, make sure you read your owners manual to determine the proper fluid to use. Different years use different fluid.

Second, I haven't changed the filter as it is really a bypass filter. The fluid looked good before the change with no evidence of particulants and at 85K with the new fluid, it looks good now.

Power Steering System Flush

<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d1d1e1; COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->On my last trip to the dealer for fuel system problems which turned out to be a broken ICP sensor, they tried to sell me a power steering system flush. I decided to do it myself. It was a tad messy but it was relatively straightforward. Others have written about this before and I used their advice. I also added an inline Magnafine filter which has also been previously discussed. My truck is a 2003 6.0 F250 with 60K miles. It uses ATF in the power steering reservoir.

Materials Needed:

3 Quarts of MerconV ATF. (MerconV is the successor to Mercon)
4 Feet of 3/8" clear tubing from the home center ($1.00)
1 3/8" connector to connect the tubing to the line from the PS
1 3/8" bolt inserted in 2" of the above clear tubing to make a plug
1 Magnefine 3/8" filter with 2 hose clamps (19.95 w/shipping on the net)
1 Sharp knife to cut the hydroboost return hose
1 Pliers to use on pinch clamps on hoses on reservoir
1 Screwdriver to tighten clamps on filter
1 Gallon jug to catch the flushed ATF
1 Small hand pump I normally use to fill the differential
1 Step stool to get up on
Some rags

Here's how to do it:

1. Empty the reservoir with the hand pump into the jug.
2. Remove the return hose from the power steering that goes into the bottom of the reservoir. There are two return hoses the same size. One goes up to the hydraboost which is under the master cylinder. The other one goes to the power steering. Plug the bottom of the reservoir with the homemade plug.
3. Next, connect the clear tubing to the power steering return hose. Insert the other end of the hose in the jug. Immediately, fill the reservoir before you do anything else.
4. Call Spouse to come outside for a good time. It's best if she brings her ipod and a book. That will cut down on the "Are you done yet" dialogue.
5. Have her start the engine and turn the wheel to one side. Shut off the engine. The fluid started pumping into the jug before the wheel was turned and during the turning. Check the color of the fluid. The old stuff looked ok to me but we continued on.
6. The key here is to make sure that you do not let the reservoir go dry. Fill it up and do it again until you have used about 1 3/4 quarts of new ATF.
7. At this point, the reservoir is near the bottom. Reinstall the power steering return line to the reservoir. Fill the reservoir with ATF.
8. Remove the hydraboost line from the reservoir at the hydraboost. Put the clear plastic tubing on the nipple on the hydraboost. Have Spouse pump the brakes and watch the fluid. When it is clear, stop.
9. Cut the hydraboost return line and insert the Magnefine filter with the arrow towards the reservoir. Install the clamps. Connect the return line to the hydraboost and fill up the reservoir.
10. Have Spouse start the engine and turn the wheel while you peer into the reservoir checking for bubbles. No bubbles, no problem.
11. Have Spouse pump the brake peddle a few times. I had a few bubbles from the filter settling in. After a few more pumps, the bubbles disappeared.
12. Take the truck for a spin around the block and check for proper steering and brakes. I believe that the brakes actually seemed a little tighter.

Conclusion:

The ATF in the reservoir looked surprisingly good. However, the price of all the mechanical components could bankrupt me so a little preventative maintenance which consists of a $20 filter and 3 quarts of ATF is cheap insurance.

Thanks to all who have contributed before on this topic.
thanks for the reply, texas bob. if you dont mind me asking, do u have a pic of the exact hose to pull out? i have a rough idea, but actual confirmation is still better IMHO. sorry to trouble u.

thanks again y'all.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 08:10 AM
  #6  
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<!-- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz begin main content zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz -->Ford Super Duty Power Steering Flush

The power steering pump on my 2000 Ford F250 Super Duty started to whine while turning the steering wheel when stopped or moving slowly. I discovered from reading many posts on TDS that flushing the power steering fluid (ATF) and replacing it with
Mobile 1 synthetic ATF"><span style=Mobile 1 synthetic ATF" /> Mobile 1 synthetic ATF">Mobile 1 synthetic ATF
might alleviate the problem. I did the job with the help of various posts on the internet (you can find these other posts in the "http://www.superdutypsd.com/external_links_page.php" section of this site). I decided to synthesize what I gleaned from the posts, and from the practical experience of doing the job, into this write-up. This flushing procedure completely solved my problem 100%.
1999-2003 Super Duty trucks use automatic transmission fluid, not power steering fluid, in the power steering system. The owner's manual says to only use Mercon but you can now use Mercon V. Ford says Mercon V has been reformulated and is now all right to use for both power steering and transmission.
I hope this might be useful to someone. Remember though, that I am not a mechanic. This is just how I did it.
Click here to see how I also installed an inline filter for the power steering fluid.

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>Materials Required:</TD></TR><TR><TD>Automatic Transmission Fluid, 3-4 Quarts Mobile 1 ATF (or the properly rated Mercon or Mercon V ATF of your choice)</TD></TR><TR><TD>Clear Vinyl Tubing (3/8" ID), 3'-10'</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tools Required:</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pliers (to remove hose clamp at hydroboost)</TD></TR><TR><TD>Container (at least large enough to hold 4 or 5 quarts)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><HR>The Procedure:

1) Trace the return line from the neck of the power steering pump fluid reservoir up to where it connects to the hydroboost nipple. Using pliers disconnect the clamp and pull off the rubber line.




2) Now that the rubber power steering fluid line is disconnected a piece of clear vinyl tubing (3/8" ID) can be connected. Note that the flushing procedure was already underway when the photos were taken. That is why the tubing is already full of fluid.



3) Place the other end of the tubing in a suitable container. In my case I used a 1 gallon oil jug and set it where shown in the photo below. Some suggest setting it over the side of the fender. Note that I use this same piece of tubing for transmission flushes hence all the extra tubing.



4) Now, preferably with the front wheels off the ground and with the use of an assistant, the flushing procedure can start. Start the engine and have your assistant (in my case I did not have an assistant) pump the brakes and move the steering wheel from stop to stop. Don't turn the steering wheel too fast though, I understand the steering dampner can be caused to leak if you go too fast. Make sure to keep the power steering reservoir full of ATF or air will get into the system.
Fluid will flow into the container.

Keep the reservoir full using a long funnel. It is not difficult as it does not drain very fast. Remember that 99-03 Super Duty trucks require ATF, not power steering fluid.


5) Once clean fluid is flowing out through the tubing the system is flushed. I used about 3 quarts, this allowed some extra fluid to be wasted just to make sure all the old fluid was out.
The fluid should be nice and clean like this.



6) Top off the fluid to the appropriate level and the project is complete.
I also opted to install an inline filter on the cooler return line. click here to see that installation.
<!-- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz end main content zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz -->

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Top pic right hand hose. Article is for a 7.3 but the hose location is the same as is most of the procedure. I just pump the brakes. Seems faster than turning the wheels. If you do turn the wheels it's easier on the steering box to jack the front end up a little.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 08:53 AM
  #7  
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Thanks man. I appreciate the help on that.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 10:28 AM
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Snuggyworm,

I can't get a picture of the bottom of the power steering reservoir. However, there are only two 3/8" ID hoses coming into the bottom of the reservoir. One goes up to the hydroboost which is under and behind the brake fluid reservoir. The other goes down to the power steering. Remove the down hose, plug the reservoir, connect the tubing to the down hose and flush. Then you do the upper hose. You really can't go wrong.

Main thing is to not let the power steering reservoir go dry. And make sure you use the specified fluid.

Good luck.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2012 | 12:55 PM
  #9  
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Thanks Texas bob. I'll pay extra attention to it.
 
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Old Nov 27, 2012 | 04:42 PM
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latest update: the deed is done. thank you all for your response and help and advice. next step is focusing on complete egr delete, coolant flush, ultra ELC, updated turbo oil feed line, etc.
 
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Old Nov 27, 2012 | 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Snuggyworm
latest update: the deed is done. thank you all for your response and help and advice. next step is focusing on complete egr delete, coolant flush, ultra ELC, updated turbo oil feed line, etc.
If you haven't gotten the filter yet it's a Magnfine #R038M 3/8 filter. Get it at: WWW.emergingent.com/magnefine
 
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Old Nov 27, 2012 | 05:29 PM
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thank u sir. i have in fact installed it at the time i did my flush. she's looking good, and it'll be a year before i do it again. thanks for the reply. i believe i took a pic of that in my gallery, or maybe not. i've also updated my other post, "updates from the worm & maybe some pics. lol."
 
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Old Nov 27, 2012 | 10:21 PM
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Looking good DOM looks like getting truck all Squared away

I Oiled the driveway when I did mine LOL
 
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Old Nov 28, 2012 | 01:01 AM
  #14  
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Thanks benny. If not for all u guys on the forum, I would never been inspired to correct the problems on my truck. Thank u all for that great direction.

Actually, even with my buddy pumping the brakes, the hose stayed on there. It went better than I anticipated.
 
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