Brown power steering fluid
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Georgia
Brown power steering fluid
I got my "new" 96 4.0 last June from a dealer. I was giving it a once over before going on a trip to the Ohio Valley. I noticed that the power steering fluid was the color of chocolate milk.
Med-Dark brown and cloudy. I had never seen this before. This is my 3rd Aerostar.
Gave away my first to a friend (it’s still on the road). My second is in the back yard waiting new head gaskets.
I didn’t have time to do a flush before leaving. I used the “turkey baster” method to remove all I could and replace with fresh. Run the engine and turn the wheels and repeat. I went through about 1.5 qts of new fluid. The color is a little lighter but still looks the same.
Any ideas why the fluid is brown? The only things I can think of is either stop leak or burnt oil. Any ideas or suggestions? I’m thinking of doing the full flush by pulling the refill line from the pump.
Med-Dark brown and cloudy. I had never seen this before. This is my 3rd Aerostar. Gave away my first to a friend (it’s still on the road). My second is in the back yard waiting new head gaskets.
I didn’t have time to do a flush before leaving. I used the “turkey baster” method to remove all I could and replace with fresh. Run the engine and turn the wheels and repeat. I went through about 1.5 qts of new fluid. The color is a little lighter but still looks the same.
Any ideas why the fluid is brown? The only things I can think of is either stop leak or burnt oil. Any ideas or suggestions? I’m thinking of doing the full flush by pulling the refill line from the pump.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 384
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From: Acworth, GA
Brown power steering fluid
Wow, not too sure on what that would be, but a flush is probably a good idea. I know as it ages it discolors, but brown? I don't see where oil would get into the system, but anything is possible.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Georgia
Brown power steering fluid
I guess I should have said burnt fluid not oil. I thought I read where the fluid could get burnt. Now that I think about it they were talking about ATF changing from red to brown. Oh well. I guess I know what I'll be doing.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Acworth, GA
Brown power steering fluid
It may turn a funny color when too much water gets in the brake fluid. It's a hydrophillic substance if I recall, which is why it's important to change (lost the brakes once on another car, will NEVER let that happen again).
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,746
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From: PNW
Brown power steering fluid
The power steering fluid in my Ranger and Aerostar looked nasty and smelled bad. I've never seen ATF from an automatic transmission look this bad. My guess as to why the fluid is brown is that the fluid rarely gets changed and perhaps the power steering pump is hard on fluid. There's no filter in the system like on automatic transmissions, so all that gunk can float around in the system, rather than collect in the filter.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,642
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From: Northern California
Brown power steering fluid
Could it be that someone fed the Aerostar's power steering some gravey, last November, on Thanksgiving Day? That "odd tasting" clear gravey on your mashed patotoes during Thanksgiving dinner, you were wondering about? A mx-up???!! Seriously, it sounds like your system needs a complete flush. I change the power steering fluid in my Aerostar once a year whether it needs it or not. Currently, I have Red Line's pink/red synthetic PS fluid in the system. Great results with the Red Line lubricant, in fact I feel it even quieted the Aerostar's (as with many similar Ford products) "moaning/whining" signature sound I have heard since day one. Still has a slight "whine" but it is much better with the Red Line PS.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 435
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From: Corpus Christi, Tx. 78418
Brown power steering fluid
Sounds more like someone put some kind of addative in the power steering fluid to hide a leak.. flush the system and refill, then check for leaks...
Ron
Ron
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Brown power steering fluid
Flush the system, install a return line filter, refill with a good quality synthetic fluid.
Another possibility for the discoloration is water from a high pressure hose entering the reservoir.
Use the following Wix filter available from auto parts stores for $17-20:
Wix transmission/PS filter #58964
200 psi working, pressure relieved, magnetic
change yearly or 12000 miles
Ford equivalent filter kit #XC3Z-7B155-AA
filter alone #XC3P-7B155-BA
I have no idea what the Ford equivalent units run from Ford. The Ford kit has a bunch of cute fittings and a plastic container to check cooling flow.
Another possibility for the discoloration is water from a high pressure hose entering the reservoir.
Use the following Wix filter available from auto parts stores for $17-20:
Wix transmission/PS filter #58964
200 psi working, pressure relieved, magnetic
change yearly or 12000 miles
Ford equivalent filter kit #XC3Z-7B155-AA
filter alone #XC3P-7B155-BA
I have no idea what the Ford equivalent units run from Ford. The Ford kit has a bunch of cute fittings and a plastic container to check cooling flow.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Brown power steering fluid
I found brown fluid in my Aerostar too. Pump has 77,000 miles on it and nobody put any weird stuff in but I did top it up once with that clear steering fluid. Anyway I am doing the turkey baster. Should be able to get about 70 percent new after about 6 goes at it with driving in between. I did my pickup first since it has over 100,000 miles and that fluid was not really all that bad. So I am thinking the steering system on the Aerostar is undersized or lacking capacity to cause it to run hot and burn the fluid or something.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
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From: Canada
My wife was a bit perterbed this morning that I hadn't checked the star in a while. Especially after she had to pump the tires up multple times last week. I've been working on the basement too much, this is true. I have since replaced the two front tires. This morning I found brown fluid in the Aerostar just like you guys. I am not sure if the fluid has ever been changed. I was surprised to find it brown because I didn't know it would do that. The van has 179,682 km on it. After reading this post, I went out and bought 2 litres of power steering fluid and also a suction pump for $30. I have sucked out everything I can and poured new fluid in 3 times so far, in between driving it around the block. After the first two times it was getting a little bit better. Then I went tobagganing. Now I need to go out and check it again and see how many more times before the chocolate color turns to something a little bit more clear. It smells kind of burned. I am optimistic, however I may need to buy more fluid before finishing.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,015
Likes: 208
From: SoCal
Other than burning, the "chocolate" brown color must come from rust. Check to make sure that the cap on the pump isn't catching any drainage water from the cowel.
It would have been easier to change the fluid by pulling off one of the cooling lines near the lower radiator hose and letting it drain out. You can help it along by turning the engine very briefly. Then you can fill and run and drain again to further clean it out.
It would have been easier to change the fluid by pulling off one of the cooling lines near the lower radiator hose and letting it drain out. You can help it along by turning the engine very briefly. Then you can fill and run and drain again to further clean it out.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
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From: Canada
Well I am out of fluid and I am still not satified after 5 times. I may have to try your approach next. The filler cap was full of water, but I don't know if the filler cap could leak through.
Last edited by rob1994AerostarAWD; Jan 27, 2007 at 06:50 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,015
Likes: 208
From: SoCal
The filler cap has a vent hole in it, so if it collects enough water, it will leak through. If you look closely at the cap, you will see where the hole is, and you can install it such that the hole is at the highest point. But again, water splashing on it will still get in. You need to find out where the water is coming from and try to fix that. In the mean time, you can try to fashion a splash guard for the filler cap. I think even loosely wrapping some aluminum foil around the filler neck with rubber bands will help until you fix the real problem.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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To keep water out of the ps pump, I was told to take a soda can, cut off the top, and put it upside down over the cap. The fit is perfect, and has worked well for me so far.
BTW, you might want to temporarily remove it before taking the vehicle in for a state inspection. An upside down soda can is apt to easily confuse the staff.
BTW, you might want to temporarily remove it before taking the vehicle in for a state inspection. An upside down soda can is apt to easily confuse the staff.