2011 250 SD 4 wheel drive crew cab.


My power steering went out but I am not 100% sure what it is. Here are the symptoms.


-No whining when turning. It was for a while but went away. The fluid was still at level
-Power steering is out now but no signs of leaking.
-Truck turns fine as long as you start off with about a 3 mph roll.
-Seems harder to turn left than right.
- I sucked out the brown looking fluid and replaced with new. The fluid level never seems to go down even when I fight it lock to lock with the hood up.
-I am not seeing any air bubbles


Where did the fluid go before the refill??
Clogged line?
Bad pump?
Other??


Thanks!
Wade

 

I just found this? Could it be related and a viable fix???



Ford Super Duty Power Steering Flush - Superdutypsd.com

 

Question.. Gas or diesel engine... its different.

power steering fluid should be changed every 2 years. not when its Brown.

my opinion.

 

gas. Yes unfortunately I let mine go too long.

 

as for missing.. you may have had an AIR bubble blockage. and did not really fill it back up.. so when the air bubble passed.. you went low on fluid...

Or you missed where it leaked out... but not likely.

sometimes you need a vacuum pump (manual type ) to help remove air bubbles.

try again... replace fluid.. or replace the pump.

 

I agree with Chuck's logic here, sounds to me like your pump failed. How many miles on the truck?

 

86,000 miles.


If I have to replace the pump I will have to get to it from the bottom correct? How difficult is it to get to remove and replace? Any surprises that would have to be removed in order to get to it?


I was an auto mechanic while attending college back in the mid 90's and an experienced automotive DIY'er\HotRodder that has done everything from a simple brake job to a full on motor pull and rebuild.


Thanks
Wade

 

Kegger66,
Thanks for sharing your experience. This has given me a lot to look at instead of just throwing parts at it!
The reservoir had almost run dry before I added fluid. Before adding the fluid I did have some whining under load but no problem with responsiveness.
The first thing I will do is completely flush the system and see what happens. I still can't figure out where the fluid went. There is nothing wet around the pump or underneath the truck.

Now I just need to figure out how to get the tires off of the ground! These things are heavy and seem to laugh at 2 ton "heavy duty" floor jack! Bottle Jack's have been useless too!!!

 

a 3 ton minimum jack for 1 side.. truck is over 6,000 pounds. almost all up front.

no leak.. you had a air bubble trap.. preventing you from adding the correct amount of fluid. when bubble departs.. very low on fluid.. and Ford seems more common at this then other US brands.

43 years as a mechanic. now retired, thankfully I survived ..
.

 

Not doggin Chucks comments.....but every 2 years?? never heard that one. Of all the cars and trucks I've owned I have never changed the power steering fluid on any of them. My '02 F250 PSD steered just as good as the day I bought it, when I sold it after 15 yrs. and 140k the fluid was still nice and red although a little darker.

Now I can understand if the fluid gets compromised/contaminated that's a given, I even googled this subject, most reply's say it's not necessary unless there's been a problem and there's nothing that I could find in my '16 F350 maint. schedule refering to it at all. To each his own but every 2 years? uh, no.

 

its your truck .. do as you like.

many do not change transmission fluid
many do not change brake fluid
many do not change power steering fluid.

does not mean the manufacturer does not have a use limit on them. Look it up.

all fluids have a limit of use.. some is by heat, wear, contamination. if there are rubber hoses in the system.. fluids remove rubber from the inside.. how do you think brake fluid gets dark..

like I said.. its your vehicle.
I keep a vehicle for 15 to 20 years.. and do not want it to break down, or wear out early.

 

"Look it up" well I have been trying to, been googling like a mad dog....nothing about 2 years. I got hold of my local Ford service guy this afternoon before they closed up. I asked him when I should bring my truck in to get the power steering fluid changed, he asked me how old my truck was and I told him 6 months. The guy laughed and said well some day if you have steering problems bring it in.

I do agree with you that fluids will wear out over time.but there's absolutely nothing in my owners manual under scheduled maint. about power steering fluid. I'm sure with 43 years as a mech. you know your stuff, not arguing that at all, just took exception to the 2 yr. thing.

 

I am doing something wrong! on my 2011, 6.2 gas, my resavoir is up high and has 2 lines. 1 is on the side and appears to be about 5\8 in diameter. the other is at the very bottom of the resvoir. the larger side connected line goes to a nipple on the pump. the other disappears after heading into the trans cooler area. so what/where is the return line???? I disconnected the large one and it appears to be the feed line and not the return!

so how do I flush the system??? Plugging the large line and connecting a clear line to the nipple isn't working and making a big mess!!!!

 

on my 12 under the radiator on drivers side.. rubber hose to metal line.. with a pinch clamp.. remove clamp and slide rubber hose off metal line. .. when it stops dripping.. reconnect without clamp.. add fluid.. start engine and let run for 30 seconds..
remove hose and let drip... reassemble with clamp.. add fluid slowly.. till full.. start engine.. SLOWLY turn steering wheel from full left to right a few times.. stop engine.. and check level of fluid.


as for 2 years old. . it is my opinion... but after 2 years.. it is used.. and at 1 quart of fluid.. what 5 dollars and 10 minutes.. why risk damage a part worth hundreds ..
think about it.. 1 quart.. lubricating parts and Powering steering system.. it works hard .


YES Ford must have a time frame for power steering fluid change.. but not in Owners manual.. maybe service manual.

 

Best thing I ever did to the power steering on my 2004 f350 wasn't the two year flushes, wasn't the switch to full synthetic, it was adding an magnefine magnetic in line Filter! I added the first one this summer with a full flush and changed it a month later and my steering has never turned so smooth, my truck actually turns the tires at a complete stand still which it never has