PS Fluid
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PS Fluid
While I was under my hood checking fluids I noticed that the power steering fluid is blacker than tar. I was wondering if I should change it, and if so what is the best way to do so without getting air in the system? It most likely is the original from 95 when it was made. I was thinking with the truck off suck it almost all out, and refill to cold full with fresh. Then repeat and be done?
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From: "Islander"
PS fluid
Newer vehicles run hot. Manufactures get it out the door as cheap a possible. Do you have a cooler, large cooler not a "bean counter $$$" cooler? Air in the system will purge it's self out, dont worry, just don't let it run dry. I prefer NEO oil as it lubricates vs atf, race cars use it.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
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A cooler? I have a bone stock 95 F150 with the 300 inline six. Never heard of a cooler on it. So I could take like a turkey baister, or some tubing and syphon out the fluid as much as possible, then refill the resivoir to full and let the truck run for a few minutes, then recheck and I would be ok?
Postmaster
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From: SD
There should be a small rubber hose on the back of the pump - the return line. I like to pull the return line off the pump and put it over a drain pan or bucket. The fluid from the resivoir will drain out. Plug the hole on the rear of the resivoir (I like to use a vacuum port cap). Fill the pump with new fluid and start the engine for a couple seconds and the old fluid will come out the hose into the drain pan. Be sure not to run the pump dry (it only takes a couple seconds), it will be ruined if it runs dry. Refill the pump and repeat this until the fluid coming out the hose is clean. Then reattach hose and refill with fluid.
Doing it this way is a little messy, time consuming and may take 3-4 quarts of fluid. But you are sure to get the old fluid out, plus the pump, hoses and steering box get the crud flushed out of them. And as noted earlier, use proper power steering fluid - trans fluid is not good for a power steering system.
Marty
Doing it this way is a little messy, time consuming and may take 3-4 quarts of fluid. But you are sure to get the old fluid out, plus the pump, hoses and steering box get the crud flushed out of them. And as noted earlier, use proper power steering fluid - trans fluid is not good for a power steering system.
Marty
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From: "Islander"
PS cooler
I'm running a PS cooler that I added to the 68 CS just below the front bumper, angle iron between the lower frame rails for a mount. The newer Super Duty Ford trucks, 99 onward have the PS cooler, 4" x 6 1/4" x 3/4" thick, has side mounting arms. Part # F81A-3D746-AC $43. The only time the steering pump and system get warm, 120 degrees F plus is with shut downs from the motor heat. Also this is hard piped to the cooler and back which also helps as a cooler. With every thing new as well as the steering box I installed Neo power steering fluid as well as a magnet on the dip stick. Done rambling.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
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Ok, so do I honestly need a cooler? It is my daily driver, but it doesn't see a lot of long distance driving ect. The only time is from school to home and back, but that will be done this spring. If I changed the fluid I should be fine for a while correct?
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Post Fiend
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From: "Islander"
Filter, why?
Gene, no filter added on purpose because everything is made of iron and the metal particles are smaller than any filter will catch. If the filter catches particles that small (sub micron size) it will not flow. A magnet will work. Non metallic particles like o-ring rubber, nylon rings or bronze bushings will not harm steel gears.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
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Post Fiend
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From: "Islander"
PS cooler
Wicky, you will have more heat generated in the steering system driving around town vs on the highway plus there is more airflow to cool on the highway also. I would rather "over kill" on coolers for seal and oil life than run hot. The oil at 50,000 miles is clear with no burnt smell, your choice.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
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From: Annapolis,MD.
wicky,A cooler isn't needed but it will help.I don't know how old you are so you might not remember,but Ford used to put coolers on almost every car/truck years ago and it was rare to have a p/s problem ( my '78 'Stang II even had 1 ).But then again the "engineers" at the factory know more than we do,right.LOL
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I am 19, but yes I do remember the coolers that were on the older Fords. Grew up under the hoods of a lot of cars, but don't remember most of it. So where can I look to get a cooler? Boneyard or is there a kit somewhere online? I can basically garuntee that the fluid in there now is 10 years old with almost 90k on it, so I know it should be changed. While I am at it, I think I might want to throw a cool in, so lets hear it.
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