Changing Power Steering Fluid

[66427]

So I was changing the serpintine belt on my '01 EB last night and for some reason decided to look in the power steering resivoir. Whew! BURNT! Still full but it's like flat root beer, well thicker actually. So I'm thinking, is there a service interval on the power steering fluid? How do you change it? I gave the resivior the turkey baster treatment (I have my own for situation like this) and refilled but I know I do not have partially new fluid i only have diluted bad fluid.
Has anybody done this?
Any suggestions?

 

[MountaineerGreen]

You can disconnect the lines from the cooler, just below your radiator- with the engine off and wheels off the ground, turn the wheel lock to lock a few times. Most of the fluid will come out that way. Just bleed the system after you re connect the lines and fill the reservoir.

 

[unoahnoah]

Power Steering Fluid Change

I just changed my fluid on my 1996 Explorer and its pretty simple. Just get under the car pull the hose. (you'll see a hose coming straight down from the reservoir) Pull it and drain all the fluid. Make sure you have about a gallon of power steering fluid! Once all fluid is drained pour fresh fluid through and late it drain out. Then reconnect the hose and refill. Turn wheel a few times in each direction and drain. Repeat a few times until the fluid is cleaner.

It should only take you about 10 minutes to do this

 

[66427]

I just changed my fluid on my 1996 Explorer and its pretty simple. Just get under the car pull the hose. (you'll see a hose coming straight down from the reservoir) Pull it and drain all the fluid. Make sure you have about a gallon of power steering fluid! Once all fluid is drained pour fresh fluid through and late it drain out. Then reconnect the hose and refill. Turn wheel a few times in each direction and drain. Repeat a few times until the fluid is cleaner.

It should only take you about 10 minutes to do this

Thanks, Unoahnoah you said about a gallon. And you said to flush a few times until the fluid is cleaner. Pardon my idiocy, but is that a gallon total or each time? How much does the system hold, and does this method flush the rack also? Truck (Ahem... My Explorer is NOT a car) running or not?

Lastly, I would like to use Valvoline Synpower Power steering fluid. Any recomendations for or against? other suggestions?

 

[unoahnoah]

Yes all you need is one gallon. The power steering only holds about a quart. you need to fill it up about 90% full. When draining the fluid it will flush the rack. Remember to drain then reconnect hose fill and turn on car and turn wheel all the way left then all the way right, and drain. Then repeat once more and refill and ur done. As far as synthetic fluid goes i would say go for it. it will be better in the long run for the power steering!

Get out and go for it!

 

[aldive]

I just changed my fluid on my 1996 Explorer and its pretty simple. Just get under the car pull the hose. (you'll see a hose coming straight down from the reservoir) Pull it and drain all the fluid. Make sure you have about a gallon of power steering fluid! Once all fluid is drained pour fresh fluid through and late it drain out. Then reconnect the hose and refill. Turn wheel a few times in each direction and drain. Repeat a few times until the fluid is cleaner.

It should only take you about 10 minutes to do this

That does nothing for the fluid in the other line andin the cooler.

 

[trucku]

I flushed mine out some time ago. No issues, the atf is still red. I never poured fluid through it while hose was disconnected though. My fluid was very dark thick.
I just:
1)drained and then reconnect hose from cooler
2) fill and cycle steering wheel stop to stop
3)drained and then reconnected hose cooler
4) repeat till fluid stays red

It took me three drain and fills and on forth time just a fill.
I used Mobil One Synthetic ATF

Fluid is still pristine looking