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Power Steering Flush

Sleb

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October 18, 2006
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City, State
MB
Year, Model & Trim Level
03 XLT
I checked my power steering fluid today and it was absolutely black, so I proceeded to do a flush on the system. I Remove the ignition coil fuse to disable the vehicle. I disconnect the power steering return hose. Attached an extension hose between the power steering return hose and an empty container. Then turned the steering wheel from stop-to-stop while cranking the engine until the fluid exiting the power steering return hose came out clear and red (which took 10 Lt). After reattaching everything, I topped up the reservoir and went for a 15 min drive. When I got back I checked the fluid level again and it was a solid red colour almost milky red. My question is; Why is it this colour? Is there millions of tiny bubbles in there that make it look milky? Will it clear up after a few days? Has anyone else who has flushed there system out this way had this experience?
Tkx Andrew
 



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Sounds like you have air in the fluid.

I have flushed mine and this did not happen.
 


















You saw the bubbles after a short drive, but how does it look after you let it sit for a while? The air should be out of the system after driving around for a while. What type of fluid did you use? Did you put any additives into it? Sometimes additives could make it look foamy. Does it make a lot of hydraulic noise (if any noise at all)?
 






You saw the bubbles after a short drive, but how does it look after you let it sit for a while? The air should be out of the system after driving around for a while. What type of fluid did you use? Did you put any additives into it? Sometimes additives could make it look foamy. Does it make a lot of hydraulic noise (if any noise at all)?

I saw no bubbles at all but when I look in the reservoir the ATF fluid isn't clear it almost looks a milky red and still looks the same after 8 hours. I used Multi-Purpose (ATF) mercon Transmission Fluid and used no additives. No noise at all sounds the same as before I did the flush.
 


















I turkey basted the reservoir & put it in a margarine container and the ATF looks like it is still a bit dirty even though I flushed with 10 ltr of fluid and it was coming out of the return hose crystal clear. In my original post when I said the ATF I changed was black, I meant it was as black as old motor oil, so I guess I'll let it cycle through all the pipes & pump for a few weeks and then do another flush.
 






looks like it is mixing with the old brake fluid. Possibly when you mix the two together you get a milky colour...kind of like when you have clean dish water and you take that water a put it in your roast pan it also turns milky...could be the same reaction
 






ALmost looks like there is a bit of water in it. Do you mean 10 pints, or 10 liters? 10 Ltrs would be almost 2 1/2 gallons.
 






ALmost looks like there is a bit of water in it. Do you mean 10 pints, or 10 liters? 10 Ltrs would be almost 2 1/2 gallons.

10 liters.....no water; it looked like it was still the original fluid, I have never seen power steering fluid so black before, I'm going to do another flush in a few weeks and I should get it back to clear red again.
 






Sleb,

Three years back, I changed my X's original PS fluid after it had been in the p/s pump 7 yrs - and man was it was red/black just as you described.

I ran 4-5 quarts/liters through the pump to get the fluid back to "clear" again - and then drained and re-filled with Valvoline Synthetic PS Fluid (Clear in color).

Three years later, I see the fluid is black again - and my X just turned 100,000 Miles.

So, for this go-round, I am going to replace the fluid, the high and low pressure hose p/s hoses, and the p/s pump w/ a rebuilt CARDONE unit.

BLACK P/S Fluid:
I believe the black color in the fluid is the inside of the p/s lines slowly deteriorating from all the heat generated by the p/s pump ( I live in California - where in the long run it's the high heat out here that eventually kills most cars).

The p/s pump has begun to wine a little more than usual, and the original p/s lines are 10 yrs old. I've bought everything through Rock Auto via mail order for approx $95 USD.

Regards,
Fast Dave
 






Sleb,

Three years back, I changed my X's original PS fluid after it had been in the p/s pump 7 yrs - and man was it was red/black just as you described.

I ran 4-5 quarts/liters through the pump to get the fluid back to "clear" again - and then drained and re-filled with Valvoline Synthetic PS Fluid (Clear in color).

Three years later, I see the fluid is black again - and my X just turned 100,000 Miles.

So, for this go-round, I am going to replace the fluid, the high and low pressure hose p/s hoses, and the p/s pump w/ a rebuilt CARDONE unit.

BLACK P/S Fluid:

I believe the black color in the fluid is the inside of the p/s lines slowly deteriorating from all the heat generated by the p/s pump ( I live in California - where in the long run it's the high heat out here that eventually kills most cars).

The p/s pump has begun to wine a little more than usual, and the original p/s lines are 10 yrs old. I've bought everything through Rock Auto via mail order for approx $95 USD.

Regards,
Fast Dave

Tkx Fast Dave, I don't think I will go to that extent just yet. I give it one more flush and keep my eye on it, hopefully it will stay clean......
 






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