Changing Power Steering Fluid

[qwertz9586]

I figure I'd do a write-up. It's dead simple and with this method you don't have to crawl under the car.

On the Vulcan and Essex, the P/S reservoir is on the engine and it's big enough for a turkey baster. I had a real cheap turkey baster that fell apart after a few pumps and left fluid everywhere so it got messy.

On the Duratec, my turkey baster wouldn't fit so one day I was washing my hands and thought "Hmm, that thing will work" so I saved the soap bottle once it was empty. You'll also need trans fluid. Doesn't matter what trans fluid. I had some leftover Mercon and thought I'd use it all up. I'll need to pick up some full-synthetic for later. Not pictured is a bottle to catch the old fluid.




So, just take the pump off the soap bottle and make sure you rinse it good before using it! Don't want to contaminate the P/S system with soap. And then just start pumping into a bottle. I used an old water bottle. It's easier to use two hands.




I managed to pump about half a pint out of the reservoir. The P/S system is about a quart.




This needs to be done once a week for about a month so clean fluid is gradually put into the system to clean it and then siphoned out and replaced. Eventually it'll all be clean.

Note: the soap pump might not work on the Essex or Vulcan because the soap pump isn't long enough. Use a turkey baster for those engines. Go buy one. Your mom/wife/girlfriend won't appreciate you using her turkey baster.

[Bull Geek]

Good writeup Alex, this will be something I can tackle on my own and not pay the dealer to do.

[fdogg96]

Now, can you do a write up and show pics using the Turkey Baster method? THanks!

[ford_ses]

Good idea, Alex! That's like the MacGyver version of the siphon pump I use....I like it.

Now, can you do a write up and show pics using the Turkey Baster method? THanks! [/b]

Stick the baster in the reservoir, suck up the fluid, put the baster in a container for old fluid, squeeze. Repeat. Pretty self explanatory.

[shoz123]

Another good way to drain the PS fluid is to get about 4-5' of 1/8" ID clear plastic tubing and siphon it out. This is a bit slow but who cares? You can also use this tubing to drain out too much ATX fluid or to bleed the brakes.

[LaGrasta]

I must be slow. What's the ATF for?

[silvapain]

PS fluid is essentially the same as ATF.

[93 sable]

Stick the baster in the reservoir, suck up the fluid, put the baster in a container for old fluid, squeeze. Repeat. Pretty self explanatory.
[/b]

Not really, where do you put the turkey baster again? What if I squeeze it too hard?

I gotta change mine, it's all nasty for some reason. I've got 23k on my car now and it's black, my last taurus still had clean fluid at 40k.

[the_silver_bullet]

I used a turkey baster just fine on my tec, what year is yours?

[qwertz9586]

Mine's an '03. Maybe my turkey baster's too big.




For Vulcan/Essex owners, the power steering reservoir is located in the same spot and looks identical. Remove cap, stick turkey baster in, squeeze bulb, pull it out and squirt into empty container. Repeat until reservoir is empty. Fill up P/S reservoir to MIN line and put cap back on.