How often (if ever) to change power steering fluid?

BC ranger · Aug 25, 2010

Had a free oil change at the local dealer and they came back with their list of 'recommendations' including a power steering flush. I don't see it on the list of things to do at service intervals other than to check the fluid level and that's fine. I'm typically wary of anything they recommend but is my paranoia getting the better of me?

Oh yeah I'm at 130,000km (80,000 miles?)

4x4junkie · Aug 25, 2010

I'd flush it no question. Any fluid breaks down (as well as gets dirtier) as it ages. At the very least it can't hurt anything to do it, just make sure they put the correct fluid in it afterward (Mercon ATF, not actual "power steering fluid", which is usually made for import cars).

exbass94 · Aug 25, 2010

I usually suck all the fluid I can out of the reservoir with a pump and refill with fresh fluid. Doing it this way doesn't get all the fluid in the system out, but if you do it often enough, all of the fluid will stay fresh. I do it every oil change.

BC ranger · Aug 25, 2010

Sweet thanks for the answers. I figured it was too good to be true to except the fluid to last forever.

ThatGuy · Aug 25, 2010

Usually right when you suspect a power steering problem.......

trader007 · Aug 29, 2010

exbass94 said:
I usually suck all the fluid I can out of the reservoir with a pump and refill with fresh fluid. Doing it this way doesn't get all the fluid in the system out, but if you do it often enough, all of the fluid will stay fresh. I do it every oil change.

this is so true. i wish i would have done it.

my truck is about to turn 200k, and its never had a power steering flush. for two years ive been getting shakey steering when its hot outside. i thought it was bad balljoints or maybe even the intermediate steering linkage going bad.

today i proved myself wrong with a simple fluid change. i just sucked out the reservoir with the truck running... then filled with new fluid (only takes about a 1/4 quart each time). then, turn the wheel back and forth about 10 times. suck out the reservoir again and refill with fresh, and turn the steering wheel again.

i did this about 6 times, used up three quarts of fluid before i finally stopped. the fluid was black, now its light brown (new fluid was clear). so it looks a little better, but most importantly my steering tightened up completely. no more shaking wheel when braking, no more jogging wheel on bumps. it totally fixed my problems!

i would do exactly what exbass says. every oil change, suck out your power steering reservoir and replace with fresh fluid. this will ensure it stays fresh.

Sasquatch_Ryda · Aug 29, 2010

trader007 said:
the fluid was black, now its light brown (new fluid was clear). so it looks a little better,

The new fluid should have been red...as it calls for Mercon ATF

trader007 · Aug 30, 2010

Sasquatch_Ryda said:
The new fluid should have been red...as it calls for Mercon ATF

thanks. i actually thought it was, but i was in the store and didnt even bother asking the guy at the counter so i just grabbed the cheap regular stuff.

i wonder if the mercon is thicker, because if it isnt ill just keep running the clear stuff. its still a little loose, but it doesnt rattle int he steering colum like it did before. i know the rack is wearing out, and its completely my fault.

jegolf · Oct 20, 2010

question about power steering

I just recently have been having some problems with my power steering on the Ranger. Every turn is extremely shaky and every bump jogs my wheel uncontrollably to where i have to come to a stop for it to stop shaking. I just recently bought my truck and it does have a rebuilt front end, I just filled the fluid which wasnt very low to begin with, but I'm assuming just flushing the power steering fluid a few times may do the trick?

TRX501RYAN · Oct 20, 2010

you can flush the ranger steering yourself, with 2 people, unhok the return line into waste container with truck running in poor in new from the reservoir, voila, flushed! lol....

How often (if ever) to change power steering fluid?

BC ranger

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