Got water in power steering pump, help!

[GMWIGGS]

I was hunting today and went through a mud hole. Well it was a nasty one I somehow picked up a small branch and shoved it THROUGH the wheel well. Then the bottom of the hole fell out and somehow caught my power steering lines that go to the cooler mounted under the engine and pulled the bottome one off. Well it dumped all the fluid and and began to suck water because it was under water at the time. All this at one time! I have been putting new fluid into the pump, running the engine for a couple of minutes turning the front wheels back and forth, draining the fluid out, (which is milky white of course) put new fluid back in and repeat. Done this 4 times and fluid still very milky. Is there a more thorough way to do this? Help!!!

 

[Earl43P]

You could suck the fluid out of the reservoir and refill.

You could also remove the return line and let it flow into a bucket while continually refilling the reservoir while rocking the steering. Do not go full left/right.

Shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 quarts of ATF if you use the suck out the reservoir method. That's how I change nasty fluid, usually only takes a full quart to look clean and bright red.

 

[GMWIGGS]

I've completely drained the reservior my disconnecting the line that got knocked off in the first place. I let all the fluid drain out, reconnected the line, filled the reservior, cranked motor, turned wheels back and forth for a minute or so, then drain again. I've done this 4 times and been through 5 bottles of power steering fluid. The fluid is still milky white. With the line disconnected, if you crank the motor the fluid will pump out faster that I could possibly pour it in. Maybe I'll have to get some more fluid and keep going the way I going. Just have not made much progress with my method. Is there a problem with going full right to left? I've done this several times....

Oh, and thank you for any and all suggestions, I appreciate any help or advice that I can get.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

full left and full right will just open up the bypass valve. don't worry about it.

i can't think of a better way than what you're already doing

 

[Earl43P]

It uses ATF, which is much cheaper than PS Fluid.

The Ford manual specifically states to not go full lock to lock, I don't know why.

 

[GMWIGGS]

To update this thread and maybe help someone in the future, I used 5 pint bottles of power steering and 3 qts of ATF. I drained the fluid out by disconnecting the bottom hose from the fluid cooler. Once drained, I would refill the resivoir, crank the enging and turn the wheels right to left trying not to go all the way. Repeat as neccesary. It took forever to do, but the more I did it, the cleaner it got. This method eventually worked, but I'm sure theres probably a easier way to flush all the water out.