Is the maintenance of your car, what makes you little worried and troubled? Everything needs maintenance to live for the long term, as what your car needs. Maintaining your car is like you are constraining for a big loss or big expense.
In this list of jobs which are designated as the “MAINTENACEPREVIOUS changing the power steering fluid is present which makes you little worry.
Modern World And Power Steering:
In this most advanced world cars, which have power steering are not much known now as the power steering is replaced by the “HYDRAULIC POWER” and “ELECTRIC POWER” steering, but the power steering system is still used by cars.
We will teach you today, how to change power steering fluid:
Know The Lifespan Of Fluid:
Every automotive fluid has a lifespan of a certain time; afterward, it just begins the destruction in your engine. The thing that disturbs is that there are no test strips to determine when it’s time to change the power steering fluid.
The best way to determine the duration of the fluid is to be stick with your owner’s manual; it will tell you the accurate time duration in which the power steering fluid has to be changed. Or for the rough idea generally, the power steering fluid has to be changed by “RULE-OF-THUMB” means two years or 24,000 miles.
Get Your Material Ready:
There are certain things that must be with you when you are changing the power steering fluid but before this, there should have a comprehensive and lore knowledge of the specific power steering fluid that would be appropriate for your car.
The specification of the particular fluid will be given in the Owner’s manual, as each automotive fluid is considered with the model, shape, brand, and trim of your car.
Moreover, you should have a fluid transfer pump or the “siphon,” which helps to remove the fluid from the tank in the fluid catch can then a funnel is needed for refilling the reservoir. Disposable gloves, goggles, and shop towels are also a must.
Determine The Location Of Reservoir:
Again the manual will help you to find out the fluid tank location. Generally, it is present with all of the other engine accessories. Look for the cap of the tank having the steering symbol.
Remove the Previous Power Steering Fluid:
There are two ways by which the older power steering fluid can be removed.
- By Sucking The Fluid With The Help Of Siphon:
This is the easiest and the common way of removing the fluid of power steering system in which you will remove the cap of the reservoir, place one end of the siphon in the reservoir under this fluid meniscus and place the second end of the siphon in the catch can start pumping the fluid.
Their time comes when the meniscus of the fluid is too low that the siphon eng can’t reach it. Now you have to push the fluid upward by the power steering pump to catch the remaining fluid in the catch can. For this, put your ignition key on the “ACCESSORIES” or ACC.
This will let you perform a lock-to-lock maneuver of the steering wheel without activating the power steering pump. This maneuver while turning the steering push the fluid upward and the leftover fluid can be pump out now.
- Removing The Hose That Connects The Reservoir With Power Steering Pump:
For this purpose, the additional thing that you will need is the SREW JACK that will lift the vehicle to a certain height allowing you to slip into the car.
Now locate the power steering pump and find the low-pressure pump, prepare your catch can as just after you loosen the hose the fluid start pour off. This is why you must be wearing gloves and goggles while removing the fluid at least.
Pour The Fresh Power Steering Fluid In Reservoir:
Place the funnel on the neck of the reservoir tank opening and start pouring the fluid. Remember to fill the reservoir with the correct quantity of fluid.
For this, you can check your owner’s manual, or the power steering fluid will also have the instruction with the mark of MIN and MAX, pour the fluid up till the MAX limit. Remove the funnel and recap the reservoir.
NOTE:
Never substitute the “UNIVERSAL” power steering fluid for the recommended type and never add “MIRACLE” additives or stop-leak product with the fluid as the clog the fine mesh filter screen in your steering system.
Conclusion
Now just little check to the new fluid and your work is done.
Put the ignition on lock-to-lock manner again. If you have jacked the car, now you can remove the jack stand. Now start the engine and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes, check the reservoir level again and let your car have a drive of 15 to 20 minutes which includes good turns, while driving keep checking the sound hissing from the pump, it should be a smooth one now.
Check the reservoir level and after the drive and now the power string fluid has changed successfully!