Does the turkey baster method work for power steering fluid?
03-09-2017, 12:24 AM
#1
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Does the turkey baster method work for power steering fluid?
Hello guys,
I have never done a power steering fluid change DIY and was surprised to read it was one of the easiest things to DIY and can simply be changed using a turkey baster. From what I read it should be done multiple times throughout the week until you have fully used up the bottle/jug of fluid.
But am I right in assuming the PS is like the transmission fluid in that only some of the fluid is actually taken out with each change? If that is the case, how much is the turkey baster method really taking out? I know in the case of the transmission it is generally 2/3-3/4 of the fluid per drain and thus we do a 3x3 flush over the course of a week, is this similar?
Thanks in advance.
I have never done a power steering fluid change DIY and was surprised to read it was one of the easiest things to DIY and can simply be changed using a turkey baster. From what I read it should be done multiple times throughout the week until you have fully used up the bottle/jug of fluid.
But am I right in assuming the PS is like the transmission fluid in that only some of the fluid is actually taken out with each change? If that is the case, how much is the turkey baster method really taking out? I know in the case of the transmission it is generally 2/3-3/4 of the fluid per drain and thus we do a 3x3 flush over the course of a week, is this similar?
Thanks in advance.
03-09-2017, 07:32 AM
#2
3.5 psi
iTrader: (1)
I read on Eric the Car Guy about it and I believe he said that the reservoir holds the majority of the fluid. I would have thought closer to half. But I plan on doing this method on my cars this spring. Keep doing it until the colour of the fluid looks new. I'm sure a full flush would be best, but "I ain't got time for that".
03-09-2017, 10:42 AM
#5
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Best way to do it is put the front on jacks (less wear and tear)
Cycle out the old fluid by draining res, then putting return line a bottle (2L or similar)
Clean the res, there's a bottom chamber that usually all the crap settles at.
Fill the res with new fluid, plug the return line
Turn car on, turn wheel lock to lock until fluid goes low in the res
Fill res again and cycle until clean fluid starts spitting out (usually 2 bottles)
You could try actively filling res as you cycle it out, but it can get messy.
Finally, top it off. It's a 10-15 min job.
Most of the fluid is most certainly not in the res. Maybe 40%.
If you did turkey baster you'd have to use a lot of fluid to get it to mostly new
You also don't pull the sediment out of the res.
Cycle out the old fluid by draining res, then putting return line a bottle (2L or similar)
Clean the res, there's a bottom chamber that usually all the crap settles at.
Fill the res with new fluid, plug the return line
Turn car on, turn wheel lock to lock until fluid goes low in the res
Fill res again and cycle until clean fluid starts spitting out (usually 2 bottles)
You could try actively filling res as you cycle it out, but it can get messy.
Finally, top it off. It's a 10-15 min job.
Most of the fluid is most certainly not in the res. Maybe 40%.
If you did turkey baster you'd have to use a lot of fluid to get it to mostly new
You also don't pull the sediment out of the res.
The following 2 users liked this post by Majofo:
projektvertx (03-27-2017),
RDX10 (03-25-2017)
03-09-2017, 11:01 AM
#6
Turd Polisher
iTrader: (1)
^ I have powersteering fluid on the way and this is the exact procedure I found for my car. 
Does the vehicle in question have a powersteering reservoir filter / screen? If it's in plain visible sight, it may not be a bad idea to clean it if it does ..
Majofo =
Does the vehicle in question have a powersteering reservoir filter / screen? If it's in plain visible sight, it may not be a bad idea to clean it if it does ..
Majofo =
03-25-2017, 01:15 PM
#7
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Best way to do it is put the front on jacks (less wear and tear)
Cycle out the old fluid by draining res, then putting return line a bottle (2L or similar)
Clean the res, there's a bottom chamber that usually all the crap settles at.
Fill the res with new fluid, plug the return line
Turn car on, turn wheel lock to lock until fluid goes low in the res
Fill res again and cycle until clean fluid starts spitting out (usually 2 bottles)
You could try actively filling res as you cycle it out, but it can get messy.
Finally, top it off. It's a 10-15 min job.
Most of the fluid is most certainly not in the res. Maybe 40%.
If you did turkey baster you'd have to use a lot of fluid to get it to mostly new
You also don't pull the sediment out of the res.
Cycle out the old fluid by draining res, then putting return line a bottle (2L or similar)
Clean the res, there's a bottom chamber that usually all the crap settles at.
Fill the res with new fluid, plug the return line
Turn car on, turn wheel lock to lock until fluid goes low in the res
Fill res again and cycle until clean fluid starts spitting out (usually 2 bottles)
You could try actively filling res as you cycle it out, but it can get messy.
Finally, top it off. It's a 10-15 min job.
Most of the fluid is most certainly not in the res. Maybe 40%.
If you did turkey baster you'd have to use a lot of fluid to get it to mostly new
You also don't pull the sediment out of the res.
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03-25-2017, 01:22 PM
#8
Team Owner
Yeah, majofo is right with the suggested technique. If you are lazy, you can just turkey blaster the reservoir completely, refill, drive around, repeat a number of times. It'll net you the same result, though it'll likely take an additional bottle of fluid and extra time. Less labor intensive though. Pick your poison 
the power steering pump circulates all the fluid, so eventually all the old stuff will come out.
the power steering pump circulates all the fluid, so eventually all the old stuff will come out.
The following users liked this post:
RDX10 (03-27-2017)
03-25-2017, 03:04 PM
#9
03-27-2017, 08:12 PM
#11
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Yeah, majofo is right with the suggested technique. If you are lazy, you can just turkey blaster the reservoir completely, refill, drive around, repeat a number of times. It'll net you the same result, though it'll likely take an additional bottle of fluid and extra time. Less labor intensive though. Pick your poison
the power steering pump circulates all the fluid, so eventually all the old stuff will come out.
the power steering pump circulates all the fluid, so eventually all the old stuff will come out.
I searched oil boy on google and I'll just say not the best stuff popped up...I'm glad no one was home to see that as I searched it up on the main house computer haha. Then searched oil boy fluid extractor and it popped. Thanks for the suggestion man.
03-27-2017, 08:30 PM
#12
Team Owner
now that is funny.
03-27-2017, 08:35 PM
#13
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
03-28-2017, 11:30 AM
#15
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
03-28-2017, 11:33 AM
#16
Senior Moderator
Watch the Eric the Car Guy video! If you have air in the system, you'll have a noisy PS pump. He had it at first, but in the video he just let the system sit for a bit, and all the air bubbles percolated out of the system into the reservoir.
03-28-2017, 12:04 PM
#17
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Alright sounds good! I'll have the video with me when I do mine!
i never had thought about the search results.