csmeance

I just did the PS fluid change in my TL today this DIY was GREAT!

Just a few tips for you guys:

1. Wear gloves
2. Keep a whole roll of paper towels handy
3. Keep a good spray degreaser near you!
4. Get more than 2 feet of that 3/8inch piping, get like 5!


It took two whole bottles of the Honda PS fluid after draining out all the fluid from the TL to get it back up to the upper level!

SpiderX1016

Super late response but No we don't. We just refill the fluid that comes out during the repair and it's usually not enough to even bother refilling.

Sinistr

Going to replace the O-Ring soon as it is starting to whine a little bit. I will also drain and replace the fluid as well. Would you all recommend changing the hose as well? There is no leak yet. I was just thinking preventative maint. Or should I leave it alone for now? If it's not broke don't fix it, kind of deal.

SpiderX1016

Have you brought it in for the recall?

Sinistr

^^^Nope. I suppose I should get that taken care of first.

summit21

Was the O-ring a part of the power steering recall? I just recently did the o-ring and it was still the old black one on mine. I had the recall done about 2 years ago. Nice write-up on the fluid change I will do this in the next few days.

Cheval

I did what I hate cars mentioned and just drained the reservoir and then filled that. With 2 bottles of Honda PSF I drained and filled it 3 times. It is slightly lighter color than it was before. Steering seems roughly the same. It may be just a bit lighter feeling. I may get another bottle and drain it once or twice again. The car isn't quite 4 years-old with 18k miles on it so maybe it wasn't old enough to really feel that much of a difference.

I hate cars

If you want it to feel lighter, use Amsoil PSF. It will feel lighter and more responsive especially when cold.

Project 04TL

is there a particular local store that sells the amsoil?

nfnsquared

Don't use Amsoil. It no longer meets Honda specs (since about August 2012).

Project 04TL

thanks for the info .. cant go wrong with oem then.

Majofo

If Amsoil doesn't meet spec, then I don't think anyone does. Better stick with Honda PSF.

triax37

iTrader: (1)

Interesting timing - I heard a whine yesterday and realized I was low on PS fluid, likely from a leak in the o-ring (which will get replaced this weekend). Right now, on the front page, there are three threads about power steering fluid...methinks the cold weather is causing shrinkage across all sorts of places.

nfnsquared

Just to clarify: Usually the O-ring is not leaking fluid. It is allowing air into the system which causes the PSF to bubble and expand and overflow out the top of the reservoir...

triax37

iTrader: (1)

Noted - thanks! I'm just hoping that's the problem...

VTHokieTL

I just did my first PS flush using the directions here. Thanks OP...it was pretty easy

BTW, I used a 3/8 outer diameter tube bought at Home Depot and it fit perfectly inside of the return hose. I put the clamp on after inserting the tube and not a single drop of fluid dripped at the connection.

I hate cars

Redline high temp ATF works well. I've been meaning to update the thread I started on the ATF in the power steering. It has to be close to 6 months by now. I've still got a pint of Amsoil that has Honda listed on the bottle if anyone wants it.

georgelv1999

The dealer where I bought the car from changed the PS pump because they said it was whining. Anyways, I'm not sure, and doubt, they changed the PSF wen they did the replacement. Should be doing this some time this week, along with the ATF and brake bleed, should be fun messing with the fluids

carlosriosness

i could be wrong, but i think it would be hard to replace the PS Pump and not change the fluid. you would have to make sure you pumped all the fluid out into a clean container just to re-funnel it back in after the change.

Also, many TL's are known to have a bad o ring that can cause a whine, mine had it. it started by only whining when the motor was cold in the morning. the dealership wanted a ridic amount. i also HAD to replace the fluid just to change the o ring, let alone having to replace the entire pump. i bought the o ring for less then a dollar and purchased Honda PS fluid and did it myself.

it doesnt hurt to ask them, if its typical for them to use new fluid when they replace pumps/o rings.

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

I did the flush about 5 months ago. It didn't completely kill the whine though but made it better. I wonder if I crushed that rubber washer with too much torque? Oh well. One thing is for sure, the fluid was OLD. Amsoil made that steering as smooth as butter! What a difference. Thanks for the writeup libert69!

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

^Holy hell where have you been man? Lol

Majofo

Yeah, I read sometime after that post. Good to know.

Gil'sUA5

My PS just started whining last week but only in the mornings when the engine is completely cold, i already bought the o-ring and thinking about changing the fluid. Do you guys think this will get rid of my cold start PS whine? The noise really sounds horrible specially when i turn the steering wheel while the engine is cold, i was a bit surprised because just a couple weeks ago the PS was quiet as can be at all times.

I hate cars

The fact that it makes the noise when cold and goes away when hot points directly to the O-ring or something on the inlet side of the pump. It literally takes 2 minutes at most to replace.

Bruce Banner

iTrader: (2)

I did this today, for the guys who swapped out their o-ring, was yours hard? Mine was still pretty flexible.

Tl4eva

iTrader: (5)

Good stuffs. Thanks!

dangles

A member here said that Amsoil no longer meets Honda PSF specs... Is the same true for Redline? Oddly enough a qt of RL (32oz) is only $11.49 but Honda's OEM stuff (12oz) is $6.59 on Amazon

csmeance

Stick with the Honda Fluid, you can pick it up from you local dealer for a great price.

TAZ1811

Does this require 3/8 tubing ID (inside diameter) or OD (outside dia)????

Majofo

ID

if needed

I hate cars

I think I'm going to add a cooler for the PSF. It's completely useless now that I'm using a synthetic ATF but I have an extra small stacked plate cooler and extra 3/8" hose. I'll just remove the loop in front of the radiator and stick a cooler in there. Should take under 30 minutes.

nfnsquared

Amsoil never met Honda PSF specs. Neither does Redline PSF. Neither of them comes close to the Honda spec for viscosity (11.4). Amsoil is/was ~7.4 and Redline is even lower at 6.47.

That is the most certain way, but there are several aftermarket fluids that are manufactured to Honda PSF specs and are perfectly acceptable.

I hate cars

Amsoil listed Honda on their approved list for years. Hondas thicker fluid is most likely a bandaid for a poor base oil. You can go thinner with a good fluid. The HTHS is what ultimately matters, not the kinematic viscosity as kinematic is just a measure of flow while HTHS describes how it will perform in the pump, in the rack, under pressure and heat. I would take the fluid that flows better while protecting better when it counts. The pump shears the fluid, I wouldn't be surprised if the Honda fluid is close to a 7cSt after sheer while the syn is barely going to change.

My current Redline high temp ATF is very close to the Honda viscosity spec. I haven't run Honda fluid in the PS system for 6 years and 100,000 miles. I used Amsoil's thinner fluid for a long time and now I use Redline ATF. No leaks, no problems, no reason to use the factory fluid.

I could understand someone being concerned about seal compatibility and leaks but viscosity? Not a problem.

You could pay $3-$6 a pint for a pint of Honda fluid which is mediocre at best or $10 for a gallon of a bad ass ester fluid.

I'll let the world know once I have a failure or a leak on a non approved fluid but with every fluid except for the coolant being switched to a non approved since the car was 3 months to 2yrs old I don't think I'm going to have any issues.

nfnsquared

And Amsoil was taking liberties when they did that. They may have had consumer complaints, or became worried about liability, or got called out by Honda, or some or all of the above.

I'm kind of interested in the new Champion synthetic PSF. Viscosity is up there at 12.6. (They have the viscosities backwards on the spec sheet, how embarassing!):

http://championbrands.com/SpecSheet/4186K.pdf

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9139668.htm

The bottle says "Specially formulated for Honda and Acura power steering systems, including 2007 and newer makes/models..."

I have no idea what they are talking about in that statement. I am unaware of any major changes in Honda/Acura PS systems beginning in 2007....

I hate cars

I was a little surprised Amsoil recommended it too, considering a pretty large viscosity difference. It seems like I remember them lowering the viscosity slightly more when they stopped recommending Honda.

masterelvis01

very good info

cam_2

Wal-Mart carries two Prestones: Asian full synthetic (about $6.80/12 fl.oz.) and Honda/Acura PSF (about $2.80/12 fl.oz.): http://prestone.com/products/car_car...s/product_list The OEM fluid is $9 for the same size, yikes.

I assume that you can use the Asian in place of the Honda/Acura. Any other comments on these two?

Since my fluid was nasty, I bought the cheaper one to flush the old stuff out, then will replace that with the synthetic.

DuoDSG

Just some clarification:

when the OP posted that you need 3/8" hose, please keep in mind that it doesn't specify inside or outside dimensions.

I went with inside 3/8" dimensions--which seemed correct--and I bought a 12-foot clear hose from Home Depot for something like $7. When I tried connecting it to the upper reservoir hose connection, it was way too tight, so I had to cut a notch in the drain hose (the one I bought) to try to jam it into the black one on the TL. It worked...kinda...and using the duct tape to keep them together made for a tight seal, so it worked.

Just keep that in mind as you do this.

I ended up getting three bottles of PS fluid, and I used 2 3/4 bottles in my case because I pumped the whole thing clean out. Very little of the old PS fluid left, which I was happy to do, and I'm glad I got the third bottle. 6-7 turns end to end of my wheels while it was running and I was able to get basically everything out.

Thanks again to the OP for a great, simple write-up! I was able to do this completely by myself and it was a snap to do

Chad05TL

I deviated from the directions somewhat. Instead of disconnecting the tubes and pushing out all the fluid and getting air into the system, I merely evacated/Siphoned out only the resorvior with a typical pump spray bottle (like 409), and then put back OEM Honda Fluid! It works great! We do this with our transmission fluid... and it also works great for brake fluid and power steering. It all gets circulated because that is why the fluid gets dark in the master cylinder reservoir and the PS reservoir. And both P.S. fluid and brake fluid is cheap. So, just repeat this process a few times and you don't get dirty and the process is easier and faster and painless!! (almost fun) No wrenches and a buddy not needed.... Just move along! EVAC and REFILL. Boom DONE! Don't sweat the small stuff!





.

I hate cars

Brake fluid doesn't circulate but we've all proven it to you already. Power steering does. One has a pump. One doesn't. I can't believe you expected anyone to think you're an engineer. You have this pattern once a year digging up a bunch of threads and posting nonsense. You even outdid yourself by making up trans problem just to say Redline is bad. The problem is a couple of your claims were impossible so it wasnt hard to see what was happening. Keep digging up these threads and I'll forward them all to the mods.