I called my local dealership this morning to inquire about coolant and transmission fluid services. I also asked about changing powersteering fluid too.

they told me that you don't change power steering fluid. Is this correct? I thought that it needed to be replaced every so often like any other fluid in the car.

 

This is off the top of my head, but I havent' seen anything on changing the PS fluid as a maintenance item.

I've read that people have done the turkey baster method ...suck out the fluid with a turkey baster, fill it back up with honda's PS fluid. I don't see any harm in doing that.

 

^
+1.

 

^+2

 

ive never heard of it being a bad thing, but more a pain in the ass

 

Actually, it's not a bad job at all. It is low tech, but the turkey baster is I think the easiest way. Suck out what you can, then replace the fluid. You won't get it all out, so I'd advise turning the wheel lock to lock (and as always, it's easier on all the steering parts if you do this with the car in motion), and change it two or three times. I did it a few years ago, and sorry, I don't remember how much I used (I think I did three rounds).

 

I changed mine out by using the pump method. no turkey baster, just a hose and a container. It was messy (very tight quarters near the intake for the reservoir.

If I had to do it again (which I likely won't, its a 'lifetime' fluid), I'd do the turkey baster method.

 

I changed mine at 75K and i followed the procedure from the Service Manual..It's not that hard..

You need to remove the outgoing tube from the PS Reservoir ( And i used a Plastic bag to collect the fluid , you might need another person to help hold this bag) and jack the vehicle and turn the steering wheel few times and the dirty fluid will come out .you need two pints of PS fluid from your acura or honda dealer.

 

i siphoned the old out with a jiggly pump. no mess took me 5-10 minutes or so.

 

Anyone feel a difference? I haven't swapped mine out, but might just do so if it makes a difference.

 

No difference.

 

+1

 

No difference, just preventative maintenance. If the old fluid absorbed some water via the air, there's a remote chance that the internals of the PS pump may corrode and then the "ounce of prevention = a pound of cure" really stands out as being good advice.

 

^^Thats as good a reason as any.

Hope the wife doesn't mind a hint of PS fluid flavor in this years thanksgiving turkey....

 

It makes a delicious glaze on an otherwise dry turkey.