asloudasitgets

when did you guys change out your power steering fluid? I am about 47,000 miles and mine looks really nasty brown. I am going in to acura to get some other work done and wondering if i should get the power steering fluid flushed out too?

Also they want $135 bucks sound reasonable?

fsttyms1

you can do it yourself in about 10 min worth of work and a few bottles of fluid if you feel like doing it?

nevets31

I have yet to change it when I went to the stealership to have a NY state inspection. they also wanted me to get a brake fluid flush as well. both were contaminated. I am currently at 26-27,000 miles now. I don't drive too much. Is it recommended to change at a certain mileage or certain amount of years. how much? is there a DIY for the powersteering?

fsttyms1

1 a year for both (especially the brakes) is good.

Disconnect the lower hose on the PS res and let drain into a container, keep hose into the container your draining into and have someone start the car and slowly turn the wheel Lock to lock until its all drained out. Shut car off, reconnect the lower hose and fill the PS res container. Start the car and Slowly turn wheel lock to lock to get all air out, topping off fluid as necessary

01tl4tl

Cool- I need to do this one too!
Honda PS fluid only-
and if you put some cardboard under the wheels... they turn easier and dont mark up the driveway.

nevets31

Are there any pics/videos for this DIY?

fsttyms1

No

asloudasitgets

wow sounds easy enough,actually easier than a oil change

fsttyms1

Pretty close. (this one helps to have 2 people while filling but not necessary)

asloudasitgets

when im toppping off fluid should i fill to the max line or inbetween the low and high point?

asloudasitgets

oh and should i repeat the steps for like 3 or more times to get all of the old fluid out? like a tranny fluid change?

fsttyms1

1 time should be good. You can do it if you want. If you have someone helping during the filling, while they are turning the wheel lock to lock slowly you should be able to keep the fill where it should be. Just keep it at a level above the intake side so that you dont draw in air while trying to bleed the system.

01tl4tl

Did fsttyms SAY to do it 3 times? No-
drain and clear the rack of fluid by turning the wheels back and forth.
Then refill and turn wheels to suck new fluid down into the rack- keep refilling as needed while yadayada
There is no big places for the fluid to hide like in a trans.

asloudasitgets

so 1 bottle of honda power steering fluid should be enough for this change?

01tl4tl

get 2 to be safe

asloudasitgets

thanks for the help guys.

fsttyms1

Get 2

FirePR2002

No offense, but I pictured my wife talking our 5-year old when I read this. HAHA!

01tl4tl

Thats how I feel here sometimes! Talking to a bunch of ........

After detailed instructions from the known GURU of gen2 TL, many questions are really funny.
Are there pics of the pump?- whats a hose clamp?-, do I put the fluid in the big hole or suck it in the hose like seafoam? Should I seafoam the steering fluid? Is my Camfilbrillateor mod going to affect this carbshaft upgrade??

at that point back slooooooowly away from the car and have a shop do it so you dont burn out or burn up anything.

Everyone has a skill set, not all of them are about car repair

fsttyms1

Now now guys, lets play nice.

acutee

1 bottle is enough to fill up an empty reservoir. To make it very simple, use food baster to empty reservoir, then fill it up with a new fluid. That is good enough. drive the car around, making turns, and feel immediate smoothness. The fluid is not acutally brown; it looks brown because of the reservoir plastic container color. repeat the process for the second bottle only if needed. I thought it was brown when I did mine, but it wasn't really brown at all looking at the clear baster, it looks like new mobil1 engine oil, it is good to do it, and very easy with the food baster. you can finish it in 5 min without tools. Unless your fluid really has problem, then flush it.

01tl4tl

Thats like changing 1 qt of engine oil. All you are doing is mixing fluid in which most of the much needed secret ingredients are worn out- with half new fluid-
how does that even make sense to do???

The steering rack holds the majority of the fluid and will not auto drain itself.
It must be power pushed out- via the lower pressure return line.
Much like the brake or trans fluid change- do it right or dont touch it

acutee

Definitely doing it right is always better.

01tl4tl

sucking the brake master out and refilling it with clean fluid....
does not count as anywhere near being a brake fluid flush either!
Yes I know its different type of system- just making a point

asloudasitgets

well i did it and when it the new fluid recyled, it turned dark brown again. When i poured the new fluid in the color was soo light. Also it took 1.5 bottles for it to be toped off at max line. I think this process needs to be done 3 times for the fluid to stay light brown like the color of new fluid is. That is why i asked if i should do it 3 times, cause i thought once wont be enough.

01tl4tl

To makes sure I understand:

Instead of draining the res via the return line - and then ~pressure forcing~ the old fluid out of the steering rack with the engine running the pump and turning the wheels back and forth with the steering wheel a few times until no more old fluid came out....
,
you did it your way of just suck and refilling the res, and now its all contaminated?
Is that what you mean?

Thats why the method fsttyms1 gave is correct, and from the factory service book

fsttyms1

That isnt the correct way. If your going to take the time to do something you might as well do it correctly