$8.00 Power Steering Fluid Change

Hi All,

I'm a big believer in frequent fluid changes and ALL fluid changes. One area I never ever hear discussed on this or other forums is power steering fluid. People change transmission fluid, brake fluid, diff fluid and motor oil but rarely have I come across a BMW enthusiast that has clean power steering fluid. The change is simple and may save you a 2k steering rack job in the future. I usually flush at least a gallon of Dextron III through it before it's totally clean your car could take less or more depending on how badly neglected its been.. Here's how it goes..

Tools/Parts needed

1 Gallon of Dextron III (Wal*Mart)
1 Oil absorbing rag (West Marine) or just use rags
2-3 Hand rags
1 Turkey baster (Wal*Mart) & a hose clamp to hold the bulb on. It tends to get slippery with tranny fluid and comes off the tube when you squeeze the bulb it if you don't hose clamp it.
1 10mm wrench
1 flat blade screwdriver (to pop the air box clips open)
1 Empty container to squeeze old fluid into (I used a Wisk laundry detergent bottle)
1 Shop light

Instructions

1) Open hood
2) Remove air box (two clips and two 10mm nuts is all there is to do this part.)
3) Place rags or an oil absorbing pad from West Marine under and around the PS reservoir.
4) Unscrew the cap for the power steering fluid.
5) Start the car and let it idle.
6) Use the Turkey baster to suck almost all the fluid out of the PS reservoir but leave a little in the bottom so the pump does not suck air.
7) Insert a tranny funnel and re-fill the PS reservoir with new Dextron III tranny fluid
8) Let the car idle for five minutes while occasionally turning the wheel lock to lock.
9) Repeat #6, 7 & 8 until fluid is clean and red. Usually a gallon of new Dex III should do it..
10) Putting her back together is the reverse of taking apart.

Total cost about $8.00 including the Turkey baster. Future cost savings...... LOTS$$$$$$$

The ATF I swapped outta of my 03 E46 looked oxidized with on 26k on the car.In went M1 ATF.

BTW,I like to use an extraction pump for PS changes,makes it a snap!

I don't use a synthetic because I change it so often & I've had problems in the past switching to a synthetic so I stay with what's been used. Nothing against synthetics but after 60K I won't switch period. I've done three rear mains due to synthetic switches and don't want to do any more beside my brothers Toyota has used noting but conventional oils every 5k and has 330k on it and the engine is perfect does not burn use or loose and has never had an oil leak!! As for the extraction pump those are nice but it only takes three and a half turkey baster pumps to empty the PS reservoir... Cheap and easy I've been using the same baster for almost three years...

I will not argue that synthetic are superior as todays hydrocracked oils are fantastic with almost synthetic like performance.

what are some signs that i need more PS fluid or need a fluid change? im a total dummy....new car owner and a foreign car happened to be my first makin it all the worst

and red. Buy a quart of Dextron III tranny fluid and look at the color. If your does not match somewhat closely it needs to be changed. If it's blackish grey it MUST be done soon.. The black/gray is actually little pieces of metal wearing your steering rack and o-rings each time you turn the wheel...

hate to resurrect an old thread... but figured it better than making a new one.

is there a way to do this by unhooking a line and putting one in a gallon milk jug to drain, and let the system push out the old and in the new at the same time???

i know that is how it was done by some people with nissans i have dealt with, don't see why it would not work, unless they are impossible to get to.

unhook the return line and plug teh hole on the res. put it in jug and just keep pouring in new fluid until it runs out clean...