Power Steering Fluid
- Thread starter Big Les
- Start date
Yes, the seals are what are worrying me. Hmmm ....
I am currently hatching a plan to leave client site a little early this afternoon, pick up some PAS fluid on the way home (on a bicycle, I should add!) and do the job this evening. Sooner has to be better than later.
How much damage will it have done? Dunno. There's only one way to find out.
Oli.
I am currently hatching a plan to leave client site a little early this afternoon, pick up some PAS fluid on the way home (on a bicycle, I should add!) and do the job this evening. Sooner has to be better than later.
How much damage will it have done? Dunno. There's only one way to find out.
Oli.
robwright
New member
I changed my fluid around 2 or 3 months ago and it did make a big difference but things soon got back to normal!! That's why I overhauled the pump and changed all the copper washers on the banjos. I think the pump was pulling in air and cavitating hence the horrible noises especially when cold. The difference after ovehauling the pump was amazing. Almost like brand new and I am not exagerating!! The kits are available from Porsche Shop. It seems a lot of money for what you actually get but I couldn't find another supplier. The pump is relatively simple it is a load of hydro veins a lot like a pneumatic nut gun just be careful not to drop them all over the workshop floor when you are doing it DOH!!! Wish I had took some pics and posted a technical article. Hinesight eh!!
OK, changed over. Again. Or, more accurately, drained, half-filled with the proper stuff (ATF), run for a short time whilest turning the steering wheel repeatedly from side to side, drained again and refilled with the proper stuff, and again run while turning the steering wheel from side to side.
I'm not confident I've got all the brake fluid out. I am confident that there is only a small amount left in there (I'm imagining that there are a LOT of small spaces to drain in a power steering system). And I'll probably drain and refill it again within a month or so to get that small amount out.
Not a great job to do - jacking a car on the street, in the dark while it is raining, on a cold evening isn't my idea of fun. Still, my fault.
Purely out of interest, how different are brake fluid and ATF? They are both hydraulic fluids, and are both designed to do a similar job. I can appreciate that they probably have a different set of additives (detergents and the like) and therefore could be significantly more or less caustic, but the base product would be fairly similar I'd guess. I am also told that DOT4 gets more caustic as it gets older, so the fact that I put fresh new stuff in the system will mean it could be worse ... fingers crossed for those seals and hoses, eh? (Thanks for your encouragement Ian!)
Oh, and I took it for a (1/2 mile) test drive once I had finished the job and I'm still not convinced it's significantly much lighter or smoother than before ... [
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Oli.
I'm not confident I've got all the brake fluid out. I am confident that there is only a small amount left in there (I'm imagining that there are a LOT of small spaces to drain in a power steering system). And I'll probably drain and refill it again within a month or so to get that small amount out.
Not a great job to do - jacking a car on the street, in the dark while it is raining, on a cold evening isn't my idea of fun. Still, my fault.
Purely out of interest, how different are brake fluid and ATF? They are both hydraulic fluids, and are both designed to do a similar job. I can appreciate that they probably have a different set of additives (detergents and the like) and therefore could be significantly more or less caustic, but the base product would be fairly similar I'd guess. I am also told that DOT4 gets more caustic as it gets older, so the fact that I put fresh new stuff in the system will mean it could be worse ... fingers crossed for those seals and hoses, eh? (Thanks for your encouragement Ian!)
Oh, and I took it for a (1/2 mile) test drive once I had finished the job and I'm still not convinced it's significantly much lighter or smoother than before ... [
]Oli.
xenon
New member
Nice job at the side of the road. I don't know the exact difference between ATF and brake fluid but, working as I do in a major hydraulics manufacturer (although I personally know virtually nothing of the science), I often overhear the designers comparing merits of various hydraulics oils and glycols and I know there is significant differences in fluids that essentially do the same thing. Brake fluid has a higher boiling point but (perhaps) will attack nitrile seals found in a power steeering system. From what I can gather, it's all about the seals. []
Also, the viscosity is different as you no doubt noticed.
]Also, the viscosity is different as you no doubt noticed.
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Interesting thread - suppose another job on the to-do-list. Maybe it will banish banshee in my steering rack when reversing!
Thanks Dave
bmnelsc
New member
I've recently done a fair bit of research on this as "power steering" fluid has evolved into something much different that what it was for our cars when new. You want to stay with a regular old red ATF fluid - avoid the new types unless flushing and changing the system. Even then, it seems some of the newer fluids are not compatible with seals/pump as lubricant base and additives are quite different.
Sorry - ATF we should use is old GM fluid - Dexron II (and III IRRC) and compatible. Newer Dexrons changed the formula.
Sorry - ATF we should use is old GM fluid - Dexron II (and III IRRC) and compatible. Newer Dexrons changed the formula.
jonnyporsche
PCGB Member
Thanks guys for the advise.[]
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