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Power steering fluid

Eldavo

Eldavo

PCGB Member
Member
Have tightened up the hoses to stop a bit of weeping but wondered whereabouts on the dipstick the level should come to? Also, if replacing the fluid, is it just a case of emptying out the cup and refilling it? With PAS fluid or automatic transmission fluid as I have read online?
 
Never done it on a 944 mate but usually find the lowest point you can and drain it with the resevoir top off. Then fill to a little above the max mark and operate the steering to full lock on either side to bleed it and rid of all air bubbles. Then check and adjust level if necessary. PAS and ATF pretty much the same thing mate as far as I know. When I was in the Army we just called it cherry lol... Don't think it makes that much difference for normal use. Unless you are using a load of stop leak as I am at the moment. LOL it's like gearcase grease and it don't like the cold in the morning.
 
Hmmm mine is in the middle of the lowest of the three stepped sections, sounds like it needs a top up at the very least so will change the fluid.
 
Use your finger or a glove if you are that way inclined and dip your finger into it. When new the fluid should look a cherry colour. It is quite a neglected thing PAS fluid and rarely gets chsnged. I would wager yours will probably be more of a black colour as it does degrade with age, use and heat etc. Don't know the history of the car but I would recommend changing it as a matter of course.
 
Undo hose at bottom to empty reservoir. Fill up and the system should bleed itself. Not that I did it mind......................if the fluid is a nice pale red colour and doesnt smell off its probably ok (after all auto gerabox oil takes much more of a pounding and sits there for years)
 
It's all in the manual:
EF36D54140BE4E5EA2BA8357B360A812.jpg
 
Ta, manual is in the filing cabinet in the study, wife has piled every Xmas present known to man between it and the door. I know best to leave well alone!
 
Usually to replace PAS fluid you need to undo one of the hydraulic lines to the rack, unscrew the reservoir cap to drain the system and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock to fully pump/purge the fluid from the system. To refill you do everything up again and fill the reservoir bottle and again turn the wheel from lock to lock to bleed the system. 944's seem to benefit from fairly regular replacements of PAS fluid to stop the groaning noise when going full lock at low speeds. But usually you can get away with fairly infrequent changes of fluid as the system is fully sealed so no moisture or dirt gets in. I should think it is one of those jobs you maybe should consider every couple of years or so.
 
I recently replaced a couple of the hoses and most of the clips and washers on my PAS to get rid of some leaks which were plastering the pump and undertray in fluid. Leaks are mostly fixed now and don't get a covering of PAS fluid over everything. The main thing I noticed was that the steering feels much smoother and a lot more responsive... Dave K.
 
Handy tip for this job and any other job where you want to move the steering with the wheels on the ground: put a glossy magazine in front of each front wheel and drive onto them first. Takes all the effort out of turning the wheels. Ruins the mag though, so use someone else's.
ORIGINAL: robwright Never done it on a 944 mate but usually find the lowest point you can and drain it with the resevoir top off. Then fill to a little above the max mark and operate the steering to full lock on either side to bleed it and rid of all air bubbles. Then check and adjust level if necessary. PAS and ATF pretty much the same thing mate as far as I know. When I was in the Army we just called it cherry lol... Don't think it makes that much difference for normal use. Unless you are using a load of stop leak as I am at the moment. LOL it's like gearcase grease and it don't like the cold in the morning.
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ORIGINAL: sc0tty
ORIGINAL: sr.944man Handy tip for this job and any other job where you want to move the steering with the wheels on the ground: put a glossy magazine in front of each front wheel and drive onto them first. Takes all the effort out of turning the wheels. Ruins the mag though, so use someone else's.
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At last, a good use for porsche post !!!
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Or perhaps a copy of Scotty's newly published guide "How to win friends and influence people"?! [8|][8|]
 
ORIGINAL: appletonn
ORIGINAL: sc0tty At last, a good use for porsche post !!!
Click to expand...
Or perhaps a copy of Scotty's newly published guide "How to win friends and influence people"?! [8|][8|]
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[:D] Dave - thanks for the note about the improvement in the steering feel. My steering fluid hasn't been changed for years - literally - and I hadn't up to that point found anyone who could tell me the benefits of changing it ... Oli.
 
I decided to heed my own advice and changed my own power steering fluid after work today. £4 worth of ATF and the difference is quite remarkable!!! [:)]
 
ORIGINAL: robwright I decided to heed my own advice and changed my own power steering fluid after work today. £4 worth of ATF and the difference is quite remarkable!!! [:)]
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OK, I need to do mine. Someone talk me through it again ... I have some ATF in the basement looking for a better home than the tin it was supplied in ... Oli.
 
It's a doddle Oli. Remove the PAS fluid cap and centre undertray (I am presuming like just about all of us you don't have a rear one lol). You will see a 19mm banjo connector on the pump (the lowest one). Remove this this and prepare to catch the fluid. Run the engine and operate lock to lock several times with pipe diconnected to pump all the old fluid out. It will make some strange noises don't worry. Once all fluid is out refit the banjo connector. Refill system with approx 600ml of new ATF. Run engine again and go lock to lock for as many times as it takes to be smooth and no noises. Check and top up level if needed. Once the car has been lowered repeat the lock to lock exercise with weight on the wheels. Check and adjust level again. The fluid will froth up quite a lot in the resevoir. Don't worry it is just bleeding out all the air. Godd luck fella. You won't need it it's a doddle.
 
Hi Rob - when you say the difference is remarkable, what kind of difference does it make? Can you feel the difference through the steering wheel?
 
Yes mate feels a whole lot smoother. The engine doesn't labour as much (which I imagine can't do your fuel economy any harm) and doesn't make any noises at all even when you really slam it over onto full lock.
 
Thanks - sounds like a thing worthwhile doing. Was the old fluid which came out cherry coloured? Mine's a dull black, so I'll get it replaced very soon.
 
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