jmrec100

I need to flush the system. Some dark ugly fluid in there.
How?
And what fluid do I use to fill?

BlueRidgeMark

Two ways I can think of:

1. Pick up a turkey baster at the grocery store, and use it to suck the old stuff out of the reservoir. Refill with fresh. This won't get all the old stuff out, so you'll need to drive it and repeat a few times.

2. Find the lowest connection in the system and disconnect it to drain all you can, close it up, fill it up, and repeat as above.

As for what to put in it, just plain old power steering fluid. Nothing fancy. A lot of us just use the same stuff we put in the trans - DexIII/Merc. Works just fine.

Some systems are picky about what you put in them. This is not one of them.

jmrec100

Thanks.
I'll start tonight

Remus Redbone

Not sure you want to "flush" a power steering system due to problems with air. I'd try a suction tube / pump (looks like a grease gun with no pump handle), suck out everything possible, refill with clean fluid, drive a day or two, and repeat a few more times. As long as you have dark fluid, and not particulate matter (sludge & debris), you will get the fluid cleaned up after a few cycles. You may go through some power steering fluid, but not a lot, and it's cheap compared to a new pump or other PS parts.

jordan96xj

Auto parts stores sell little plastic hand pumps for putting on top of oil bottles for filling hard to reach differential and and transfer case fill locations. They are also very handy for pumping the fluid out of power steering reservoirs. 2-4 drain and fills, and your fluid should be looking much better.

Turkey basters and the similar types sold at auto parts stores work fine too. They just take a bit longer, and dribble a bit more as you remove the fluid. I recommend putting a zip tie around the rubber pump portion, as the fluids are very slippery, and the rubber portion will begin to fail and slide off the plastic tube.