Best way to change power steering fluid

[thetoyotaman]

What’s the easiest way to change the power steering fluid on an 80 series?

 

[Fj80oregon]

Try googling before posting tons of threads on this.

Thread 'How to change Power Steering Fluid'

Feb 7, 2006

By request I have combined & condensed several posts by myself and others into this one.

Why change it? Power steering fluid is usually an ignored fluid, but over time and especially if overheated it can break down, oxidize, change viscosity, consume its additives, be contaminated with solids such as grit from the environment and wear metals from the pump and box, having no filtration these contaminants circulate endlessly causing more wear.

It is a good idea to occasionally change out the fluid to get rid of old fluid and the contaminants it carries. Although color is not the best...

• RavenTai
• Replies: 56
• Forum: 80-Series Tech

• 

 

[devo]

I suck mine out, refill, cycle, suck it out, refill, cycle and so on

 

[thetoyotaman]

Wondering if anyone has added some type of quick drain.

 

[Malleus]

There is no way to get it all out, short of pulling the discharge connection off the gearbox, which makes a mess. If you pull the hoses off the reservoir, drain that into a cup, or something, and then turn the hoses down, you'll get about all there is to get...pretty much @RavenTai's method.

 

[Kernal]

An easy way as mentioned above, get a small suction pump, pull out ~6-8 ounces from the reservoir at a time, refill, drive it, pull out ~6-8 ounces, refill, etc, etc, etc. Not the most efficient method but you get a good percentage of the old fluid out after a 4-5 cycles, it's relatively easy and you don't have to mess with hardened hoses that might crack if you disturb them, ---.

Harbor Freight and Lowe's (Craftsman) sell the same pump: you can also use it for the brake fluid reservoir ie: before replacing brake pads or before a flush

(showing fluid being pulled from a brake reservoir, not mine, just pulled from the nets)

 

[COS80]

I remove the return hose and cap off the res, then run a hose from the end of the return hose to a drain pan. Cycle the steering back and forth (wheels off the ground) to pump it out, a little at a time, refilling the res before it runs dry. Keep doing this until the fluid in the extension hose is clear, bright red.