Power steering fluid color

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Fallon 40

Fallon 40

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
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74
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520
Location
SoCal
I wanted to change out the power steering fluid reservoir a few times with a small diameter baster type syringe to get some fresh fluid in there. I believe it requires ATF Dextron type 3 that I put in my tranny.
The top of the cap say “ATF type fluid”
When I removed the cap it smells like hydraulic oil and is a yellowish color. Is this a different type of ATF fluid or should it be a red color like the tranny fluid?
Thanks
Ken
 
When I bought mine, a long time ago when it only had 69xxx miles on it, it had a fluid similar/same as you describe...the stealer supposedly base lined the fluids.

But I've run Amsoil ATF fluid in mine ever since without issue. I took the easier route of evac'ing with a turkey baster...I do that at least once a year minimum.

Even with the syn ATF fluid it doesn't take that long to get discolored/darker in color...probably due to the relatively low fluid volume; lack of a sufficient cooler for slow speed trail work; and high workload.
 
out of pure impatience, I've circumvented the turkey baster and just unplugged the lower of the two hose lines, with a waiting receptacle below. For best results, I pulled the reservoir up from its seat first. it takes a little bit of care, but i've managed to keep all the fluid contained a few times now. I used both a half gallon milk jug and a large brake fluid bottle (with the tops cut off). This has become a 10k mile ritual for me, along with the engine oil change etc.
 
Thanks for the reply's
I'm going to change the reservoir out with the baster method and put in some fresh fluid. I thought it was strange that it changed color and was worried something else was in there.
 
Siphon pump

I just swapped my power steering fluid and used a $2.99 Siphon pump from AutoZone based on other posts. The siphon worked well and prevented spills.

Here it is on their site:

Victor/Siphon pump (00782-8) | | AutoZone.com
 
I've also considered installing a valve on the lower reservoir hose - it would make the routine drain/fill really easy if you only had to throw a valve lever and drain through a tube to a waiting waste bottle... I havent put too much thought into this yet, but I'd want to make sure and consider the ID of the valve, something sufficient to maintain the designed flow/pressure parameters of the system.
 
I found the same thing when I went to change my power steering fluid. I thought it was so wierd I actually took a picture of the fluid to post up here questioning it but never got around to it.
So, here it is.

The tranny fluid is on the left and the power steering fluid is on the right. Looks like hydraulic fluid to me, but who knows for sure. The po had the dealer change all the fluids shortly before trading it in so it should be the correct stuff,.....right? In any case, it was nice and clean with no particles of any kind, althoughiIt did look pretty dirty in the reservour. I flushed it out with 2 quarts of Castrol Dex/Merc which is supposed to be the replacement for Dexron III.
That was back in March and so far so good, It's been working perfectly (knock on simulated wood grain trim!), no leaks, no noise.
By the way, IMO, it is so easy to flush the entire system and it is so much more effective, I don't know why people bother with the syringe method.
Just saying.......
DSCN0188.webp
 
That is what my fluid looked like as well.The smell really threw me as I use hydro oil at work and it smelled the same. It was so different from the tranny fluid I thought something was way wrong.I used the baster a few times and I have some nice red fluid, for now....
Ken
 
spressomon said:
.I do that at least once a year minimum.
Click to expand...

you flush your PS fluid one a year? :lol: I did mine for the first time in 140K...that was after I blew a seal and filled it with StopLeak... now I have a hissing sound constantly (no leaking). If I flush to synthetic do you think I can fix it? Steering gets quite heavy in the morning. I need to just flush it each month for 6 months with liquid gold and see what that does :lol:
 
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