Nasty Power Steering Fluid And Maintenance Stuff

[cyoung1253]

Been noticing a slight shudder in the steering wheel during slow speed parking lot maneuvering and it occurred to me some maintenance is due. Picked up some power steering fluid and got out the pump that I use to change the gear oil in my outboard lower unit. with the fluid at operating temp, pumped out as much as I could get out of the reservoir and replaced with new. The stuff that came out was as black as coal and smelled like a$$, yuck.

 

Started the truck and let it idle for a few minutes before working the wheel full left/right about 10 times then repeated the pump and refill process. Not quite as dirty but still ugly so I repeated running the truck/turning the wheel and fluid swap a third time. Much better, not clear like it comes from the bottle, about the color of new motor oil. Used two full quarts of fluid ,figure I'll drive around for a week or so and try flushing it one more time.

 

 

 

Have been and plan to be doing quite a bit of camper towing so I took advantage of the 20% off promotion that Advance Auto was running and picked up some other over-due maintenance items. After seeing the condition of the power steering fluid after 125k miles I can't wait to see what the gear oil in the front and rear differentials looks/smell like. Transmission was replaced with a new one back in '07 so I figure it was filled with Dex VI and has about 75k on it now. Plan on dropping the pan, new filter and refill with Valvoline MaxLife ATF. My '05 has a manual transfer case and calls for Dex III so I plan to use the same fluid there.

 

Comments/suggestions?

[MikeInCtown]

Before you pull all the bolts from the trans pan, be sure that the linkage or shift cable isn't in the way. I learned the hard way that there is a star drive bolt holding the linkage on. Only found out AFTER I had drained a bunch of trans oil. On mine I also has a heat shield in the way that kept it from dropping. In the end I gave up. Probably better off bringing the Dex VI fluid to the garage and having them hook into the trans lines and refill and flush that way. you'll use 10+ quarts, but the result will probably be better than the 6 you would change with the pan dropped.

 

And you must really work your truck. I did the rear diff at 100k and there was no smell at all. My steering fluid was perfect at 125k and so was the trans fluid.

[txab]

Before you pull all the bolts from the trans pan, be sure that the linkage or shift cable isn't in the way. I learned the hard way that there is a star drive bolt holding the linkage on. Only found out AFTER I had drained a bunch of trans oil. On mine I also has a heat shield in the way that kept it from dropping. In the end I gave up. Probably better off bringing the Dex VI fluid to the garage and having them hook into the trans lines and refill and flush that way. you'll use 10+ quarts, but the result will probably be better than the 6 you would change with the pan dropped.

 

And you must really work your truck. I did the rear diff at 100k and there was no smell at all. My steering fluid was perfect at 125k and so was the trans fluid.

 

You can easily replace all your trans oil yourself, not just 5 or 6 qts.

[cyoung1253]

Anyone got hints/tricks to getting to the torx head bolts that hold the shift cable bracket? Got the torque specs for the trans pan bolts and diff cover handy?

[txab]

Trans flush in the Tech Wiki

[Black02Silverado]

Sounds like you got a good game plan. Power Steering is one area that gets over looked. For what it cost for fresh fluid and how hard it is to replace it is one of those things that should be done at least once every 50k or so.

[jro909]

i was told GM dosen't recommend servicing power steering fluid....mine looks like pure poop and i bought a hand syphon to take it out but the dealer told me not to touch it unless it needs more fluid....whats the capacity of the pump anyway?

[Black02Silverado]

Not sure on the total fill, but when I was able to suck all of mine out it took just over 16oz. If you do like posted above, just get two qts and you should be good and that will just about do a complete change out from the entire system.

[cyoung1253]

i was told GM dosen't recommend servicing power steering fluid....mine looks like pure poop and i bought a hand syphon to take it out but the dealer told me not to touch it unless it needs more fluid....whats the capacity of the pump anyway?

 

 

Not sure of the total capacity but I was able to pump about 22oz of yucky stuff out of the reservoir. Of course there will still be more in the fluid lines,cooler and steering box.

[Vortec-Z71]

Been noticing a slight shudder in the steering wheel during slow speed parking lot maneuvering and it occurred to me some maintenance is due. Picked up some power steering fluid and got out the pump that I use to change the gear oil in my outboard lower unit. with the fluid at operating temp, pumped out as much as I could get out of the reservoir and replaced with new. The stuff that came out was as black as coal and smelled like a$$, yuck.

 

Started the truck and let it idle for a few minutes before working the wheel full left/right about 10 times then repeated the pump and refill process. Not quite as dirty but still ugly so I repeated running the truck/turning the wheel and fluid swap a third time. Much better, not clear like it comes from the bottle, about the color of new motor oil. Used two full quarts of fluid ,figure I'll drive around for a week or so and try flushing it one more time.

 

 

 

Have been and plan to be doing quite a bit of camper towing so I took advantage of the 20% off promotion that Advance Auto was running and picked up some other over-due maintenance items. After seeing the condition of the power steering fluid after 125k miles I can't wait to see what the gear oil in the front and rear differentials looks/smell like. Transmission was replaced with a new one back in '07 so I figure it was filled with Dex VI and has about 75k on it now. Plan on dropping the pan, new filter and refill with Valvoline MaxLife ATF. My '05 has a manual transfer case and calls for Dex III so I plan to use the same fluid there.

 

Comments/suggestions?

 

 

Do you think that you or someone else who has replaced the power steering fluid can do a how-to write up?

[txab]

Been noticing a slight shudder in the steering wheel during slow speed parking lot maneuvering and it occurred to me some maintenance is due. Picked up some power steering fluid and got out the pump that I use to change the gear oil in my outboard lower unit. with the fluid at operating temp, pumped out as much as I could get out of the reservoir and replaced with new. The stuff that came out was as black as coal and smelled like a$, yuck.

 

 

Started the truck and let it idle for a few minutes before working the wheel full left/right about 10 times then repeated the pump and refill process. Not quite as dirty but still ugly so I repeated running the truck/turning the wheel and fluid swap a third time. Much better, not clear like it comes from the bottle, about the color of new motor oil. Used two full quarts of fluid ,figure I'll drive around for a week or so and try flushing it one more time.

 

 

 

 

Have been and plan to be doing quite a bit of camper towing so I took advantage of the 20% off promotion that Advance Auto was running and picked up some other over-due maintenance items. After seeing the condition of the power steering fluid after 125k miles I can't wait to see what the gear oil in the front and rear differentials looks/smell like. Transmission was replaced with a new one back in '07 so I figure it was filled with Dex VI and has about 75k on it now. Plan on dropping the pan, new filter and refill with Valvoline MaxLife ATF. My '05 has a manual transfer case and calls for Dex III so I plan to use the same fluid there.

 

 

Comments/suggestions?

 

 

Do you think that you or someone else who has replaced the power steering fluid can do a how-to write up?

 

 

 

The highlighted portions are the directions on "how to" The only thing not stated is "Remove cap to siphon the PS fluid".

 

You can use a pump like the OP used or you can use a turkey baster, etc... to siphon out. As OP states, you'll get out about 1 qt each time you do it.

 

Believe me you can do this.

[cyoung1253]

Been noticing a slight shudder in the steering wheel during slow speed parking lot maneuvering and it occurred to me some maintenance is due. Picked up some power steering fluid and got out the pump that I use to change the gear oil in my outboard lower unit. with the fluid at operating temp, pumped out as much as I could get out of the reservoir and replaced with new. The stuff that came out was as black as coal and smelled like a$, yuck.

 

 

Started the truck and let it idle for a few minutes before working the wheel full left/right about 10 times then repeated the pump and refill process. Not quite as dirty but still ugly so I repeated running the truck/turning the wheel and fluid swap a third time. Much better, not clear like it comes from the bottle, about the color of new motor oil. Used two full quarts of fluid ,figure I'll drive around for a week or so and try flushing it one more time.

 

 

 

 

Have been and plan to be doing quite a bit of camper towing so I took advantage of the 20% off promotion that Advance Auto was running and picked up some other over-due maintenance items. After seeing the condition of the power steering fluid after 125k miles I can't wait to see what the gear oil in the front and rear differentials looks/smell like. Transmission was replaced with a new one back in '07 so I figure it was filled with Dex VI and has about 75k on it now. Plan on dropping the pan, new filter and refill with Valvoline MaxLife ATF. My '05 has a manual transfer case and calls for Dex III so I plan to use the same fluid there.

 

 

Comments/suggestions?

 

 

Do you think that you or someone else who has replaced the power steering fluid can do a how-to write up?

 

 

 

The highlighted portions are the directions on "how to" The only thing not stated is "Remove cap to siphon the PS fluid".

 

You can use a pump like the OP used or you can use a turkey baster, etc... to siphon out. As OP states, you'll get out about 1 qt each time you do it.

 

Believe me you can do this.

 

 

 

You can get a cheap simple pump like I used at a marine store or maybe even at Wally-World.

 

 

 

 

Changed the gear oil in the front and rear differentials this evening. Ewww stuff in the rear end was black and there was a big gob of metallic snot on the magnet but I guess that's normal. Front diff fluid looked ok, kinda cloudy and dark amber with a gob of metallic snot on the drain plug magnet as well. Both easy jobs just messy, worst PITA was cleaning up the rear cover and scraping off the old gasket material. Used a razor blade to remove all traces of it from both the cover and housing being careful not to gouge the mating surfaces. New Felpro gasket and filled both ends with the synthetic 75W90. Had planned to take some pics but didn't want to get my camera covered in stinky ol' gear oil.

[Vortec-Z71]

 

So, after I siphon out as much power steering fluid as I can with my pump from the reservoir above, how do I know how much to put back in? Do I just measure the same amount that came out or is there another way to know the correct amount of new fluid to put in?

[txab]

Doesn't your PS cap have a dipstick on it? But yes you can measure the amount removed to get you close

[Vortec-Z71]

Doesn't your PS cap have a dipstick on it? But yes you can measure the amount removed to get you close

 

 

Yep, it does. Probably should have checked before I asked.