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Power Steering Fluid Replacement


This is Dave Shoenberger 's procedure for replacing the PowerSteering fluid.

I have replaced my power streering fluid with the Redline synth. So far I feel that it has made a significant improvement form the stock fluid. I used to lose the power steering in fast transitions durring autox runs. With the synth stuff I have never completely lost the power steering. It may get harder but it is linear. With the stock stuuf it was now you have it now you dont in the middle of the transition.

I replaced my fluid using a vacuum tool. I sucked all the old fluid from the reservior, pulled the low pressure return line, plugged the reservior nipple, attached the vacuum tool to the return line, refilled the reservoir with the new synth stuff and sucked the old out. Just make sure that the reservior does not run dry. After it was all back together I went thru the bleeding proceedure outline in teh shop manual but I never had to add any more fluid - no air. You will need more than one bottle of synth fluid.


Here is an alternate way to change the fluid from Mike Piera .

Not too complicated, I did it last weekend and used Castrol Dextron-III (?) synthetic ATF. It was the only synthetic ATF I could find. Redline makes a synthetic PS fluid and ATF, they say to use the synth PS fluid in an SE-R.

  1. Suck as much old PS fluid as you can out of the reservoir. You have to pull the filter out of the top first. Remove the radiator overflow tank (it just pulls out and can be set on top of the radiator) to get batter access to the reservoir.
  2. Pull off the hose on the bottom front side of the reservior. You shouldn't spill much if the reservoir is empty. It's tough to get off though!
  3. Plug the now open pipe on the tank and put a long hose in or on the hose that you pulled off, and run it into a container to catch the old fluid. Use a clear hose in view so you can see the color change of the new fluid. I ran it over the fender so I could see the fluid from the drivers' seat.
  4. Jack up the front wheels off the ground (so they will turn easier). Pour new fluid in the reservoir. Turn the steering wheel back and forth, from lock to lock, this will force the fluid in the rack out of the tube. ENGINE IS OFF!! When the tank is nearly empty, refill it and turn the wheels again. You should see clean fluid come out after a few tank fulls. About a quart of fluid should be enough to flush most of the old out, 2 quarts to be safe and thorough. When the fluid is clean, make the tank nearly empty and go to the next step.
  5. Reconnect the hose to the reservoir. Do it quickly and you shouldn't spill much. Refill the reservoir.
  6. Turn the steering wheel from lock to lock quickly several times to bleed the air from the lines, then look into the tank and see if there are any air bubbles. Then start the engine and turn the wheels back and forth to circulate the fluid. Turn off the engine and repeat this step until no more air bubbles appear. Make sure the tank does not get too low!
  7. You're all done.