Token4
Trip Hop
Premium
join:2002-07-13
Naperville, IL
| Power Steering Flush
Took the car, 96 Intrepid, for the routine oil change. The shop checked the fluids and suggest I flush the power steering fluid. They say it's getting dirty and will be due for a 100% flush within the next 5-10k miles.
The cost. $118.
Sound reasonable? Sounds a little strange to me.
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Digital
As-Salamu Alaykum
Premium
join:2000-07-24
Mentor, OH
| I am not really a car guy, but for some reason that sounds fishy. I could see $118.00 for a full on transmission flush, but I have never heard of a shop that will flush your power steering fluid?
Kinda sounds like your muffle bearings are gonna be warped next. 
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Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
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| reply to Token4
No car guy here either, but I know that many of the fluid systems on cars are "closed", i.e. they don't have openings to the outside. With no openings, how is the fluid getting dirty ?? Dirt may be getting in somewhere... That is what needs fixed. They can take your $100+, flush it out and refill it, but guess what ?? It will get dirty again...
By a "closed" system, another example is your brake fluid. You don't just lose brake fluid over time. If you have to routinely add fluid, it's leaking somewhere. |
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Ammler
Premium
join:2005-04-19
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to Token4
I too have never heard of a Power Steering Flush. If the fluid is getting "burnt", that is indicative of a power steering problem, and will not be fixed by a simple "flush".
If the fluid is fine, then I think they just want to earn so extra cash. |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| reply to Token4
The fluid could break down over time with pressure and heat. How many miles do you have on the car? Also $118 is pretty high. I only paid $60 with labor. All they do is empty out the old fluid, run a detergent in there to clean it out and then put new fluid back in.
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
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join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| reply to Token4
Buy a couple of bottles of good brand name or factory power steering fluid for your car at the local parts store plus get a suction bulb or suction gun if they have one and if not try the cooking section of any discount store for a suction bulb (turkey baster bulb?).
Suck the power steering reservoir clean and empty with the bulb then refill it with fresh fluid, run the car and turn the wheels lock to lock 3 or 4 times. Now, do the suction bulb again and then refill with fresh fluid. Repeat this in a week and you will have replaced all the fluid except 5% - 10% as the lines and rack do not hold a lot of fluid.
Regards,
Doctor Olds
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
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join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| reply to jsouth
said by jsouth  :The fluid could break down over time with pressure and heat. How many miles do you have on the car? Also $118 is pretty high. I only paid $60 with labor. All they do is empty out the old fluid, run a detergent in there to clean it out and then put new fluid back in. Oh, possibly not good. No detergent in power steering systems unless the cap or owners manual says to use Dextron II/III or better fluid like some Toyotas. Normally you should not use trans fluid which is highly detergent in a power steering system as it will usually cause problems on higher mile vehicles or vehicles like Honda/Audi/Bmw/Mercedes/Jaguar/ etc that sometimes use mineral instead of petroleum based fluids. Always read the cap or the owners manual for the proper specification of fluid type.
The only dirt in a modern power steering system is the aluminum particles worn from the rack and pinion steering spool valve. It helps darkens the fluid.
Regards,
Doctor Olds
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| reply to Token4
said by Token4 :The cost. $118. Sound reasonable? Sounds a little strange to me. Here is an article for shops that are looking to add the service.
»ezinearticles.com/?Adding-Power-···id=25305
quote:
How often should you do this? Well some say every 15-20K miles although 45,000 miles is more like it; some owner’s manuals say 35-30K miles. If you have bought a machine which does this you may be tempted to pick the lower end at 20-30K miles to recommend it to a customer. It is a good idea and certainly helps, especially on cars with non-OEM tire brands or sports cars, which live near canyons or 4 X 4's or drive a lot on bumpy roads. Most of us have certainly had issues on our own cars with regards to power steering. Noise is the most common, hard steering is another problem.
Power Steering pumps, hose, gearbox or rack and pinions in the power steering system are all wearable parts. By cleaning the system; it removes the varnish, sludge and cleans. But it can be a tough sell to customers as there is not a lot of talk about it with manufacturers and some customers may think you are trying to up sell them yet another service. Who makes these units?
»www.oilchangeguys.com/nw3.shtml
How much can you charge? Well the going rate seems to be between $50-70, which means the machine can quickly pay for itself. You can tell when the fluid needs tube cleaned because the power steering fluid is clear and once it gets dark you know it is in need of replacement. We believe this is a good add on service for mobile oil change companies which service fleets as well as companies which offer LOF-Lube, Oil and Filter.
I'd agree that the shop you were at wants way too much for such a simple job.
Regards,
Doctor Olds
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GilbertMark
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Gilbert, AZ | reply to Token4
I used Doctor Olds method. Total cost: $15 and twenty minutes of my time. I only pay a mechanic to do things I can't/won't do. |
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA
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| reply to Token4
I just had this done on a 98 Acura RL with 30K miles. The steering feels way more responsive now. Like brand new. In short, it made a huge difference in the "feel." It was about the same price at the dealer.
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
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join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
1 edit | Unless the belt was slipping or rack/pump was leaking, there should not be any noticeable feel to power steering fluid replacement as it does not compress or get spongy or give a soft feel over time or age. Was it leaking on the belt or something else wrong? I cannot see fluid making any change that a driver would feel unless they had a damaged/leaking system before that was fixed at the same time.
It may be the placebo effect. 
Followup thought: They found your front tire pressures were low and they added air to your front tires and that will make your steering feel a hell of a lot better. That would be part of a proper 30k service.
Regards,
Doctor Olds
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA
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1 edit | The placebo effect is a possibility, as is the tire pressure, but I have checked for proper tire pressure before and not had this big of a change. The "feel" can best be described as the car not feeling heavy when steering in motion or at a stop. Although, I didn't check to see if they put 50 psi of air in my fronts or not. There were no slipping belt or leaks. It still looked like a brand new engine. I just did a bunch of preventative maintenance. I also got all new drive belts, new water pump, timing belt, trans flush, PB flush (and yes they feel much more responsive too), alignment, plus the standard 30K service stuff. It may just be a cumulative affect, but I am 95% sure there was a change.
Aaron
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
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join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| The alignment alone (did they rotate and balance too?) would definitely get the air pressures equalized/checked all around so the car is level on the alignment rack, that would make the car feel new.
Regards,
Doctor Olds
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Boomerang86
Got FUD?
Premium
join:2002-10-18
VampireState
clubs: | reply to Token4
The 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS I once owned recommended this very service; I believe my new Hondas call for this also.
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA | Yes, this part of the routine maint. on my Acura as well. |
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA | reply to Doctor Olds
no rotate and balance. |
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Hall
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join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
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| reply to wishera
said by wishera : I also got all new drive belts, new water pump, timing belt, trans flush, PB flush (and yes they feel much more responsive too), alignment... Ouch ! At 30,000 miles ?? Did you tell them you wanted this done or did they "recommend" it ?? |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
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join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| reply to wishera
A balance is usually done at 15k and 30k.
Anyway, the alignment alone would make it feel smoother and steer straighter so your ride would feel more responsive than before.
The car feels/drives better due to the other combined services, not the power steering flush.
Regards,
Doctor Olds
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to Hall
I am on the time schedule, not mileage. Timing belt was 7-year or 100,000 miles. It was actually 2 years past due. edit, I looked at the belt before the change and it had many little cracks on it, I felt it wasn't worth chancing the ruined engine. |
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EmilioG
Whats This?
Premium
join:2000-09-19
New York, NY
| said by wishera :I am on the time schedule, not mileage. Timing belt was 7-year or 100,000 miles. It was actually 2 years past due. edit, I looked at the belt before the change and it had many little cracks on it, I felt it wasn't worth chancing the ruined engine. Only if its an Interference Type Engine would your valves crash from a "Bad" Timing Belt.
They also make in-line filters for Pwr. Steering lines/fluid.
Q, Dr. Olds: That Pic in your post, is that a Pump? Who makes it and where can I buy it?
Thanks. |
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