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| Thread ID: 141925 | 2016-03-24 20:47:00 | Water vs power steering fluid? | Greg (193) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1418183 | 2016-03-27 04:33:00 | If not started, just pour the correct fluid into the reservoir and let it run out for a bit. Water floats on oil and it will be the first thing out of the top. Next - if it's been started and driven successfully - try to let it sit for a day or two and perform the same 'flood over' technique I mentioned above. If you do that (^) correctly, there will be so little water in the system that normal high operating temperatures will boil the water out and it's gonna clear out eventually. |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 1418184 | 2016-03-27 04:51:00 | Well,in Downunder land oil floats on water,don't know what happens on the Equator :banana | Lawrence (2987) | ||
| 1418185 | 2016-03-27 05:18:00 | I know in Upsidedown Land that cars spin to the left if they are hit by pedestrian. Or is it the pedestrian spins to the left if hit by a car? Well ---- SOMEthing spins since youse drive on the incorrect side of the road. (opening old wounds I am!!!). On the Equator, on the other hand - they don't have accidents. Everything is intentional - accidents don't happen. |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 1418186 | 2016-03-27 07:08:00 | Some time ago my niece complained that her Mini had taken a lot of water. She had mistaken the engine oil filler for the radiator cap! The engine was full of water from the garden hose. | mzee (3324) | ||
| 1418187 | 2016-03-27 16:02:00 | Apologies for typing the wrong thing . Late last night was, er . . . . strange to say the least . Not from adult beverages or recreational pharmaceuticals . . . . just plain ol' dog tired . OK . . . that said, flooding the reservoir with sufficient p/s fluid will force the water out of it - the reservoir . This only works if the engine has not been started . If it's been run,the water will be homogenized into suspension with the fluid and can be hard to remove . The fluid itself has some amazing resilience to contamination, especially from moisture although copious amounts of water are beyond its capacity to rebound . One can try to let it settle into the reservoir, but water will be on the bottom of the system . . . . usually the steering gear, rack-and-pinion or quadrant-style, so that's not a very viable choice either . Nope . A full on flush with new fluid - not with "special additives" will be the best thing to do . Sorry for my obvious misdirection . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 1418188 | 2016-03-28 06:59:00 | But higher in the system, won't the pump's vanes/impellor have started to corrode? I have seen corroded impellors in engine water pumps... | kahawai chaser (3545) | ||
| 1418189 | 2016-03-28 19:42:00 | That the system is pumping a nice oily hydraulic fluid - which is supposed to gather foreign objects (rubber flakes from the hoses) dirt (from opening the system to see if the fluid level is low/high), moisture (from opening the system to see if it needs fluid in a humid situation) or just general expansion/contraction of the fluid and inhaling/exhaling air into the system from running hot and then letting the system cool --- repeatedly --- all cause grief to the fluid and that's the reason why it's to be changed on a periodic schedule, the fluid, that is....... Phew! That was a long sentence. Since the fluid itself is designed to encapsulate, gather and collect the contaminants, it has a lot of cohesive or 'wetting' quality that makes it attach to the metal parts - and I think if the system isn't allowed to sit for a length of time, that the additives in the hydraulic fluid will do nicely protecting the critical parts - for a while! We currently call that 'cohesive quality' as 'detergent' as they have serious anionic attachment that keeps rust from forming until the additives (detergents) are consumed or overloaded and can no longer perform their designed duties. I wouldn't wait too long however. |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 1418190 | 2016-03-29 05:05:00 | Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. What sealed the decision to drain and replace the fluid was our good friend Joe's contribution. The car's due for a service soon, so we'll wait till then to have it done. As mentioned, the flippin car has quite a complex engine; way beyond my scope and ability to work under, so I'd need axle stands or wheel ramps to get underneath given that it's so low to the ground, which I no longer have. Last time I worked on a car was in the good old days of carburettors! And Joe, your comments just above don't really apply to power steering fluid - even I know that the fluid is for hydraulic purposes, not lubrication or cleaning. ------------------- When America sleeps, New Zealand is already a day ahead! |
Greg (193) | ||
| 1418191 | 2016-03-29 05:58:00 | Well, Greg, most humbly, Power Steering fluid isn't QUITE the same as hydraulic fluid . It's my mistake for not being more succinct . I was trying to un-technify the things I was saying, and I forgot that you have experiences in this field . My sincere apologies . :( It (power steering fluid) has some certain attributes that if you put regular EFP or AW/E Hydraulic fluid in the system in sufficient quantity, the pump would set up a howl and possibly chatter . I've had customers assume fluid interchangeability and acceptability when they saw the price of hydraulic AW/EP fluid compared to power steering fluid - which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer - and they try it --------------------- and then the fun begins . As a mechanic, we'd see this a few times a year but almost every time we had initially thought that the system was experiencing a pump of ram/servo seal failure . Touching, feeling or smelling the fluid wasn't a good test - some times we'd even taste a tiny bit - but since each manufacturer has their own formula standards, we couldn't tell the difference' Some automotive specialty stores will usually have the correct manufacturer's acceptability standards posted on the bottle . The "One size fits all" generic power steering fluids can cause a lot of trouble too - but how could we tell what was in the system unless the customer would confess . But after asking --- no, make that: "interrogating" the customer about what brought the steering symptoms on, we'd often find that the owner bought a gallon of hydraulic tractor fluid for the same price a 3 dram bottle of Power Steering fluid . F'rinstrance - Honda fluid must NEVER be put in one of our domestic vehicles! Chrysler fluid must not be put in any other system . Chryslers and Hondas cannot accept any other manufacturer's fluids . It goes on from there, but suffice to say that they are not miscible or interchangeable with/to each other . And again I am sorry for not being more technical in my answer - some people don't like my writing - effluent they say it is . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 1418192 | 2016-03-29 06:11:00 | Addendumdum: This is NOT my writing - these are collated c/ps from various sources that I hit on the internet: (highlights, mine) PENNZOIL® POWER STEERING FLUID is a premium formulation using high quality lubricating base stocks and . . . Provides controlled seal swelling properties . Power steering fluid provides hydraulic assist for the power steering system . Most fluids are either mineral-oil or synthetic oil of some type blended with additives to suppress foaming, prevent corrosion and improve lubrication in the power steering pump and steering gear . Some components of a power steering system, such as rubber seals and metal components that may corrode over time, will eventually release contaminants and small particles into the power steering fluid reservoirs . Those contaminants can cause accelerated wear on the system and may eventually cause it to break down . To safeguard against that, power steering fluid is often formulated to protect the system by acting as a good lubricant, serving as a detergent and guarding against corrosion . Since power steering fluid inevitably picks up contaminants and loose particles over time, it should be drained, flushed and replaced as part of routine maintenance . Some automobile and aircraft manufacturers may specify how often the fluid should be changed in a specific system, but the most reliable way to tell when it needs replacing is to look at the color of the fluid . On most vehicles, this is easy to check by removing the power steering fluid cap under the hood . If the fluid is brown, black or not at all transparent, it's due for a change . Different vehicle applications may require different types of power steering fluid . Some use ATF transmission fluid such as Dexron, Mercon, Type F, ATF+4, etc . ) but many newer vehicles use some type of synthetic-based hydraulic fluid that is specifically formulated for power steering use . Synthetic fluids flow well at low temperature, which improves pump lubrication and longevity . Although a "universal" power steering fluid may be satisfactory for many applications, some vehicles do require special additives for seal and pump lubricity, and corrosion protection . A top-off fluid must also be chemically compatible with the PS fluid that is already in the system, and the viscosity of the fluid should meet the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer for proper pump lubrication, power steering feel and assist . European and Japanese vehicles often have their own unique requirements for power steering fluid . Such applications may require a high performance synthetic-based PS fluid that meets DIN 51 524T3 and ISO 7308 standards . Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo all have various power steering fluid requirements which can vary depending on the year/make/model . Many of these applications specify one of several different types of Pentosin power steering fluid . Japanese auto makers such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota also have their own PS fluid specifications . The type of power steering fluid that is specified for your vehicle should be marked on the PS reservoir or filler cap . You can also find the recommended PS fluid listed in your vehicle owners manual . Use the type of fluid specified (or one that meets the OEM requirements) to reduce the risk of incompatibility issues and problems down the road . Using the wrong type of PS fluid is a common cause of power steering pump failure! Best Advice: If you don't know what type of PS fluid you should use, do NOT add any fluid to the pump reservoir until you can find out the proper type . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
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