Power Steering Fluid

[valleyman]

My 300A has about 28K miles on it now and besides oil and filter changes at about every 2K I've changed out the tranny fluid and coolant twice, the brake fluid, rear end oil, and fuel filter once. I'd like to change out as much of the power steering fluid as can easily be done but I've never done this procedure before on any car.

What do you folks suggest? Removing the return hose (cooler-to-reservoir) and draining the PS reservoir, refilling it and repeating the process after a few operating hours to get out most of the old fluid? Reading the shop manual has made me a little leary since section 211-00-13 cautions against getting any air into the system and shows that a special tool is needed to purge any air that does get into the system. Or is that "special tool" just a vacuum pump, which I happen to already have?

Thanks in advance to those who, a) know way more about this than me, and b) are willing to have mercy on my ignorant butt. :bows:

[Krytin]

I think the procedure you out-lined should work fine. If you fill the reservoir before starting the engine air should not be a problem. Two or three changes after brief run to mix/flush should do it!

[RF Overlord]

I've been using an old turkey baster to siphon fluid from the reservoir every few days, or when I think of it, and refilling with fresh. I figure after a few weeks of this, I'll have exchanged most of the fluid.

BTW, Ford specifies Mercon for the power steering...

[ctrcbob]

Don't forget, the Power Steering takes Dextron-III/Mercon, not Mercon-V like the transmission.

[jgc61sr2002]

I've been using an old turkey baster to siphon fluid from the reservoir every few days, or when I think of it, and refilling with fresh. I figure after a few weeks of this, I'll have exchanged most of the fluid.

BTW, Ford specifies Mercon for the power steering...



That works. :) :up:

[valleyman]

Bueno thank you, all. I did notice in the manual that it calls for Mercon ATF instead of Mercon V.