Power Steering Fluid

Dana Norris · 06-21-2007, 01:44 PM

I was just starting to remove the Power Steering Reservoir Hose as it leaks, and appears to be a piece of heater hose Red in color.
I went to Clarks to review the procedure, Clarks states that Dextron II ATF is the proper Fluid to use. The Fluid in my reservoir is very dark in color not remotely like Dextron II which is red in color. Could the bone head PO have used standard Power Steering Fluid in the system, and if so what damage could this have done to the Power Steering System? Does Dextron II darken with age/use, what does your PS Fluid look like and how long has it been in the car?

1986 944 NA Black with Burgundy Leather

Icey1174 · 06-21-2007, 01:53 PM

The PO could have used PS fluid. Mine had PS fluid in it too. I am not sure what kind of damage it could do. I spent a couple hours and 7 qts of ATF Dextron III flushing the system out the best I could. I then drove it a couple days and flushed it again.

Mine is nice and clean now, so I don't know what "old" would look like. It has the red tint to it, but I can see right through to the bottom of the resivor it is so clean in there now. I have read other posts of people with the same problem. They flushed their system and everything seemed to be OK for them.

Were you having a problem with your steering at all?

Dana Norris · 06-21-2007, 02:07 PM

[Were you having a problem with your steering at all?]

No I was not having Problems other than the leaking hose. I just got a bit freaked out when I read that Dextron II was the proper PS Fluid. I did not want to have to replace the PS Rack or anything like that right now, thats all. Thanks for the quick reply Dana...

1986 944 NA Black with Burgundy Leather

Icey1174 · 06-21-2007, 02:09 PM

I have not heard of anyone with problems that found PS fluid in their system. I'm sure they use ATF for a reason. I would flush it out real good with new clean ATF. The resivor comes off real easy. It's only held on with a big hose clamp. I took mike off and cleaned it out real well and flushed the system many times.

Dana Norris · 06-21-2007, 02:21 PM

[I took mike off and cleaned it out real well and flushed the system many times.]

Where can I find the procedures for flushing the PS system? I have never done this before. This is not my first Porsche, nor my first 944 but none of my other P Cars had PS, and I try to do most all of my own maint.

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1986 944 NA Black with Burgundy Leather

1984 944 Garnet with Brown and Tan Interior
1969 912/911 2.4 CIS six conversion
1976 911S with 83SC 3.0 upgrade did it myself.

Icey1174 · 06-21-2007, 02:42 PM

When I flushed mine I drained the PS fluid. I actually took the hose off the pump that went from the pump to the rack. I had a hard time trying to get to the return line. I also think that there is a drain plug on the PS pump. I found a random screw in mine near the bottom. I am guessing it could have been some type of drain.

I drained everything from the pump, resivor, and whatever dripped out of the hose I disconnected. I put it back together and added new ATF Dextron III. I started the car to get the pump running. I had my car on jack stands so it made things easier for me. To bleed the air out of the system you need to trun the steering wheel from lock to lock several times. This will obviously get the new fluid in there too. I went to each lock 25 times (maybe over kill I don't know) and then I repeated the draining process, added more ATF and did it again. I kept doing this till I went through 5 qts of ATF.

After the 5th qt I took the resivor off and wiped it down the best I could. By this point there had been a lot of new ATF flowing through the system. I put it all back together again, added the new ATF and I have had no problems. I did this about a month ago. It is still very clean and clear. With a flashlight I can still see the bottom.

I ended up going through about 7 qts of ATF in total. Maybe over kill, but I feel like I did a good job flushing it out. I would have felt better if I could have gotten the return line off. You'll see bubbles in the resivor if there is still air in the system. You could keep going lock to lock till they look like they are pretty much gone. Normal driving will force the rest of the air out of the system.

There is a copper washer where the hose meets the pump. It's a "cruch washer." I would advise that you try to get a new washer if you are going to remove and replace that hose several times. I wish I would have gotten a new one. Maybe once a week I can reach under there and get a very small amount of ATF on my finger. Never enough to even leave a drip mark that I have found, but a new copper washer would have solved that problem. It is called a "Sealing ring" on the PET and it has a measurement of "D 14 x 18" and a part number of 900 123 042 20. There are two of them, one on each side of the "Banjo bolt."

Dana Norris · 06-21-2007, 03:25 PM

Icey1174:
Thanks I will repete your procedure as soon as I can get mass quanties of Dextron II or III and the crush washers and new reservoir hose from our host. Thanks again Dana.....

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1986 944 NA Black with Burgundy Leather

RIP SoCal Driver

Icey1174 · 06-21-2007, 03:33 PM

It'll take a week or so. I never seem to get anything quick from here. It sucks too because I always pay for the fastest shipping because I needed it yesterday and I don't like to wiat.

Dana Norris · 06-21-2007, 04:18 PM

[It'll take a week or so]

Well such is life when you are buying parts for a 20 some year old car.
I can wait, don`t like to but I can. Besides these cars are toys, half of the pleasure of ownership is getting it right all by your self, at least for me it is. I am not a kid anymore, instant gratification is not necessary.
DOB 11/14/50 life has many small pleasures, fixing my own car is one of these.

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1986 944 NA Black with Burgundy Leather

RIP SoCal Driver

Icey1174 · 06-21-2007, 05:01 PM

lol.. I am not a kid anymore either, but I still don't like to wait for things. Maybe it's that NY blood in me.

I too enjoy working on this car. This site and Clark's have been a huge help.

Eldorado · 06-21-2007, 09:07 PM

I did something similar, only instead of letting it drain out, I just sucked all the fluid out of the reservoir, refilled with ATF.... ran it, spun the wheel a few times, and drove it for a week.... then repeated the procedure... sucked out the old fluid, added new fluid, drove it...

did it 3 times and now my fluid is nice and red...

onZedge · 06-21-2007, 09:09 PM

I love the sense of accomplisment of working on my own cars. But at DOB 12/6/57, a four post electrohydrulic lift is looking more and more desireable. Hmm, maybe I can write it off as a medical expense!

Eldorado · 06-21-2007, 09:19 PM

LOL

tell them you need it to get to the second floor of your house, and it's cheaper than installing an elevator.