Don't neglect your Power Steering...
 

Hi,

When was the last time you checked your Power Steering Fluid? Did you smell it? Did it smell burnt? Did you look at it? Was it a clear Amber or dark and cloudy?

Power Steering Fluid, just like Motor Oil and Transmission Lube, breaks down over time. It also accumulates Dirt, Moisture and even some metal as the Steering Rack wears.

Changing this fluid occasionally, every 3-4 years ensures that your Power Steering Rack and Pump performs well over a long life.

The proper way to change this fluid is to raise the Car (properly supported for Safety), disconnect the Return Line going into the Steering Rack (it's the line on the Driver side), connecting a source of Fresh Fluid to the Line and a waste hose from the Rack into a Bucket or Catch Pan and running the Car, while turning the Steering Wheel back/forth until the fluid coming from the Rack is fresh and clear. This procedure is a 2-person job and can be very messy.

But, another method can be used which is almost as effective, but doesn't require you to raise the Car, or engage another person. To do this, you get a Turkey Baster (be sure it's cleaned and not going to be returned to Food Duty), a Catch Pan (old Windshield Washer bottles work great), and a litre of Pentosin CHF 11S.

Open the Engine to the Service Position (engine OFF), and clean the Cap and all around the Power Steering Resrvoir to insure not contaminating the Fluid when you open the Cap. Open the Cap and using the Turkey Baster, remove as much fluid from the reservoir as you can and dump it in the Catch container. Take special care not to spill any of the Fluid on any Paint or Coolant Lines as Pentosin will dissolve Paint and attack the Rubber Hose (it's best to place some towels around the area to be sure you don't mess up).

Now, refill the reservoir with some of the Fresh Pentosin CHF 11S. Repeat this procedure through the coming days (after driving the Car) until you've added the entire can of Pentosin - you'll be repeatedly diluting the old fluid and replacing it with fresh. By the end of the Can, the Fluid should be clear and most of the old stuff will have been extracted.

This Pentosin CHF 11S (not the CHF 7.1) is spec'd specifically for these cars and while there are other PS Fluids out there claiming to be compatible with Pentosin CHF 11S, it doesn't assure that it's compatible with the Seals in the system, so I recommend using only the Pentosin CHF 11S. It can be spendy with prices all over the Map. I've seen it as high as $39/litre, but the cheapest place to get it is: http://www.germanautoparts.com/chemicals/Steering%20and%20hydraulic%20fluids/Pentosin#2 $15.16 + S/H.

If you perform this simple maintenance task once every 3-4 years, you'll insure that your power steeing systems perfroms optimally over a long life. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I think ill let a non-porsche dealership mechanic do it for me. Question for you Jim regarding the Turkey Baster method... by sucking dry the reseviour and refilling over and over with the new stuff over the course of somedays until the new stuff is all in the system.... wouldnt that just give you a 50/50 ratio of old fuild and new fuild in the system since its mixing and the next time you suck some fuild out, you would be sucking a mix of new and old fuild?

Hey thanks Jim. I was trying to find a place other than the dealer to buy some Pentosin fluid. This'll be my spring project.

Great post, Jim. Thanks.

Hi,

Actually, you do end up with a little more than a 60/40 mix, new to old fluid and this will remove enough of the contaminates and add enough fresh fluid to rejuvenate the system.

A full Flush & Fill is gonna use twice as much Fluid (even though the system capacity is 1L, the Shop is gonna use more (at least open that 2nd Litre, meaning you bought it) and charge you closer to the $39/L (or more) than the $15/L) and in total, you're gonna be looking at $250-$350. As I said, this method is better, but probably not a potential $335 better...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

good deal, thanks Jim

Jim, what a great public service announcement! :)

This maintenance item just got added to the list before the big TOD trip in a month or so.

I once used the Turkey Baster method on a W124 Mercedes-Benz that I owned. It is the only car that I've had with a replaceable filter in the bottom of the PS reservoir.

ddb

Hi,

Actually, the filter is integral to the Reservoir Body (PN# 986.314.225.01). So if you're a Fanatic, or intend on keeping the car longterm, it's probably a good idea to replace the Reservoir every 5 yrs. or so. It's only about $25-$30. You'll also need to replace the 2 'O' Rings (PN#s 999.707.363.40, 999.707.364.40) - a couple bucks @, as it's a compression fit using these 'O' rings...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

damn Jim... You sure know alot, glad your on this forum.