P.Steering Fluid

 

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January 20, 2003

Note: this procedure is for a 1998 Ford F-150 with 4.6L V-8 and 4R70W automatic tranny.

Tools Required

  • drain pan
  • 3 small bungee cords or string
  • good sized set of pliers
  • turkey baster with extension hose or a suction pump

Parts Required

  • 1 L or quart of Mercon ATF (I used Mobil1 synthetic ATF)

Procedure

  1. turn the steering wheel to the left so you have access to the oil filter area in front of the driver's side wheel.
  2. open the power steering reservoir and suck out the old fluid with the turkey baster & extension hose or with a suction pump into a suitable container.
  3. the reservoir has 3/4 inch area at the bottom where there is a wire filter screen. You can't remove the fluid below this screen.
  4. remove the 3 bolts (8mm) that hold the reservoir to the bracket.
  5. tilt the reservoir (with the cap on) to the rear towards the firewall with both hoses horizontal.
  6. remove each hose clamp (2 hoses) and pull off the hoses. Keep the reservoir horizontal as you remove it.
  7. drain the remaining oil in the reservoir into a suitable container.
  8. place an oil drain pan under the vehicle in the front wheel well area.
  9. pull each hose down into the wheel well area quickly (so not to spill any fluid all over the place) and let them drain. Use a small bungee cord or string on each hose to hold them facing down into the wheel well area above your drain pan.
  10. find a small empty container such as an old oil bottle and tie the smaller diameter hose into that (when you start the motor it may spray out) or into an empty 4L washer fluid bottle that's held up with a 3rd bungee cord.
  11. start the motor and let it run for a few seconds, you can try to move the steering wheel a little from side to side. When the pump gets a little noisy turn the motor off. This will drain most of the oil out of the system.
  12. Now you can replace the two hoses and hose clamps, and fasten the reservoir to the bracket.
  13. Fill it to the top with new ATF (past the fill marks). leaving the cap off.
  14. Start the motor, and fill the reservoir again to the "fill" line. The pump may be noisy for a few minutes.
  15. Wait till it quiets down a bit.
  16. To bleed the system move the steering wheel from left to right (not as far as the stops) repeatedly.
  17. Let it idle with the wheels straight for a minute. Check the level again. On my vehicle using the above method it used approximately 700ml or 3/4 quart of fluid.

That's it.

Some people prefer just to suck out the ATF in the reservoir, replace it, run the vehicle for a day and replace the reservoir oil again. It's easier but you will have some old fluid still in the system. Whatever works for you.

Copyright 2001-2003  Peter Ferlow