Today, many modern models are equipped with power steering. For its full and uninterrupted operation, circulation in the system of a special liquid is necessary. There are different types of power steering oils, and inexperienced drivers often find it difficult to choose a quality fluid that is best for their vehicle.
The choice of oil for power steering
When choosing oil for power steering, the car owner, first of all, needs to refer to the manufacturer's instructions, which should indicate the type of power steering fluid. Also, the recommended type of substance is usually indicated on the reservoir cap of the power steering system. It will not be superfluous to consult at the dealership of the brand of the car. A car owner who has accurate information about the recommended hydraulic fluid will avoid problems with the hydraulic booster and breakdowns of individual parts.
Before changing the oil in the hydraulic booster, you should understand the classification of fluids intended for this. Typically, power steering oils are classified according to several main characteristics:
- color;
- Chemical properties;
- mechanical properties;
— hydraulic properties.
Most often, car owners distinguish power steering fluids by their color. On this basis, oils for power steering are divided into 3 groups - red, yellow and green.
Red fluid for power steering is usually intended for automatic transmissions, yellow is universal, which can be used both in automatic transmissions and in a manual box. Green oil is only for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The characteristics of oils of the same color almost do not differ from each other, therefore, when buying power steering fluid, first of all, you need to look at the color of the oil in the power steering system reservoir.
It is generally accepted that you can mix oils depending on their color, that is, red can be mixed with yellow, but none of them can be mixed with a green substance. In fact, oils differ greatly from each other in viscosity, types of additives and types of base, so before mixing liquids, you should carefully study their composition and properties. Red oils with a mineral and synthetic base cannot be mixed.
Another indicator that matters when choosing a power steering oil is the type of base. According to this indicator, power steering fluids can be divided into 2 main groups - mineral and synthetic oils.
The design of the hydraulic booster includes many rubber parts that have low resistance to synthetic fluids, therefore, in most cars, the instructions provide for the use of mineral oils. Mineral oil does not corrode metal parts and prevents rubber parts from drying out.
Synthetic power steering fluids are more chemically aggressive. They can cause accelerated wear of rubber parts and cause them to crack. Therefore, when choosing a power steering fluid, you should buy mineral oil. Synthetic oils are used only if the manufacturer's instructions specifically indicate that this type of fluid is required for the mechanism. Typically, synthetic oil is used in technical vehicles.
When buying power steering oil, you should also pay attention to whether the product has a quality certificate. The presence of a quality certificate will protect the car owner from purchasing a dangerous product, the vapors of which can be harmful and cause damage to the health of the driver and passengers of the car.
Another sign of a quality product is the ability of the liquid to withstand high temperatures during the operation of mechanisms. Low-quality oil can coagulate in the power steering system at a certain heat or change its original consistency. Such manifestations reduce the controllability of the vehicle and can provoke an emergency situation when the car is moving.
If you need to change the oil in the power steering, it is better to choose products from well-known manufacturers. Quality red fluids are manufactured by General Motors or other manufacturers under license. If the owner of the car needs to buy yellow oil, you should look for products from the Daimler concern or other manufacturers that produce oil for power steering under the Daimler license. High-quality green oils are produced by the German concern Pentosin.
How often to change the oil in the power steering?
Some car owners are of the opinion that the oil in the power steering can not be changed at all. In reality, things are a little different. Of course, the oil in the power steering system is rarely topped up or replaced, but experts recommend that it be changed regularly when the car runs from 60,000 to 150,000 km, depending on the car model, and topped up as the level evaporates and decreases. Typically, the procedure for updating the oil in the hydraulic booster should be carried out with a regularity of 1 time in 1-2 years.
Sometimes a fluid change in the power steering is required even earlier, with the appearance of such characteristic specific signs as dirt and turbidity in the oil, as well as the smell of burning.
Is it difficult to change the power steering oil?
It is not difficult to independently replace the fluid in the power steering system, it is carried out in 5 simple steps. You should first stock up on the necessary amount for replacement, a jack, a medical syringe with a tube and a clean rag.
1. At the first stage, with the help of a jack, he rises in front of the car in order to hang the front wheels. This is necessary for free rotation of the steering wheel when the engine is not running.
2. The next step is to unscrew the lid of the power steering reservoir, followed by pumping out the used oil using a medical syringe with a tube. For this purpose, it will be convenient to take a larger syringe, with a volume of 20 cubes. The remaining fluid is drained from the tank by alternately disconnecting the main and return hoses while turning the steering wheel to bleed the system.
3. After installing the hoses in place, prepared is poured into the tank. In this case, you should monitor the level of the liquid being filled in, it would be optimal to stop filling when the oil reaches a level between the Min and Max icons.
4. The next stage is the rotation of the steering wheel in order to pump the power steering system and distribute the filled liquid over it. During the process, the oil level may drop, in which case it will be necessary to top up the required amount. These manipulations should be carried out until the oil reaches a stable optimal level.
5. Remove the car from the jacks and make a test drive, followed by measuring the fluid level in the tank. If it remains at the same level, close the reservoir lid and consider the oil change process completed. If the oil level during heating exceeded the maximum mark, you need to pour a little to protect the mechanism from splashing hot oil. Contact with liquid on nearby parts and assemblies can lead to breakdowns and costly car repairs.
If the owner of the vehicle is not sure that he will be able to correctly perform all the stages of changing the oil in the hydraulic booster, he can always drive his car to a service station and entrust the care of it to professionals.
Drivers often assume that power steering fluid does not need to be replaced, which is a very serious mistake. Yes, if it is not assumed that the car "passes" more than 100 thousand kilometers, then you can not worry about such a component. But if the car is purchased “for years” and there is no desire to run into problems in the operation of the hydraulic booster, you will need to pay attention to replacing the fluid in it.
Table of contents:Power steering: what it consists of
In new cars, power steering is gradually losing competition to more modern electric power steering. Nevertheless, it continues to be installed, including in many fairly modern models of machines, so it is important to know the rules for operating the power steering and its main components.
The main components of the power steering: pump, distributor, tank, hoses, drive belt and hydraulic cylinder. The tank contains liquid, which can also be considered one of the main components of the system.
Please note: Recently, it is less and less common to find designs when the drive belt is a separate component of the power steering system. More and more often, the power steering pump is activated by one of the service belts of outboard equipment.
What happens if you do not change the power steering fluid
Power steering fluid can easily pass without replacement of 100 thousand kilometers or more. In fact, its replacement is needed to reduce the load on the pump in the structure and avoid the need for premature replacement.
Important: Indicates the wear of the power steering pump hum during its operation.
Power Steering Fluid Replacement
Before you start replacing the power steering fluid, you need to purchase it. There is a wide range of such liquids in various price ranges. You should not save money when buying power steering fluid and it is better to give preference to trusted manufacturers, otherwise a cheap consumable component can lead not only to overheating of the system and failure of its components, but also to harm to passengers due to harmful fumes during operation.
The process of replacing the power steering fluid is quite simple and does not require contacting a service center. You can do the work yourself, adhering to the following plan:
- The first step is to remove the power steering reservoir cap;
- There is a filter under it - take it out. The easiest way to do this is to stick two fingers into the neck, and then turn it as if unscrewing it along the thread (in fact, the filter has no thread). Next, take out the filter;
Please note: Pulling out the filter, it becomes clear that the power steering requires a fluid change from time to time. You will see that the entire filter is covered with plaque, dirt and sediment. - After you got the filter, take care of it. Clean it, for this you can use a special cleaning spray;
- Next, we leave the filter to dry and proceed to the process of removing the filled liquid from the power steering reservoir. To remove liquid from the tank, you can use improvised tools - a large syringe or hose (remembering the methods by which gasoline was previously drained from cars);
Please note: It is not recommended to drain the fluid from the tank through the hoses, as there is a risk that it will get on the box and other components of the car, after which it can get into the crankcase; - Draining the fluid from the tank does not mean at all that it is completely removed from the system. We turn to pouring out the liquid from the pumps and hoses, where it "settled down". In order to get rid of the liquid, remove the hoses;
- First of all, we recommend removing the thicker hose, and then move on to the one that comes from the radiator. To remove the hose, you will need to remove the clamp. Having done this, it is necessary to move the hose, which can be quite difficult. If it is seriously stuck, use pliers to turn the hose on the tank fitting;
Important: Before removing the hose, be sure to place a container under the attachment points so that the remaining liquid gets into them. - Next, proceed to the removal of the second hose;
- We close the tank with a lid, after that we insert the hoses into empty containers and start the car engine, then turn the steering wheel left and right. This must be done to drain the remaining power steering fluid.
Please note: By itself, this procedure can harm the car, so it is not recommended to perform it for a long time. Literally a minute is enough to drive out the remaining liquid, after which turn off the engine. - When all the fluid is removed from the power steering reservoir, the correct solution is to clean this reservoir. To do this, use a regular car cleaner, then blow out the barrel with compressed air.
Please note: On some cars, there is not much point in washing the tank. It is much easier to install a new tank if its cost is at an acceptable level. - Next, put the hoses in place and insert the filter (note that there is a groove on the filter - it is needed to correctly install the part). After inserting the filter, rotate it;
Important: If there are traces of smudges on the hoses, it makes sense to replace them. - Now we go directly to the bay of the power steering fluid. Fill it just above the maximum mark and close the reservoir lid. After that, we start the engine and turn the steering wheel left and right until it stops - this is necessary so that the liquid is distributed throughout the system. Next, we turn off the engine and again look at the tank. We see that almost all of the liquid has gone into the system. Re-fill it into the tank, then start the engine again and turn the steering wheel. We turn off the engine again, open the tank and fill it with liquid to the “Maximum” mark. For the third time, the liquid will not go anywhere, you can close the tank and the hood - the work is completed.
It is worth noting that the correct service method for replacing power steering fluid was discussed above, but there are alternative methods. For example, there will be much less fuss if you act by the method of displacement. To do this, it is enough to disconnect the power steering hose, direct it into a container and fill in fresh fluid until it displaces all the old accumulated fluid. This method is uneconomical, and service centers prefer not to use it.
Classification, interchangeability, miscibility.
Among the people, oils for the power steering system are distinguished by color. However, the real differences are not in color, but in the composition of oils, their viscosity, type of base, additives. Oils of the same color can be completely different and not even mix. To say that if red oil is poured in, then another red oil can be added is completely wrong. Therefore, use the table at the end of the page.
The three colors of oil are as follows:
1) Red. Dexron family (mineral and synthetic red oils must not be mixed!). There are several types of Dexrons, but they all belong to the ATF class, i.e. class of oils for automatic transmissions (and sometimes power steering)
2) Yellow. The family of yellow power steering oils is most often used in Mercedes.
3) Green. Green oils for power steering (mineral and synthetic green oils cannot be mixed!) are loved by the VAG concern, as well as Peugeot, Citroen and some others. Not suitable for automatic transmissions.
Mineral or synthetic?
Long-standing disputes about which is better - synthetics or mineral water for the power steering system are not appropriate.
The fact is that in the power steering, as nowhere else, there are a lot of rubber parts. Synthetic oils have a worse effect on the resource of rubber parts based on natural rubbers (almost all types of rubbers), due to their chemical aggressiveness. In order to fill synthetic oils into the power steering system, its rubber parts must be designed for synthetic oils and have a special composition.
Attention: rare cars use synthetic oils for power steering! But synthetic oils are often used in automatic transmissions. Pour only mineral water into the power steering system, unless synthetic oil is specifically indicated in the instructions!
In order not to harm the power steering system, you must follow the rules: 1) Yellow and red mineral oils can be mixed; 2) Green oils should not be mixed with either yellow or red oils. 3) Mineral and synthetic oils must not be mixed.
How do automatic transmission oils differ from power steering oils, and why can they be used in power steering?
The table below shows the functions of hydraulic fluids (oils) for power steering (PSF) and automatic transmissions (ATF):
| Oils for power steering (PSF): | Automatic transmission oils (ATF): | |
|
Functions of hydraulic fluid |
1) the liquid acts as a working fluid that transfers pressure from the pump to the piston |
1) the same functions as power steering fluids |
|
1) friction reducing additives (metal-metal, metal-rubber, metal-fluoroplastic) |
1) the same additives as for power steering oils |
The Dexron family was originally developed for use as hydraulic oils in automatic transmissions (automatic transmissions). Therefore, sometimes these oils are called transmission oils, which causes confusion, since transmission oils used to mean thick oils of the GL-5, GL-4, TAD-17, TAP-15 brands for gearboxes and rear axles with hypoid gears. Hydraulic oils are much thinner than gear oils. It is better to call them ATPs. ATF stands for Automatic Transmission Fluid (literally - Fluid for automatic transmissions - that is, automatic transmissions)
As can be seen from the table above, oils for power steering and oils for automatic transmissions differ only in the presence in the latter of additional additives intended for automatic transmission clutches. But there are no friction clutches in the power steering system. Therefore, from the presence of these additives, no one is hot or cold. This made it possible to calmly fill automatic transmission oils into the power steering system. The Japanese, for example, have long poured the same oils into the power steering as in the automatic transmission.
In fact, if you pour a suitable, high-quality, but non-original oil into the power steering, this will in no way affect its resource and performance. For example, the same ZF pumps run on different vehicles with different manufacturer-approved oils and perform equally well. So yellow oils (Mercedes) and green oils (VAG) are equally good for power steering. The difference is only "in the color of the ink."
At the same time, practice has shown that they cannot be mixed. In some cases, when mixing green and yellow power steering oils, foam appears. Therefore, before using a liquid of a different color, you just need to flush the system!
When mixing mineral Dexrons and yellow power steering oils, no side effects occur. Their additives do not conflict with each other, but simply acquire their concentration in the new mixture and continue to fulfill their role.
To clarify the miscibility of different power steering fluids, we provide the table below. However, the data in it relate only to the use of oils in power steering, but not in automatic transmissions!
First group. This group contains "conditionally mixed" oils. If there is an equal sign between them: then this is the same oil only from different manufacturers - they can be mixed in any way. And manufacturers do not intend to mix oils from neighboring lines. Nevertheless, in practice, nothing terrible happens if two oils from adjacent lines are mixed. This will not worsen the operation of the hydraulic booster and will not reduce the resource.
|
Second group. This group includes oils that can only be mixed. They cannot be mixed with any other oils from the tables above and below. However, they can be used instead of other oils, provided that the system is completely flushed from the old oil.
Third group. These oils can only be used in power steering if a specific type of oil is indicated in the instructions for this car. These oils can only be mixed with each other. They cannot be mixed with other oils. Just as it is impossible to fill them into the power steering system if this type of oil is not indicated in the instructions. When in doubt, stop using these oils.
Many modern cars use power steering (GUR). Thanks to this device, the driver can force the vehicle to make a turn with little effort. As a working medium in the power steering, hydraulic fluid is used - a special oil that circulates in the system. Its level must be constantly monitored, otherwise you may encounter serious problems.
If the fluid level in the power steering has dropped noticeably, it can simply overheat and boil. The effort required to turn the steering wheel will increase several times. Power steering problems caused by a lack of hydraulic fluid lead to poor vehicle control. In the worst case, they can even cause an accident.
How often should the hydraulic fluid be changed?
Usually, car manufacturers do not indicate the exact frequency of replacing fluid intended for power steering. However, it is desirable that the tank is always filled to a normal level. We advise you to pay attention to the following recommendations:
- during normal operation of the car (mileage - up to 10,000 km / year), the power steering fluid should be changed every 2 years,
- with intensive use of the vehicle, replacement should be done once a year or after every 30,000 km of run.
Sometimes you can hear the opinion that power steering fluid can serve almost throughout the entire life of the vehicle. But in reality this is not the case. The fact is that during the operation of the power steering, its components are naturally subject to wear. As a result, metal dust and dirt can get into the oil. Therefore, a replacement is indispensable.
Where can I get information on the right power steering fluid?
Which power steering fluid is right for you? This question can be answered in several ways:
- usually the type of oil for power steering is indicated in the technical documents for the car,
- also the information you are interested in is usually indicated on the cap of the oil tank,
- you can contact the dealership and ask the specialists working there.
You can do otherwise. In this article you will find useful tips to help you decide on the choice of fluids for the power steering used in your car.
Oil for power steering and its main characteristics
The fluid that is used in the power steering system has several important characteristics that must be considered when choosing. This:
- base type,
- color,
- performance properties.
According to the type of basis, all products belonging to this category can be divided into three groups:
- mineral,
- semi-synthetic,
- synthetic.
Mineral oils are characterized by a relatively low cost, they ensure the complete safety of rubber parts that are widely used in the power steering system. However, such liquids have a rather high viscosity and are prone to foaming. However, in many cars it is recommended to use them.
Synthetic fluids for power steering have good lubricating and anti-corrosion properties, and their advantage is low foaming. However, such a fluid is more often used in automatic transmissions. Semi-synthetics also have good performance properties.
The composition of the fluid intended for power steering includes various additives. They reduce viscosity, reduce foaming, slow down or inhibit corrosion, and improve lubricity. Also, power steering fluid, supplemented with special additives, effectively resists oxidation.
It must be borne in mind that different oils for power steering should not be mixed. When mixing incompatible liquids, the additives that are included in their composition can enter into a chemical reaction. This will lead to unpredictable consequences and will most likely cause the properties of the oil to deteriorate significantly. Therefore, when changing the oil, the tank should be well and only after that fill in the new liquid.
An important characteristic of oil for power steering is viscosity. Modern vehicles tend to use less viscous, more fluid products, which in turn are not well suited to older vehicles.
High-quality power steering fluid resists high temperatures well, does not curl, does not change consistency. As an example of oils that are not afraid of heating and ensure the smooth operation of the power steering system even in the most difficult conditions, we can cite the products of the German company Liqui Moly. It produces both mineral and synthetic fluids of high quality. At the same time, Liqui Moly fundamentally does not produce products with standard parameters. The company's catalog contains fluids with improved characteristics, for example, anti-wear and low temperature. A wide range makes it easy to find an option for your car. Liqui Moly products make it possible to increase the performance of the hydraulic system, and at the same time extend its life.
As you can see, choosing a power steering fluid is not as difficult a task as it might seem. Use our advice and do not forget to replace it in a timely manner so that the hydraulic power steering system works smoothly and does not let you down at crucial moments.
: choosing the right ”we talked in detail about the composition and function of hydraulic fluids for power steering. This material contains details on how long the working fluid lasts and how to replace it correctly.
When to change the oil in the power steering
Some car dealers claim that the hydraulic fluid poured into the power steering from the factory cannot be replaced throughout the life of the car (this mainly applies to the so-called "green" oils). This statement is wrong. Hydraulic fluid is a consumable material for which such concepts as aging during operation are inherent. You need to understand that there are recommended (planned) by the car manufacturer for the replacement of fluid in the power steering (noted in the instruction manual), and there are special replacement periods - early and emergency.
The hydraulic fluid in the power steering is changed ahead of schedule due to the failure of the elements of the steering mechanism (racks, gears, rods). In order for the newly installed steering elements to work smoothly, it is recommended to replace the fluid in the power steering - especially if it has been in operation without replacement for several years.
Emergency replacement of hydraulic fluid in the power steering is carried out in case of depressurization of the hydraulic booster system or failure of its components and mechanisms (hydraulic cylinder, control spool, pump, hoses).
It is necessary periodically, once every six months, to check the level and condition of the hydraulic fluid in the expansion tank.
If the level has dropped (and it should be in the tank between the Min and Max marks), then the system may have been depressurized and the oil is leaving. Then it is necessary to check the condition of all components of the hydraulic booster system, identify the breakdown and fix it. If this is not done in time, the consequences can be sad: increased wear of the working parts of the pump (as a result, failure of the steering mechanism housing in the area of the compression rings), reduced mobility of the pump pressure reducing valve due to insufficient heat removal from the pump components, increased wear of the teeth of the steering rack and gearbox shafts.
We simply check the condition of the working fluid in the power steering: open the expansion tank, use a dipstick to take a certain amount of oil and apply it to a clean sheet of paper. If the liquid is transparent, has a stable color - everything is in order with it. If cloudy, with visible impurities, such oil must be replaced. The appearance of sediment in the hydraulic fluid indicates that its additives no longer cope with their functions due to decomposition during operation. If such a liquid is not replaced, then the oil in the power steering may foam, oxidize, lose its lubricating and anti-corrosion properties, which will lead to a breakdown of the system.
Power Steering Fluid Change: Five Easy Steps
To replace the working fluid in the hydraulic booster, we need: a jack, a medical syringe, a clean rag, a canister of power steering oil. On average, no more than 1 liter of liquid is taken for replacement. The recommended amount can be found in the vehicle owner's manual.
Step 1. We put the car on a lift. If not, then we use two jacks to hang the front wheels.
Step 2 We open the cap of the power steering expansion tank, using a medical syringe we pump out the waste liquid.
The liquid remaining in the tank can be drained by removing the hoses in series (the main one leading to the pump and the return one coming from it) and lowering them into a prepared container (a 1.5 liter plastic bottle will do). First, remove the main hose (usually located below), turn the steering wheel to bleed the system.
The engine does not turn on! When the liquid has stopped dripping, install the main hose in place, remove the return hose and perform the same actions with it.
Step 3 Pour fresh hydraulic fluid into the power steering expansion tank, monitoring its level. The optimal level is between the Min and Max marks. Note that some expansion tanks have four labels: Min Cold and Min Hot, Max Cold and Max Hot. Cold is the level of “cold” liquid, Hot is “hot”, that is, when the car is in operation.
Step 4 Turn the steering wheel left and right to pump fluid through the power steering system. Again we note the oil level according to the marks - if it has become less, add it and so on until we set the optimal level. We twist the cap of the expansion tank.
Step 5 We lower the car from the lift, remove the jacks. We start the engine, drive several kilometers and again measure the fluid level in the power steering reservoir. If it is in the middle of the Min Hot and Max Hot marks, then you no longer need to add oil. If the liquid exceeds the Max Hot level, then a certain amount of liquid must be drained, since during operation (when heated), it can splash out of the tank and flood nearby engine components, which will lead to engine failure.
As you can see, there is no particular difficulty in the process of replacing the working fluid in the power steering. However, it is important to remember that changing the oil in the power steering must be done carefully, using clean improvised means, since the ingress of dirt into the fluid can lead to a deterioration in its performance. For those who are not confident in their own abilities, we advise you to change the fluid in the power steering at the service station - there this operation is carried out on a special stand, which guarantees a high-quality oil change.
