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Anyone know how to do a powersteering drain and change? When i got this car 2 months ago and had the oil changed, we noticed the fluid is sooty and black.


1995 Mercury Mystique GS 2.5L V6 Mods include duct tape holding up various parts, super glue holding together others, and trunk aquarium mod( with all the water in there goldfish came naturally)
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syphon out as much as you can, refill, repeat untill red. F-type fluid for '95. "they all do that" so it will be black again.

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Just finished a drain-and-change outside. The one-person operation is basically as Alex said:

1. Suck the fluid out of the reservoir,
2. Pour back fresh ATF F-type fluid,
3. Start the car and turn the steering wheel from one end to the other,
4. Go back to Step 1.

I use a MityVac vacuum kit to suck the fluid out, but according to other posts, a turkey baster works as well.

The entire steering system holds 2.5 pints of fluid. Theoretically, a one-volume exchange will get out 63.2% of the old fluid; a 1.5-volume will get out 77.7%; a 2-volume will get out 88.5%, and a 2.5-volume will get out 91.8%. The law of diminishing returns obviously applies. I just finished doing a two-volume exchange. Given that the fluid will get dirty again, I figured that's good enough for now.

Check the archives for a two-person procedure which involves disconnecting a hose and running the engine & pump to actively flush fluid through; one person sits behind the wheel ready to the turn the engine off while the other pours fluid into the reservoir to keep up with the fluid being pumped out. HTH,

Po


Po 1995 Mercury Mystique GS: Zetec 2.0L I-4, CD4E 1978 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau: 351M (5.8L V-8), FMX Coming in 2007 -- 1986 Jaguar XJ12 Sovereign: 5.3L High-Efficiency V-12, GM transmission
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Here is a How-To I created while doing it.

Getting a ounce of two out using a tool from the kitchen does NOTHING but wreck new fluid.



Tools you need

- needle nose pliers/vice grip
- drain pan
- 5/8 hose clamp, screw type works best
- 3 quarts of Automatic Transmission Fluid type "F" for the 95s-96s, not sure on other years, maybe Mercon
- duct tape
- funnel
- trash bag
- friend to help you
- towels
- Phillips screwdriver
Okay the first thing you need to do is set the drainpan under the car, you should set it about where the reservoir is, then put the trash bag on the side of the car to prevent fluid from getting on your car. Secondly you need to remove the power steering reservoir cap. Using the vise grip pliers brake away the clamp that is attached to the power steering hose that runs parallel to the firewall, just go ahead and get the clamp off anyway possible. When you get the clamp off, you need to take the needle nose pliers, and force off the hose. When it comes off cover the white end from the reservoir where it came off with the duct tape.

Now set the funnel in the reservoir. Have your friend start the car but tell him not to turn the wheel. After 30 seconds of having fluid flow out have them shut it off. Okay get the fluid ready, have them start the car and turn the wheel gently, as they are doing this old fluid will be coming out of the hose so you need to pour new fluid in fast. If at any time you hear a groaning sound have them shut the car immediately, you wernt pouring fluid fast enough, if they continue to turn the wheel while it groans you will be replacing power steering components! With the car off fill to the max line, then have them restart. You need it so they can turn the wheel to the left and right all the way without having any groaning sound. When they can do that, reconnect the hose, but first slide the clamp on it. Get the hose over the white thing completely so it touches the reservoir, now tighten the clamp tight, get it pretty tight to as you dont want it to come loosen. Fill the reservoir a bit above the Max, as it might drop a bit, mine did.
Keep an eye on the fluid for day or two.

Now if you got fluid on the firewall and on the drivebelt and such you can rinse it off carefully, cover the alternator with a plastic bag because that thing shouldnt get wet, with the hose on gently spray spots where the fluid is. I used a wet rag and just scrubbed it off the firewall and off the power steering reservoir as you have to be careful not to let the power steering fluid get water mixed in because it will contaminate it.

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Thats the way I flushed mine. You will have to pour really fast though. It took the fluid a lot faster than I thought it would.


-Ken V. 1998.5 SE Praire Tan Zetec ATX psycho_bass@hotmail.com Roush springs Roush rear sway bar BAT struts 17" Millie Miglia HT3 and a ton of subtle asthetic mods

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