Power steering fluid level check

[RC]

Kind of embarrassed to ask this, but how does one check and add to the power steering fluid in B4's?

 

[ToddA1]

Reservoir by the battery. You've never checked, added or flushed your fluid since 2000?

-Todd

 

[Steve Addy]

I've never flushed PS fluid, is there a scheduled flush time? Never seen it.

Steve

 

[RC]

Reservoir by the battery. You've never checked, added or flushed your fluid since 2000?

-Todd

Thanks. Guy who serviced our cars retired, so I'm catching up on the maintenance stuff. How does one perform the drainage?

 

[Abacus]

Jack the front of the car up so the wheels are off the ground.

Remove the upper clamp for the PS reservoir and tilt it up out of the way. You may need to remove the battery for more clearance.

Remove the return hose going to the reservoir and plug it with a cork or stopper. Let this hose hang down into a 5 gallon bucket.

Fill the reservoir with new fluid (the old would have drained out when you removed the inlet hose).

Remove the PS belt.

Rotate the PS pump by hand* to get new fluid through the pump. You'll know when you see it going into the bucket.

(* if you start the car and try to do this you'll shower everything with PS fluid. The pump moves a LOT of fluid and the reservoir may run dry).

Actuate the steering wheel back and forth to purge the rack. If you can, rotate the pump while doing this.

Once new fluid is seen, reconnect everything and top off at the proper level.

 

[RC]

^ Thanks Abacus.

 

[Steve Addy]

It'll take a quart to refill the system and there's a specific VW / Audi PS fluid.

Steve

 

[compu_85]

Note you can get the proper fluid really cheaply from Fibi these days. Even carquest has it for like $16 a bottle.

-J

 

[RayBrubaker]

I need to do this too in two cars. How much fluid is needed per car?

Thanks,

Ray

 

[Steve Addy]

Note you can get the proper fluid really cheaply from Fibi these days. Even carquest has it for like $16 a bottle.

-J

That's nice to know, thanks

I need to do this too in two cars. How much fluid is needed per car?

Thanks,

Ray

Ray, my B3V took a whole quart when it was refilled after engine / trans conversion.

Steve

 

[compu_85]

If you're flushing the system out I'd get 2 quarts. If nothing else you'll have some on hand.

-J

 

[Steve Addy]

If you're flushing the system out I'd get 2 quarts. If nothing else you'll have some on hand.

-J

If that's a quart per car then yes, if that's two quarts per car that's excessive. The capacity for the system is listed in Bentley as being .74-.95 US quarts.

I think replacing the fluid is a good idea, but since I had never read that there was a replacement schedule for this I checked and there isn't one.

My personal preference in situations like this where the manufacturer says to just check the level, is to replace every 100k miles, otherwise I'm just spending money on something unnecessarily.

Steve

 

[ToddA1]

I think replacing the fluid is a good idea, but since I had never read that there was a replacement schedule for this I checked and there isn't one.

Is that like VW's lifetime auto transmission fluid? I wonder if there was actually a service schedule, if VW's automatic transmissions wouldn't have such a bad reputation.

-Todd

 

[Abacus]

I have always used more than 1 quart to flush the system.

I buy mine from Amazon, $61.70 for 5 liters with free shipping on CHF-11S.

 

[RayBrubaker]

Thanks for the help. CHF202 is available through OReilly Auto parts.

 

[RayBrubaker]

NAPA has CHF202 in many stores, if reserved on line it is currently $15.93 in my area.

 

[Realityman]

Quick question: when checking the steering fluid level do you unscrew the top, wipe off the stick and then screw it all the way back in or just place the dipstick in without screwing it in? I ask because on most motorcycles you do not screw the dipstick back in.

 

[BamaB4S]

The level should be checked after screwing the cap back on.

 

[Abacus]

Either way you check the level won’t make a difference since it’s a reservoir. The fluid moves through there at a fast rate so a little more won’t hurt. I never screwed the top back on and just dipped it, never an issue.