Changing power steering fluid

flman · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:23 pm

I was doing routine oil, filter, and fuel filter replacement and wanted to replace the power steering fluid, vs having the rack or pump fail down the road. Took off the skid and could not see much of a way to drain it, I probably should have done it while I had the fan and shroud out for timing belt change?

Any one find a sucessful way to change the power steering fluid?

Also noticed this steel line rubbing against the lower rad support pretty good on the passenger side, so I put a piece of 3/8 hose to prevent a rub through leak.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2015 5:54 pm

Yep, mine is also rubbing pretty hard at exactly that spot but it's also well corroded. The transmission fluid lines are also pretty badly corroded where they enter the cooler :roll:

.

thermorex · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:10 pm

The way I did it in mine was to just replace the canister fluid. Ran few miles then replaced it again. It's too much of a hassle to completely drain it and I do not know if the Crd was meant to have a drain plug. I do know the manual mentions that fluid color is not an indicator that it needs replacement. Best way to protect it is to insert a magnetic filter on the return hose. Filter mag are one of the best but it's a one use filter and not serviceable. I also need to find time to install the filter, which I already have (a Napa serviceable unit, it has a net with a magnet ring, let me know if you need a part # to look it up).

joelukex4 · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:54 pm **Posts:** 386

If you change fluid use Lucas synthetic power steering fluid. Pricey but best I found. It saved the rack on my 2003 Town & Country.

flman · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:27 am

thermorex wrote:

The way I did it in mine was to just replace the canister fluid. Ran few miles then replaced it again. It's too much of a hassle to completely drain it and I do not know if the Crd was meant to have a drain plug. I do know the manual mentions that fluid color is not an indicator that it needs replacement. Best way to protect it is to insert a magnetic filter on the return hose. Filter mag are one of the best but it's a one use filter and not serviceable. I also need to find time to install the filter, which I already have (a Napa serviceable unit, it has a net with a magnet ring, let me know if you need a part # to look it up).

Looking at this pic from the FSM, it seems that just suctioning some out of the resivoir with each oil change would be enough, I did not relize that the return went back towards the sump. I did suck some out and replaced it, but I thought it was futile and would only go down to the pump if needed.

thermorex · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:03 pm

flman wrote:

thermorex wrote:

The way I did it in mine was to just replace the canister fluid. Ran few miles then replaced it again. It's too much of a hassle to completely drain it and I do not know if the Crd was meant to have a drain plug. I do know the manual mentions that fluid color is not an indicator that it needs replacement. Best way to protect it is to insert a magnetic filter on the return hose. Filter mag are one of the best but it's a one use filter and not serviceable. I also need to find time to install the filter, which I already have (a Napa serviceable unit, it has a net with a magnet ring, let me know if you need a part # to look it up).

Looking at this pic from the FSM, it seems that just suctioning some out of the resivoir with each oil change would be enough, I did not relize that the return went back towards the sump. I did suck some out and replaced it, but I thought it was futile and would only go down to the pump if needed.

I think it always circulates from reservoir through the pump, but not 100% sure. I think the pump by the way it works refreshes the oil with the one in the reservoir even when you don't use the steering.

flman · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 4:16 pm

I am pretty sure it would always be flowing, otherwise the pump would heat up with no circulation.

Billwill · **Posted:** Fri Feb 20, 2015 1:53 pm

I have seen some posts of sucking up the fluid in the reservoir with a large syringe such as a Turkey Baster, filling it up again to the correct level and repeating the process after a few miles driven.

So this is what I am in the process of doing on my 2002 Export CRD. The early 2002 KJs do not take ATF + fluid but Mopar steering fluid which is very light in color but turns medium brown with age and this fluid must not be mixed with ATF + fluid.

So I got the proper Mopar fluid....one litre...and am virtualy finished with this project...the fluid is becoming clearer all the time.

Problem with these 2002 KJs is that I have seen a Tech Notice from Chrysler that the original fluid should be drained and flushed/replaced with ATF + fluid on these early 2002 KJs so owners of these early 2002 KJs have to be very careful as to whether or not this has been done by a previous owner!

I am the original owner of this 2002, no Service Records show this flushing of the fluid and the color of the fluid is definitely not the red of ATF + fluid but the honey color of the Mopar Power Steering fluid so I am confidant that I am using the correct fluid! :wink:

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Feb 20, 2015 2:09 pm

Billwill wrote:

I have seen some posts of sucking up the fluid in the reservoir with a large syringe such as a Turkey Baster, filling it up again to the correct level and repeating the process after a few miles driven.

So this is what I am in the process of doing on my 2002 Export CRD. The early 2002 KJs do not take ATF + fluid but Mopar steering fluid which is very light in color but turns medium brown with age and this fluid must not be mixed with ATF + fluid.

So I got the proper Mopar fluid....one litre...and am virtualy finished with this project...the fluid is becoming clearer all the time.

Problem with these 2002 KJs is that I have seen a Tech Notice from Chrysler that the original fluid should be drained and flushed/replaced with ATF + fluid on these early 2002 KJs so owners of these early 2002 KJs have to be very careful as to whether or not this has been done by a previous owner!

I am the original owner of this 2002, no Service Records show this flushing of the fluid and the color of the fluid is definitely not the red of ATF + fluid but the honey color of the Mopar Power Steering fluid so I am confidant that I am using the correct fluid! :wink:

Bill, I always used ATF in any power steering, in my 99 Cherokee I use dex3, Crd uses atf+4, other chryslers I had used whatever the transmission used, I believe that it's not that important what fluid is used as long as it can serve the purpose of being not too thick and not too thin... Regular gear oil should also work (if not subject to extreme heat). What I mean is you can't go wrong using atf+4 from now on. But neither using a good quality hydraulic oil.

Billwill · **Posted:** Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:08 am

thermorex wrote:

Billwill wrote:

I have seen some posts of sucking up the fluid in the reservoir with a large syringe such as a Turkey Baster, filling it up again to the correct level and repeating the process after a few miles driven.

So this is what I am in the process of doing on my 2002 Export CRD. The early 2002 KJs do not take ATF + fluid but Mopar steering fluid which is very light in color but turns medium brown with age and this fluid must not be mixed with ATF + fluid.

So I got the proper Mopar fluid....one litre...and am virtualy finished with this project...the fluid is becoming clearer all the time.

Problem with these 2002 KJs is that I have seen a Tech Notice from Chrysler that the original fluid should be drained and flushed/replaced with ATF + fluid on these early 2002 KJs so owners of these early 2002 KJs have to be very careful as to whether or not this has been done by a previous owner!

I am the original owner of this 2002, no Service Records show this flushing of the fluid and the color of the fluid is definitely not the red of ATF + fluid but the honey color of the Mopar Power Steering fluid so I am confidant that I am using the correct fluid! :wink:

Bill, I always used ATF in any power steering, in my 99 Cherokee I use dex3, Crd uses atf+4, other chryslers I had used whatever the transmission used, I believe that it's not that important what fluid is used as long as it can serve the purpose of being not too thick and not too thin... Regular gear oil should also work (if not subject to extreme heat). What I mean is you can't go wrong using atf+4 from now on. But neither using a good quality hydraulic oil.

Yes I agree that ATF + can be used in the 2002 KJ but I have seen too many warnings not to use it unless the original Factory Mopar Power Steering Fluid has been drained first and draining and flushing this fluid looks like too much hard work so I have stayed with the original fluid type!

I also have an old 1991 BMW E30 which are notorious for leaking racks so owners replace with racks from newer BMWs such as the E46. My rack was leaking horribly and one time I had no fluid to top up with so put in some Castrol Dot 4 Brake Fluid in desperation....not a single drop of fluid lost since then!

Changing power steering fluid

Who is online