Coolant and Power Steering Flush Procedures!!!
03-07-2006, 12:39 PM
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Coolant and Power Steering Flush Procedures!!! Well, i'm about to embark on my own adventure in order to flush both the coolant and power steering systems. i'm forced to do this because my power steering cooler broke and leaked PS fluid into my coolant. 
I'm posting this because i'm a little unsure if these procedures are correct and if anyone has any input as to whether i'm missing some steps or doing it incorrectly, let me know! thanks! (BTW) This will save you a couple hundred dollars by doing this yourself.
COOLANT FLUSH
-remove radiator and reservoir fill caps
-drain all coolant from radiator via the petcock on the bottom of the radiator
-drain all coolant from the block via plugs on each side
-close the petcock and plugs, then fill radiator and reservoir with tap water and close cap.
-run engine until several minutes after the thermostat kicks on. (for dirtier systems, fill with distilled water and run on it for a day or so).
-let engine cool down, drain radiator again via the petcock on bottom of radiator
-drain all coolant from the block via plugs on each side
-close the petcock and plugs, then fill radiator and reservoir with tap water and close cap.
-run engine until several minutes after the thermostat kicks on.
-let cool down, drain radiator again
-repeat as many times as necessary until drainage appears clean.
-once clean, fill radiator and reservoir with 50/50 dexcool mix. (do not mix green and orange dexcool coolant.)
-close caps, run engine for several minutes then check level of coolant.
-DONE!
POWER STEERING FLUSH
-remove PS cap
-remove return line and start engine. let drain
-pour PS fluid into reservoir at same rate it is draining
-at the same time, have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times
-once drainage looks like new fluid (probably 3 bottles wasted) stop engine
-let draining complete and re-attach return line.
-fill reservoir to proper level and run engine with cap off
-have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times to "burp" air out of PS system
-close cap
-DONE!
I'm posting this because i'm a little unsure if these procedures are correct and if anyone has any input as to whether i'm missing some steps or doing it incorrectly, let me know! thanks! (BTW) This will save you a couple hundred dollars by doing this yourself.
COOLANT FLUSH
-remove radiator and reservoir fill caps
-drain all coolant from radiator via the petcock on the bottom of the radiator
-drain all coolant from the block via plugs on each side
-close the petcock and plugs, then fill radiator and reservoir with tap water and close cap.
-run engine until several minutes after the thermostat kicks on. (for dirtier systems, fill with distilled water and run on it for a day or so).
-let engine cool down, drain radiator again via the petcock on bottom of radiator
-drain all coolant from the block via plugs on each side
-close the petcock and plugs, then fill radiator and reservoir with tap water and close cap.
-run engine until several minutes after the thermostat kicks on.
-let cool down, drain radiator again
-repeat as many times as necessary until drainage appears clean.
-once clean, fill radiator and reservoir with 50/50 dexcool mix. (do not mix green and orange dexcool coolant.)
-close caps, run engine for several minutes then check level of coolant.
-DONE!
POWER STEERING FLUSH
-remove PS cap
-remove return line and start engine. let drain
-pour PS fluid into reservoir at same rate it is draining
-at the same time, have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times
-once drainage looks like new fluid (probably 3 bottles wasted) stop engine
-let draining complete and re-attach return line.
-fill reservoir to proper level and run engine with cap off
-have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times to "burp" air out of PS system
-close cap
-DONE!
Last edited by royalcrown; 03-15-2006 at 08:02 AM.
03-15-2006, 02:37 PM
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i just got done doing it... wasnt that strict about it tho...
just drained radiator, removed hoses from radiator.
pulled fans out(botom right clip needs pryed a little to move)
pulled radiator out
used hose on radiator(inside and out(not too much pressure, might bend fins)
removed thermostat and that hose
put water hose into the top hose that comes from engine and let it flush out until it was clear
pulled out battery and overflow tank from under battery
hosed out overflow tank
reinstalled everything
put in a galon of distelled watter into radiator
put in bottle of watter wetter
filled up rest of way with distelled watter
fired up with overflow/radiator caps off... gave it a few minutes toped it off put radiator cap on then half filled overflow tank, waited a few minutes then put cap on overflow.
Now instead of fans going on high in just traffic the only time i could get them to come on was when i got on the throttle a good bit right after waiting at a red light for about 5 minutes... Fans went on high for two minutes then never again...(btw this is in florida heat)
It doesnt take as long as it would seem... and this method is a little more involved but i wanted to get the crap off the radiator...
the only downside to using only water and water wetter is that in colder climates it needs to have some coolant and with no coolant it should be changed yearly...
just drained radiator, removed hoses from radiator.
pulled fans out(botom right clip needs pryed a little to move)
pulled radiator out
used hose on radiator(inside and out(not too much pressure, might bend fins)
removed thermostat and that hose
put water hose into the top hose that comes from engine and let it flush out until it was clear
pulled out battery and overflow tank from under battery
hosed out overflow tank
reinstalled everything
put in a galon of distelled watter into radiator
put in bottle of watter wetter
filled up rest of way with distelled watter
fired up with overflow/radiator caps off... gave it a few minutes toped it off put radiator cap on then half filled overflow tank, waited a few minutes then put cap on overflow.
Now instead of fans going on high in just traffic the only time i could get them to come on was when i got on the throttle a good bit right after waiting at a red light for about 5 minutes... Fans went on high for two minutes then never again...(btw this is in florida heat)
It doesnt take as long as it would seem... and this method is a little more involved but i wanted to get the crap off the radiator...
the only downside to using only water and water wetter is that in colder climates it needs to have some coolant and with no coolant it should be changed yearly...
04-12-2006, 09:06 PM
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If your power steering cooler ruptured inside your radiator I'm afraid you might have bigger issues. Power steering fluid is the same as Automatic Transmission fluid. ATF is an oil, just like motor oil but it's got several different additives such as some detergants. If you get ATF in your coolant it's going to go through your entire cooling system including your evaporator core under your dash. Oil swells rubber. I hope your hoses weren't introduced to enough of the oil to make a difference. Keep that in mind though.
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11-28-2006, 01:36 PM
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I'm going to be doing the power steering flush. Three newbie questions on the procedures since I've never done this.
(1) Which hose is the return line on the reservoir for an LS1?
(2) Do you have an assistant turn the wheels lock to lock at the same time the engine is running and you are are adding fluid?
(3) What does "let draining complete" mean after stopping the engine? Is that just a heads up that fluid will continue to flow out even after the engine is off so you don't make a big mess reconnecting it to the reservoir?
Thanks!
POWER STEERING FLUSH
-remove PS cap
-remove return line and start engine. let drain
-pour PS fluid into reservoir at same rate it is draining
-at the same time, have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times
-once drainage looks like new fluid (probably 3 bottles wasted) stop engine
-let draining complete and re-attach return line.
-fill reservoir to proper level and run engine with cap off
-have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times to "burp" air out of PS system
-close cap
-DONE!
(1) Which hose is the return line on the reservoir for an LS1?
(2) Do you have an assistant turn the wheels lock to lock at the same time the engine is running and you are are adding fluid?
(3) What does "let draining complete" mean after stopping the engine? Is that just a heads up that fluid will continue to flow out even after the engine is off so you don't make a big mess reconnecting it to the reservoir?
Thanks!
POWER STEERING FLUSH
-remove PS cap
-remove return line and start engine. let drain
-pour PS fluid into reservoir at same rate it is draining
-at the same time, have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times
-once drainage looks like new fluid (probably 3 bottles wasted) stop engine
-let draining complete and re-attach return line.
-fill reservoir to proper level and run engine with cap off
-have a friend move wheels lock to lock several times to "burp" air out of PS system
-close cap
-DONE!
Last edited by wade99z; 11-28-2006 at 02:52 PM.
03-08-2007, 05:34 AM
#11
are you blocking the line that comes back from the rack n pinion when your doing the power steering flush?....
if not you need to, thats one of the main causes of failure to a ps pump, when small pieces of metal recirculate from the rack n pinion and into the pump
if not you need to, thats one of the main causes of failure to a ps pump, when small pieces of metal recirculate from the rack n pinion and into the pump
03-09-2007, 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by wade99z
I'm going to be doing the power steering flush. Three newbie questions on the procedures since I've never done this.
(1) Which hose is the return line on the reservoir for an LS1?
(2) Do you have an assistant turn the wheels lock to lock at the same time the engine is running and you are are adding fluid?
(3) What does "let draining complete" mean after stopping the engine? Is that just a heads up that fluid will continue to flow out even after the engine is off so you don't make a big mess reconnecting it to the reservoir?
Thanks!
(1) Which hose is the return line on the reservoir for an LS1?
(2) Do you have an assistant turn the wheels lock to lock at the same time the engine is running and you are are adding fluid?
(3) What does "let draining complete" mean after stopping the engine? Is that just a heads up that fluid will continue to flow out even after the engine is off so you don't make a big mess reconnecting it to the reservoir?
Thanks!
