How to flush Power Steering Pump

[LamboSE5]

"Don't allow the fluid to drop too much in the reservoir"
-Why even syphon out any fluid from the reservoir? If you do, how will you be able to observe a fluid level?

"When finished, remove the connectors and reconnect the return hose to the reservoir. There will be some small spillage cos new fluid will be coming out the reservoir inlet."
-When I remove, let's say, the Plug/Cap connector, won't it immediately begin to suck in air before I can get the inlet hose back onto that inlet tube? And the inlet hose will still be pumping out fluid. I can't just "stop" the flow right, it'll be syphoning. Guess you gotta make a quick switch.

-This is done with the Reservoir cap OFF right?

I had to mess around with my parts car before I could figure out exactly what was going on here.

~One hose gets disconnected; the inlet hose. That is the black rubber hose with the clamp (worm drive in my case) that goes to the rear right side of the reservoir.
~This black rubber inlet hose is where you connect the clear "extension" tubing that goes to the bucket on the ground do drain from.
~The black "nipple" on the reservoir that you took the rubber inlet hose off of is the one you want to "Plug/Cap off" with a short piece of tubing and some type of Plug.

So the outlet line - the metal one at the front of the pump/reservoir - is left untouched.

Please correct if any of that's wrong.
No time for it today now.

Steering pump lines circled.png

Red is Inlet
Yellow is Outlet

[LamboSE5]

Sorry that the pictures are of a Camry. If someone wants to try this, take pictures and update this later, that would be nice!

First, here are some pictures:

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This was a failure
After I did it I did two control arms, and a left outer tie rod end. It was 6:00am when I finished that, and then I lowered the car and took a little fluid out of the PS reservoir.
I put the cap on, started the car and turned the wheel; "PSSSSSSSSSSssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS".
The sound of air.

-The reservoir never came anywhere near being empty.
-When I took off the return line from the inlet and hooked up my plug, fluid drained into the plug's tube (as you can see in the picture(s) ), which seems odd to me seeing as the plug is air tight.
-There was no "syphon" effect going on. I would turn the wheel and it would start to pump out down the tube, then when I would stop to get out and check the level of the res. it would stop flowing and air would creep up the clear tube. So I would top up, get back in the car and turn the wheel more, 'fighting' off the air creeping(?).
- When I felt I had pumped out the entire contents of the system (I put about 2Litres through) I disconnected the plug from the inlet and fluid started to drain a little bit, which means (i guess) air wouldn't have gone in.
I immediately disconnected the clear tube from the return line and hooked it back up to the inlet.
But when I disconnected the clear tube from the return line the level of fluid at the end of the line receded, i.e.: maybe air came in at this point.
This is exactly what I was asking about in my questions, that I thought were pretty good questions to ask...
How could you not get air into the system?
It seems to me (physics?) that you'd have to have fluid coming from the inlet pipe and the return line upon reconnecting them in order to possibly not get air in there..?

I followed this tutorial to the 'T', and tried to ask about what I was unclear about.
I waited weeks for a response from somebody, and nothin'

The fluid level is still a little high in the reservoir.

I could really use some HELP - please. It's pretty urgent I find out what to do here...
Thank you.

if air enters the PS system, you'll have to turn the wheels with the engine running to get the air out later and it makes a screaching noise

-air did NOT enter from the reservoir side of things...so - "?"
-could someone describe what to do to get air out. I'm cautious about just following a youtube vid's instructions.

EDIT:
Is this how I have to get the air out of my system now?: Youtube

[KlubMarcus]

Also, I want to replace the fluid with the appropriate and best Mobil 1 ATF (full synthetic)... can somebody tell me what exact one one I'm looking for please? A link would be great. Thanks.

www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Other_Products/Mobil_1_Synthetic_ATF.aspx# Under the specifications tab it lists Volvo 97340 and 97341 quality level. I sent an e-mail to Mobil asking specifically which of my cars are compatible. Will update when I get a reply. I'm planning to flush and switch since I am sitting on a half empty bottle of Type F.

I've been using Castrol Type F ATF in my 98 V70 XC. The manual doesn't specify the specs of the "quality" ATF needed for the PS pump and that's what I had at the time. I've been using it for 5 years with one flush and fill at a local auto shop. The only time my PS made noise is when it needed a top up earlier this year. Filled it up to the cold fill line, drove it, checked the hot fill line. It was good and no more noise. I probably have a mix of Type F and whatever fluid the shop put in my PS reservoir. Still works!

[KlubMarcus]

Just got an official reply from Mobil Oil. They said the description off the manual for "quality ATF" does not give them enough information for a recommendation. But it sounds like y'all have good results from using Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF.

[bigdaddylee82]

Lambo, at this point I'd imagine you've gotten the air out of the system by now, but that youtube video is exactly how I bleed my system.

For fluid, I went a little "un-conventional," hydraulic fluid is popular in the 4x4 community, and after talking with the AMSOIL guy I always use, he convinced me to use they Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid. Works great in saginaw steering pumps, I've been using it in my 850 for around 4 months now, and am pleased.

- Lee

[MarcLuxJD]

You don't need a tube to attach to the return nipple, just tape it up to keep new fluid in the reservoir. Remember when you try to reattach the return line, put the cap on the power steering reservoir first so suction will keep the fluid from running out quickly. Pull the tape off and reattach the return line quickly, then tighten the hose clamp.

[amblerman]

I just did this job on my 99 S70. These instructions worked perfectly for the job. Thanks for the nice pictures and clear instructions.

Here are a couple of notes based on my observations.
1) I can't stress how important it is to surround the entire area with rags as shown in the pictures above. No matter how careful I was with the turkey baster that ATF just wanted to drip and fly all over the place.

2) When I did the job, I had to have my helper keep turning the wheels from side to side. I did not get the benefit of a free flowing siphon. Not a big deal but I just wanted people to know that you might have to turn the wheels a few times.

3) I also replaced my reservoir. Mine was original (I think) and was leaking. I think mine was leaking from the cap but I decided to replace the whole thing because the last think I wanted to do was order just the cap only to find out my 17 year old reservoir was warped and still leaked.
Replacement was simple once you emptied the old fluid from the old reservoir. Just two hose clamps and it came off.