Power Steering Fluid Change

[cilgwynbaby]

Hi,wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this, I thought it was recomended that the pas fluid is changed every 2 years?But the mechanic at my local garage checked the Lexus service schedule & there is no mention of replacing it,just check & top up.It's a Ls400 1996,the mechanic says he's never changed it on any cars & doesn't see the need.I see no reason to doubt him as he's always done good work in the past.

I'd be interested in peoples views on this?

Thanks Steve

[cruisermark]

on my 400s i used to do a partial fluid change every year with the engine oil change - i.e suck out the old fluid out of the reservoir with a syringe and just refill

[Malc]

In all my long years with cars I have never even thought to change the PAS fluid. Don't think I've ever seen it on a service schedule either

Malc

[ROYT]

I do the same as 'cruisermark'.......

[brendangeorge]

I do the same as 'cruisermark'.......

wait till the cooling pipe that runs in front of the rad rots through at 200ish K miles and after you fix it you will need to replace the fluid because you will have lost it :) That's what happened to me.

Bren

[cruisermark]

I do the same as 'cruisermark'.......

wait till the cooling pipe that runs in front of the rad rots through at 200ish K miles and after you fix it you will need to replace the fluid because you will have lost it :) That's what happened to me.

Bren

doubt ill ever get to that many miles to be honest - ill probably have a LS600h or GS450h by then (i better run now before the "Mark 4" army get here)

however now that you have mentioned it is there any solution to replacing that pipe apart from the main dealer - people have mentioned copper tube but who will fabricate it?

[Titch LS]

I also used the "syringe" method after examining the state of my original(?) P/S fluid. It was a horrible dark colour. Been in there for 13 years. I replaced it with Dextron II. I did this a fair few times over a period of a month or so until it became a nice red colour. Had no problems with this method and used about 2 litres of Dextron II to do the job. P/S works nice and smooth.

[cilgwynbaby]

Thanks for the info. I have used the syringe method and there was quite a lot of gunk in the resovoir,so I am going to do this a few more times,untill the fluid is clean.

I had the info. about pas fluid change from this site Lexsl.com.

Thanks again

Steve

[steve2006]

I do the same as 'cruisermark'.......

wait till the cooling pipe that runs in front of the rad rots through at 200ish K miles and after you fix it you will need to replace the fluid because you will have lost it :) That's what happened to me.

Bren

doubt ill ever get to that many miles to be honest - ill probably have a LS600h or GS450h by then (i better run now before the "Mark 4" army get here)

however now that you have mentioned it is there any solution to replacing that pipe apart from the main dealer - people have mentioned copper tube but who will fabricate it?

I think it is 10 or 12mm copper pipe available from plumbers merchants, use a bending spring to shape it or ask a friendly plumber to make one for you.

This is the stuff IIRC,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-METRES-OF-10MM-MICROBORE-COPPER-PIPE-TUBE-SUITIBLE-GAS-WATER-HEATING-DIY-NEW-/150860180654?pt=UK_DIY_Materials_Plumbing_MJ&hash=item231ff7acae

[bigjap]

its usually 10mm ,you dont bend that with spring,you can bend it gently,but tight bends you can get a plastic former to do it,they are quite cheap,there are small benders ,all depends how much the pipe is,whether it would be worth it.