Question about power steering fluid.

[engine45]

Chris how much of the amsoil ps fluid does it usually take to change out the fluid ? One or two bottles ?

 

[Chris@FreedomMotorsports]

It normally takes about 2 bottles of their fluid to flush it completely. Although tranny fluid is a lower viscosity, I believe that may also contribute to the system failures that are so common on our trucks. That and the bean counter effect, it is much more cost efficient for them to maintain the same standards across the board than to change things up between models of vehicles. Anyone wanting to check out the Amsoil PS fluid can view the specs at the link below.

AMSOIL Multi-Vehicle Synthetic Power Steering Fluid

 

[engine45]

Thank you Chris. Question. Have you used the extractor they sell to remove the fluid ? Looks like cheap easy help.

 

[Chris@FreedomMotorsports]

I have used it, it's really easy to use as well. Nice little pump to get fluid out without getting it everywhere.

 

[gtxracer]

I don't use transmission fluid in mine. I use power steering fluid. Although they have the same/similar viscosity, the power steering fluid lacks the friction modifiers and so forth that transmission fluid has in it and I have come to believe that those extra additives in the tranny fluid forming into trash in the system may greatly contribute to the common failures of the pump and rack. Using the actual power steering fluid I believe will help cut down on the risk of failure.

Hey Chris,

It's been a few years since this was posted - can you give any feedback on how the power steering fluid and the system handled the long term swap? I am looking to do the same after killing a stock pump in a stock '13 SCrew just messing around in the woods. I have a new pump on the way and want to flush and fill with Amsoil PS fluid. Thanks!

 

[gtxracer]

Update for this - upon installing a new pump and pressure line, I used Amsoil fluid with great success. The steering feels much better than before and doesn't whine as much at all. No problems. Been running it this way for about 8 months now, including a trip down and back to southern California. I don't know what extra crap Ford puts into their ATF but it's not good for the steering system IMO. This fluid still looks brand new.

 

[Trick.Raptor]

Hey Chris,

It's been a few years since this was posted - can you give any feedback on how the power steering fluid and the system handled the long term swap? I am looking to do the same after killing a stock pump in a stock '13 SCrew just messing around in the woods. I have a new pump on the way and want to flush and fill with Amsoil PS fluid. Thanks!

I don't use Amsoil (nothing wrong with it I just happen to go with Royal Purple Synthetic PS Fluid when I did my upgrade and have stuck with it) I am now at 72k on my 2nd PS pump with zero issues. I do run a RPG reservoir tank along with a PS cooler and that along with the actual PS fluid has been great.

I do 6-9 big time off-road events that punish my Raptor over the past few years so I did the upgrade along with lots of time at Oceano Dunes SVRA where my tire pressure is at 11PSI.

The OEM PS reservoir is junk, especially if you go offroad. If you can find a PSS reservoir its better but will spray PS fluid all over. I used a sock to keep it from spraying everywhere when I had one. The RPG tank is a great design and it holds more fluid.

So my PS pump at 72k has been great and I'm still on my OEM rack with my Raptor at 105k.

--

 

[gtxracer]

I don't use Amsoil (nothing wrong with it I just happen to go with Royal Purple Synthetic PS Fluid when I did my upgrade and have stuck with it) I am now at 72k on my 2nd PS pump with zero issues. I do run a RPG reservoir tank along with a PS cooler and that along with the actual PS fluid has been great.

I do 6-9 big time off-road events that punish my Raptor over the past few years so I did the upgrade along with lots of time at Oceano Dunes SVRA where my tire pressure is at 11PSI.

The OEM PS reservoir is junk, especially if you go offroad. If you can find a PSS reservoir its better but will spray PS fluid all over. I used a sock to keep it from spraying everywhere when I had one. The RPG tank is a great design and it holds more fluid.

So my PS pump at 72k has been great and I'm still on my OEM rack with my Raptor at 105k.

--

Thanks for the feedback! I actually have one of the red RPG reservoirs that I had from a friend. I was using it in my Jeep for a while but there's no built-in filter and I didn't like the setup much. I had also heard negative things about the RPG resi so I took it off for a PSC unit.

Do you run a filter with the RPG reservoir? Any issues running push-lock AN fittings to the RPG reservoir thus far?

 

[Trick.Raptor]

Thanks for the feedback! I actually have one of the red RPG reservoirs that I had from a friend. I was using it in my Jeep for a while but there's no built-in filter and I didn't like the setup much. I had also heard negative things about the RPG resi so I took it off for a PSC unit.

Do you run a filter with the RPG reservoir? Any issues running push-lock AN fittings to the RPG reservoir thus far?

No filters and no issues with the AN fittings. We run a longer overflow hose to the back of the LCA and after a hard day on the dunes I may have a drip on the floor. But that is expected and far far better than PS fluid spray all over the engine from my first PSS reservoir!

We did modify the reservoir mount so it's more secure in the stock location, I forgot to mention that. At first it felt flimsy...

The RPG tank is very similar to the Lee and GJ Motorsports reservoirs. The Lee and GJ come as a kit I believe and good luck finding a RPG tank these days.

After what I have seen I don't think I need to compromise with a Howe or even the full on Lee PS setup though if I had to choose, I would go with the Lee for sure


--