Valvoline Power Steering Fluid

[joshwilson3]

I changed the power steering fluid in my 89 Firebird with the new Valvoline power steering fluid. The Synpower has been discontinued.

Well, last winter, I noticed after the change, I had stiff steering when the car was cold that went away after a few miles of driving.

I was out of town and was at a Napa that had some of the Valvoline Synpower power steering fluid. I bought all 3 bottles and planned on flushing the fluid in my 89 Vette. Though, I had wondering if I would get the stiff steering in the winter? Did'nt know if it is better than the new Valvoline stuff, or should I have got some from GM?

The stuff that is in there now, is thick and a blue color. Thick like motor oil. I've never seen that type of fluid as it is usually a clear thin fluid. Got any idea what might be in there?

 

[Schrade]

'Sleeping sickness'. Early C4's had a steering system problem that I once read about called this, and it's not a cheap repair. Only shows up on a cold car, goes away after a few minutes...

 

[gmjunkie]

With front of car raised,I remove the return line off the reservoir and plug reservoir with a rubber plug!
1. Put the end of the line in a bucket!!(Secure so it won't jump out of the bucket!!)
2.Have helper start car and turn wheels Lt to Rt several times while you pour fresh fluid through the reservoir!! (about 2-3 qt's!!)
3.Shut off car and re-connect return line!!
4. Add 6 oz (1/2 of 12 oz bottle) Lucas Power steering stop leak and conditioner, top off with fresh fluid to add line!!http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=2&loc=show

5.Start car and turn wheels lock to lock several times to purge air out of system while adding fresh fluid!! (Do Not Over fill!!)
6.Lower vehicle,Check fluid and drive vehicle around the block each direction a couple times and recheck fluid level and top off if needed!!

Restored smooth power steering operation are usually Immediate,but can take a few miles depending on severity!!

 

[joshwilson3]

Thanks. Yeah, when I do the Vette. I'm just gonna turn the pump by hand since I have the belt off and the smog pump, alternator are off as I'm painting the valve covers.

Though, the stiff steering was in the 89 Firebird. It was fine till I put in the new Valvoline power steering fluid, the next time I went to drive it, the steering was stiff that went away after a few miles. This was during last winter. I don't have that problem now that it has warmed up. So, I was figuring the power steering fluid was freezing up??

I had gotten some of the Valvoline Synpower power steering fluid as I had found some out of town, but was unsure if I put it in the Vette, if I would get the morning sickness that I got from the regular Valvoline PS fluid that I put in the 89 Firebird? I may just check the price out with the dealer on the cold climate GM power steering fluid. I think I just need 2 quarts for a flush, so I may just go with that so I don't have to worry about it.

Gmjunkie, are you talking about the line at the top of the resevoir that you are sticking in a bucket? My resevoir is bolted to the front of the radiator. I can do that from the top.

 

[gmjunkie]

Gmjunkie, are you talking about the line at the top of the resevoir that you are sticking in a bucket? My reservoir is bolted to the front of the radiator. I can do that from the top.

I'm talking about the Return Line coming from the Rack or PS Cooler to the Reservoir!!I raise the front up so there isn't any undo stress on the rack while all the crap is being flushed out!!The fluid may not look that bad,But I bet you'll be surprised!!:L

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah I was very disappointed when I went to buy Synpower and could'nt find it. What synthetic fluid is out there now to use?

 

[joshwilson3]

I'm talking about the Return Line coming front the Rack or PS Cooler to the Reservoir!!I raise the front up so there isn't any undo stress on the rack while all the crap is being flushed out!!The fluid may not look that bad,But I bet you'll be surprised!!:L

When you say not to overfill it, I'm assuming you mean when I get done, not to leave it overfilled? I figured while flushing if I had a little more in the resevoir than I'm supposed to, it wouldn't really matter. But yes, when I get done, it will be at the correct level.

I've never heard of lifting the car to flush the power steering fluid. Where are you putting the jack stands? As I'll need to lift it anyways to drain the block for a coolant flush.

Here are some pics I took. Can you point to the end of the hose you are talking about sticking in the bucket? I just figured it would be the top line of the resevoir as I figured that is the line that dumps the fluid into the resevoir.

 

[gmjunkie]

Top Hose,Top Photo!
Plug the tank!!
Yes make sure it's not overfilled after completion!!
I support them at wider 45* angled part behind the front wheels right at the cowl!!

 

[joshwilson3]

Top Hose,Top Photo!
Plug the tank!!
Yes make sure it's not overfilled after completion!!
I support them at wider 45* angled part behind the front wheels right at the cowl!!

Are your jack stands located something like it this pick. Perpendicular on the seam?

And for some reason, I don't think my PS has a cooler. Though, I think it is supposed to as it is an 89 with the Z51. Unless they might have put it in a different location than in your pic.

 

[gmjunkie]

No,I set mine farther back and out!! The top of my stands are a little different than yours and have a flatter top with a deep grove in the center to accommodate the pinch weld better!!I also have some pieces of 3/8" thick Truck Mud flap cut 1 1/2" X 4" to put between the stand and frame rail bottom to keep from denting it on the flat bottom part!!

PS,Where you have yours will work OK,But if you have to do any work under the engine they will probly be in your way!!
As far as the PS cooler, the earlier C4 coolers were steel lines running back and forth across the front cross member!!

 

[joshwilson3]

No,I set mine farther back and out!! The top of my stands are a little different than yours and have a flatter top with a deep grove in the center to accommodate the pinch weld better!!I also have some pieces of 3/8" thick Truck Mud flap cut 1 1/2" X 4" to put between the stand and frame rail bottom to keep from denting it on the flat bottom part!!

PS Where yours are located is OK,But it'll make it a PITA to get to the knock sensors!!

Thanks. Though those aren't my pics. I just pulled them from another site. Though, I'm guessing your stands are on the bottom of the same seam, just further back?

I do have some extra sheets of leather I could probably cut some squares out of for the jack stands. The stands I have are the GM Performance Parts. They are flatter than the ones in the above pics.

Is this closer to where you have yours?

That to me looks like right around the stock jacking point.

Though, I'll be getting a tire changed in a few weeks. I'll have to make sure the place knows how to lift it correctly. As I have noticed the rear pans are dented and the front passenger pan has a crack/hole thing I'll have to get fixed. So, somebody ****ed up in the past.

I've also heard that it is a myth to pop the doors/hood when the car is lifted?

 

[gmjunkie]

More forward,on the other side of that metal brace!!I don't like to support a car behind the toque boxes,either right in the middle of them or in front of them!!
As far as raising them with Doors open or closed,it depends.On a lift,I'd rather,when I jack one and put it on stands,I leave everything closed until I have the stands under it and the car supported evenly all 4 corners!!

 

[joshwilson3]

More forward,on the other side of that metal brace!!I don't like to support a car behind the toque boxes,either right in the middle of them or in front of them!!
As far as raising them with Doors open or closed,it depends.On a lift,I'd rather,when I jack one and put it on stands,I leave everything closed until I have the stands under it and the car supported evenly all 4 corners!!

Thanks. If you have a close up pic where the stand is, that would be great. It is kinda hard to see where the stand is at.

 

[gmjunkie]

Thanks. If you have a close up pic where the stand is, that would be great. It is kinda hard to see where the stand is at.

I'll look,I have 100's of pictures!!:L:L:L

 

[joshwilson3]

I'll look,I have 100's of pictures!!:L:L:L

Thanks I appreciate it. I don't know what every thing is called on the car. So, it is easier if I see a pic.

I do know I'll have to have a talk with the shop when I get the tire changed. I'll want to make sure they can jack the car up correctly. I'll probably do that before I get the crack fixed. That way, the resin fix will have longer to set up without being stressed on a lift so soon.

If the costs are way out there, I may just try fixing it myself since I'll be pulling the carpet anyways. I'll probably have either Epoxy resin or SMC resin used to fix it.

 

[joshwilson3]

Ok, I had it up on jack stands. I sucked the reservoir as much as I could. I pulled the top hose in the top photo off the reservoir and set a funnel under the end of the hose into a water bottle. I rotated the power steering pump by hand, and no fluid came out.

So, what I did was turn the steering wheel lock to lock to flush the fluid. I think I got most of it out as I think the fluid was coming out mostly clear. I put in 1.5 quarts.

So, I'm guessing this means the pump is bad? I haven't noticed any noise or anything when driving. Though, the steering has been real stiff ever since I had it. I searched and it looks like there is a pressure relief valve that might could have backed out causing little flow? Where is this at and how do you adjust it? I'm hoping the screw is just out of adjustment.

Or could it be the pump just needs to be at a higher RPM to get flow? I thought I remembered reading in the 101 project book of being able to just turn the pump by hand to flush it.

 

[joshwilson3]

I think I tore my rack up. Haha. I did flush the fluid with the car off, and by jacking the front end. Pulling off the top line and turning the wheels left and right while keeping the reservoir full.

Then a few weeks later when I had the car started, I noticed the fluid was all black. So, I figured I'd flush it again, but this time have the car running.

So, I did like above except I started the car, and then noticed a second later, that the reservoir was empty. So, I shut the car off. Filled the reservoir up, and rotated the steering wheel and the fluid was all foamed up.

So, I decided to just flush it the like I did before with the car off and turning the wheel.

I noticed some noise from the rack when turning it. I went out and drove it, and can hear some groaning and feel a little bit of vibration in the steering wheel sometimes when I was out driving today. I did put in most of a bottle of that Lucas stuff.

So, about how long do I have till the rack goes out? I was thinking when I started the car that the fluid would drain slowly, but that thing had sucked it dry in 1 second. I would have figured that it wouldn't have caused any damage just running it like that for 5 seconds, but I guess it was enough. Either that, or I never noticed anything funny with the rack when I was driving it over 3-4 months ago.

 

[gmjunkie]

You still have air in the system!! Fill it,turn it Lock to Lock several times with the engine running!!Top it off and do it again till it stays full!!

 

[joshwilson3]

You still have air in the system!! Fill it,turn it Lock to Lock several times with the engine running!!Top it off and do it again till it stays full!!

I did turn it lock to lock with the engine running. Probably 20 rotations. How many do you have to do? I guess I can do it again.

Though, I did notice when the engine was off and I was flushing fresh fluid and had a clear hose on the upper reservoir hose. That I would see large air bubbles go down the tube.

Though, I did notice when after I went out and drove it and got back. The PS fluid was hot, but was barely over the full cold line.

 

[CAJUN C4]

gmjunkie is correct.The Lucas P.S. Conditioner works.I was sceptacle at first but it's Great.Not a Snake Oil.