Honda P/S fluid. Magic?

[Jon]

At around 35K miles I replaced (turkey baster method, took a long time) the P/S fluid in my '02 Accord V6. It was nasty. I replaced it with GENUINE Honda P/S fluid, which seemed expensive.

Now it's dark again (55K miles). I want to know about replacing it with something else (like ATF). Is the Honda P/S fluid a glycol or an oil? Can I use ATF there or do I really need to use P/S fluid, and if so, is Honda the stuff to use?

Thanks, all!

 

[Schmoe]

It kind of looked like a weaker ATF.

 

[benjamming]

I would think that you should stay with the Honda p/s fluid. Seems that I remember Molakule didn't recommend his p/s fluid for replacement of Honda p/s fluid when SF was still running. I'm not 100% sure on that though nor can I remember if a reason was given or not.

 

[Master ACiD]

i think honda ps is different from normal fluid. thats why its labeled as such from company's like bardhall.


but the turkey baster method isnt so great. there is plenty of instruction on a more thorough way to change the power steering fluid. just have to route one of the resivour hoses to a drain pan and turn the steering wheel left and right with the engine off. the rack pumps fluid even when the pump isn't spinning. you'll get a better flush like that. i do have to wonder why you're fluid is so nasty at such a low mileage. i change the psf in my crv fir the first time at 80K and my sisters civic for the first time at 95K and the fluid was still brightly coloured. it was only marginally darker than the new fluid.

 

[Jon]

I can't answer to why it darkens up so fast. City driving? Heavier front end (V6) putting more stress on the pump? I dunno.

I just found this on valvoline's website:

Quote:
Pyroil Power Steering Fluid is made of highly refined base stocks and selected additives designed to provide maximum performance while preventing wear, corrosion and foaming. It's not recommended for use in Honda or Audi power steering units, but meets GM, Ford and Chrysler specifications.


Hmm. Wacky!

 

[mechtech2]

Hondas need their own fluid.
Most anyone else can cheat, but not with Honda power steering fluid.
The Turkey Baster has benefits of speed , cleanliness, ease , and there also is no hardware removal and attachment.

The downside is more fluid may be used to effect the final result.
You have to do it more than once, and start the engine in between, you know.

 

[Dad2leia]

...Turkey Baster....hmmm... Me, being a chef, and I never thought of that one for doing P/S fluid swapping.

Thanks for that one guys. Will have to remember than one for the future!

 

[unDummy]

Honda has more demanding PSF specs. Why they didn't just require Z1 or ATF is unknown.

Most autoparts stores carry Honda PSF. So, you do not need to go to the dealer for the PSF.

Any maintenance is better then no maintenance. Instead of waiting 20-30k miles to siphon/refill multiple times trying to clean up garbage PSF, simply siphon/refill once every 5-10k miles.

 

[Dad2leia]

Originally Posted By: unDummy
Honda has more demanding PSF specs. Why they didn't just require Z1 or ATF is unknown.

Most autoparts stores carry Honda PSF. So, you do not need to go to the dealer for the PSF.

Any maintenance is better then no maintenance. Instead of waiting 20-30k miles to siphon/refill multiple times trying to clean up garbage PSF, simply siphon/refill once every 5-10k miles.


UnDummy, does P/S fluid really have that short of an effective and efficient life? I don't think that I've ever done a P/S fluid replacement in any vehicle that I've owned.

 

[unDummy]

I replaced dozens of PS pumps and several racks. Just because you get away with not maintaining it, simply means that you ARE lucky. Yep, its life is short. But, a single siphon/refill is just PARTIAL quick n ez maintenance. It is not a flush. It sure beats spending an afternoon siphon/refilling a dozen times trying to clean up the 'looks' of the fluid. Spread out the siphon/refills over your mileage of usage is better.

 

[paulo57509]

If you're going the turkey baster route, it's much faster to find one of those oil bottle pumps.

And use the transmission dilution spreadsheet that's posted someplace here.

Works for me.

Back on topic......Honda PS systems REQUIRE Honda spec'ed fluid.

 

[byez]

I have about ten bottles of oem honda atf sitting here in my house with a Toyota on my driveway. Message me if interested.

 

[PT1]

I siphon re-fill my kids CRV at every OCI. By the next one it has darkened as well. I am using the valvoline pyroil for Honda and it works fine. Way to easy to siphon & refill and get the old fluid out before you have an issue.

 

[Auto-Union]

Not every car I wnt to do PSF chene in is one I own. Should I have the peson come back every few months to do 1/4 of the fluid at a time...never getting a substantial result. Makes no sense in a very old car that needs as much new fluid serviced as possible either. I never would or did use a turkey baster. In my '06 Acura I use SuynPower with LG additve in a full flow exchange. I can tell you it was smooth and quiet.

 

[harry j]

The turkey baster method works well if you follow it up at a later date and do it again. The fluid in the reservoir is only part of whats in the system. Allow the new fluid to mix with the old and do the baster thing again. It may take a couple of times to get a satisfactory result.

 

[Jon]

I should have said that, at the time, I did a bunch of suck/refill/start/turn-turn-turn/stop repeat. When I was done the fluid was fairly clean and turning /was/ easier. Perhaps it's just time to do it again. I wish there was a less messy way of doing it.

Is there an answer to the "is it glycol or oil" question?

 

[wgtoys]

I used one of the UK motor oil sites to look up Honda PS fluid once (Castrol's site, I think) and was surprised that they cross referenced it to a fluid normally used for the hydraulics fork oil on motorcycles. Perhaps this is a case where Honda's motorcycle roots somehow influence their choice of automotive fluid.

 

[cos]

Where possible I like to use a section of 1/4" clear vinyl tubing attached to my surgical grade turkey baster "thingy" - this allows me to reach further down into the PS reservoir.

 

[ThirdeYe]

In my Integra, the Honda PS fluid gets nasty quick. When I basted it for the first time since I purchased it, it smelled HORRIBLE. It was one of the most putrid smells I've ever smelt. I then basted it again a few days later. Waited about 5k miles then did it again twice. I can usually get about 2 siphon/refills with 1 bottle. It gets dark almost instantly though, probably because it's mixing with the old fluid still in the power steering unit. The fluid was changed a few times by the previous owner as indicated in the records, but judging by how smelly and dirty it gets and how quickly it does, I'd think doing it often is a good idea. As to whether or not you can use other fluids, I have no idea.

 

[mechtech2]

Power steering fluid moves a lot quicker than brake fluid. You can start her up and move the wheels a little, then suck/fill again a number of times in a very short while.