Power Steering Fluid CHange

[cookan]

Hi guys,
I've finally got through all the fluid changes having owned the bongo for 2 years now (several engine oil changes, coolant change, rear diff oil, brake fluid, ATF, and yes I know...it'll be time to start them again soon )...the only thing left to change is the power steering fluid..

Can't see anything in the service manual regarding procedure but from what I gleamed from the net there's a couple of ways
1) Pela pump the reservoir out, refill, turn the wheels and repeat until it looks clear
2) remove hose and drain, refil, turn the wheels

I'd imagine removing a hose to drain and refilling is the most efficient method but wanted peoples advice on whether that's straight forward enough

Having just done the brake fluid I noticed on the drivers side there was a rubber hose going into the bottom of the steering gear linkage and wondered whether that's the best to remove (certainly looks the easiest as it's just a spring clip)..looks like it's the return hose from the diagram in the manual..

Anything I should be aware of in terms of sudden outbursts of fluid or other special care needed ?

Any ideas how much fluid i'd need for either method ? looks like 1.3litres for drain and refil but maybe i'd need to drain twice and refil twice to flush the system...

thanks,
Ant.

[Simon Jones]

I've been using the Pela to tweak the level in the gearbox after fluid change & have been thinking about doing the PS too by draining reservoir, refilling, bleeding as per the manual & then repeating a few times. Will use more fluid than a straight drain / refill but avoids disturbing any joints in the pipework.

[teenmal]

cookan ......The easiest and most efficient way is, remove the return hose at the reservoir, put the end of the hose in a suitable container, start the engine and fill the reservoir with fresh fluid until it runs clear from the return hose, reconnect the hose and bleed as normal.

I think you have an Idea of the capacity.

[cookan]

ahhh...now that sounds like an excellent plan ! I take it the return hose is the one that comes off the arm at the base of the reservoir (as opposed to the one that comes directly out of the base) ? If that's the case, does it happen to have a one way valve on it or do you have to block the inlet to the reservoir whilst the hose is disconnected to stop the fluid flooding out of the return inlet ?

Is the flow rate like white water slalom, or chalk stream fly fishing for trout ?

thanks,
Ant.

[teenmal]

ahhh...now that sounds like an excellent plan ! I take it the return hose is the one that comes off the arm at the base of the reservoir (as opposed to the one that comes directly out of the base) ? If that's the case, does it happen to have a one way valve on it or do you have to block the inlet to the reservoir whilst the hose is disconnected to stop the fluid flooding out of the return inlet ?

Is the flow rate like white water slalom, or chalk stream fly fishing for trout ?

thanks,
Ant.

Plug the stub when you remove the hose to be on the safe side, I have never fished in a chalk stream or done any slaloming, I usually fish the rivers Tweed, Clyde, Nith. etc no chalk.

It will (should be) a controllable flow

[Northern Bongolow]

whatever method you use try to avoid putting air into the ram or you may really struggle it get it to work correctly again.