Flush power steering fluid

dnme

1998 Toyota Corolla E11 Lift back.

As part of my service, I want to flush the power steering fluid. The fluid is manky in the reservoir and its sides are badly stained so I'm guessing it is not too healthy. (The car was in a garage for nearly three years before I bought it) so I'm replacing all fluids.

So, to any Corolla owners out there, I'm guessing I can do this by draining the reservoir, removing the return pipe that comes back into the same reservoir and flushing it into a waste container as I run engine and turn wheel lock to lock. I will keep topping up with new fluid as needed etc.

Here's my questions...
Is the above method sound?
Of the two pipes joined to the reservoir, one is send, the other is return yes? How do I tell which is the return?

Plug

Yes your right, usually the fatter one is the feed pipe. Take off the return pipe and put a blank on the bottle, fill it up with fluid, start and drain the fluid coming from the return pipe in a bottle or something.

dnme

Plug wrote: »

Yes your right, usually the fatter one is the feed pipe. Take off the return pipe and put a blank on the bottle, fill it up with fluid, start and drain the fluid coming from the return pipe in a bottle or something.

plug, ca you clarify...
what do you mean by "put a blank on the bottle"?

Plug

You have a feed and a return on the bottle, put a blank over the feed so the fluid does not pour out of the bottle. A blank is a piece of rubber or plastic, think of it like a condom etc. then with the return pipe, have that going into a coke bottle or something for the old fluid to catch in, so it dosen't make a mess.

dnme

Plug wrote: »

You have a feed and a return on the bottle, put a blank over the feed so the fluid does not pour out of the bottle. A blank is a piece of rubber or plastic, think of it like a condom etc. then with the return pipe, have that going into a coke bottle or something for the old fluid to catch in, so it dosen't make a mess.

ah, so you are saying take off both pipes? block the feed and drain the return ? is that right?

Do I not need the feed to be in place so that I can keep adding fluid during the flush process? If I block the feed as you say, I will drain the system dry will I not? Is this a good idea?

Slidey

The fatter pipe is usually the return, the idea of that is that there is no resistance in the return line to the reservoir.

dnme

So sorry to keep asking but I am confused and need clarification. See image below.

Here's the steps I think I need to do

1. Remove A (return I think) and let it hang in a waste container to collect old fluid.
2. Pinch or block B (feed I think).
3. Start engine
4. Turn wheel from lock to lock several times until all fluid drained out
5. Refit A
6. Release pinch on B
7. Fill reservoir with fluid
8. Turn wheel and check levels until system filled.

How am I doing?
7. Turn wheel

Slidey

Personally, I would take A off and put it into a can, start the car and collect the oil.

I wouldn't run the pump dry with no oil in it. Thats is what you will end up doing it you leave it running for very long. If you want you could fill the oil and repeat a second time

Plug

dnme wrote: »

ah, so you are saying take off both pipes? block the feed and drain the return ? is that right?

Do I not need the feed to be in place so that I can keep adding fluid during the flush process? If I block the feed as you say, I will drain the system dry will I not? Is this a good idea?

I agree with slidey except I think B is the return, I would take B off and put it into a can, start the car and collect the old oil in that can. As slidey said don't run it dry, keep the bottle topped up with new fluid. Leave A on the bottle(put a blank on bottle were 'B' would normally be) and keep that bottle topped up with fluid while the engine is running for about 10 seconds.
Old fluid should come out of 'B' and into a can or coke bottle etc. I stand to be corrected, me on Slidey know what we are on about but we are not completely sure which pipe is which. Easy way to find out is to get a bit messy:D

Slidey

The big one may be the supply, it is coming from the bottom of the bottle.

Hydraulics normally use a larger pipe as the return though

dnme

Great folks, many thanks. I might actually take off the reservoir and give it a good clean while I'm at it. Thanks for the help

Plug

Slidey wrote: »

The big one may be the supply, it is coming from the bottom of the bottle.

Hydraulics normally use a larger pipe as the return though

The reason im saying the opposite of you is because I done the same thing here yesterday but it was on a Mondeo, so it may be different from the Toyota. Im not completely sure then....
Wanna put a tenner on it?:D

dnme wrote: »

Great folks, many thanks. I might actually take off the reservoir and give it a good clean while I'm at it. Thanks for the help

Yeah do that, no harm at all. Then come back and tell us which was the return A or B:pac:

dnme

ke ke ke ke:D
I'll have a look at toyodiy.com and see if I can figure out feed from send.

dnme

According to toyodiy, B is indeed the return.
http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_E_199710_TOYOTA_COROLLA_EE111R-ALMDKW_4503.html

Plug

dnme wrote: »

According to toyodiy, B is indeed the return.
http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_E_199710_TOYOTA_COROLLA_EE111R-ALMDKW_4503.html

:cool:

dnme

Well did the job today and it's a good'un. I took the reservoir off completely and gave it a good wash. Got rod of all the congealed gunk out of it. It's now so clean I can actually see the fluid level in it:)

Here's a tip. If you are flushing out the power steering system, the return pipe is quite short and it's difficult to get a funnel or collection container under it. So I got an old bicycle tube, clamped it to the return with a hose clamp ring and fed it out to a bucket.