I have a 1996 volvo 850 with 185,000 miles on it. I was wondering if it is necessary to get a power steering flush and a coolant flush. Many places I called getting a price said that it is not necessary unless it is leaking or bad. What should i do.

 

You can get it done.
The coolant usually gets done every 30K but the steering there is really no interval.

 

How should the coolant flush be done? Many places I called said that using the machine could cause debris in the tank to get pushed and cause a clog, and other places said that they just drain, fill, drain and refill again so they dont cause damage. What do you think. I dont want to pay more for a problem that wasnt there.

 

Drain and refill it thats the best way to do it.

 

I've drained and refilled my power steering with castrol transmax z (for auto's) and the difference was amazing.
Just sucked out what I could from the reseviour, topped it up with new fluid, started and turned full lock one way, sucked out, topped up again, full lock other way and so on.

 

I do the coolant at every 30,000 miles or 3 years. Drain & refill with 50:50 mix (some regions may require different solution).

As to PWS fluid, I leave it unless it is leaking. The PWS fluid is Dexron-III/Mercon; exactly the same fluid used for the tranny.


JPN

 

Shaginwagon,

My power steering seems to get "rough" every 2 weeks. I put power steering fluid in it and the 1st time it took a whole bottle, 2nd time, 3/4 and the 3rd time about the same. It runs great after about 10 minutes of me driving around and then as stated above, within 2 weeks, I hear that grinding/humming sound and I know I need to do this again.

My question is this:

Where did you get what you used on your power steering and
Do I need to STOP using power steering fluid OR
is there a stop leak product I can use to help curb this.

I'm in IA and it has been a LONG and COLD winter, so I haven't been able to see anything from the top leaking.

Thank you