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WHY FLUSH OUT THE POWER STEERING FLUID?

MOST PEOPLE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER HAVE ENCOUNTERED A POWER STEERING PROBLEM WITH EITHER A POWER STEERING PUMP, HOSES, GEAR BOX OR RACK & PINION.  FAILURES COULD BE ANYTHING FROM NOISE, LEAKS OR STIFFNESS WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR.  POWER STEERING FLUID IS CLEAR IN COLOR.  POWER STEERING FLUID TURNS DARK DUE TO HEAT CREATED BY HIGH PRESSURE WHEN HELD IN HARD TURNS.  ONCE THIS PROCESS STARTS, YOUR POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK & PINION BEGIN TO CLOG WITH SLUDGE AND VARNISH DEPOSITS.  THE SLUDGE AND VARNISH CAN CAUSE STIFFNESS, LEAKS OR COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE.

WHY SERVICE AND FLUSH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION?

THE TRANSMISSION OR TRANSAXLE OF TODAY’S VEHICLE TRANSFERS THE POWER FROM THE ENGINE TO THE AXLES AND WHEELS MOVE THE VEHICLE.  MOST AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS GENERATE A FAIR AMOUNT OF HEAT.  FROM NORMAL WEAR THE FILTER MAY BECOME PARTIALLY RESTRICTED OR CLOGGED.  THE FLUID MAY BREAK DOWN AND LOSE ITS’ LUBRICATING CHARACTERISTICS CAUSING EXCESS WEAR AND TEAR AND ULTIMATELY TRANSMISSION FAILURE.  THE TYPICAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE MAY CONSIST OF: DRAINING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION PAN, REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND GASKET, INSPECTING FOR EXCESS WEAR AND TEAR, PERFORM ADJUSTMENTS AS REQUIRED, REINSTALLING THE TRANSMISSION PAN, REFILLING THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE PROPER FLUID AND ROAD TESTING FOR PROPER OPERATION.  THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUSHING SERVICE IS SIMILAR, HOWEVER IT RELIES ON A MACHINE TO COMPLETELY FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.  THE BENEFIT TO FLUSHING THE SYSTEM IS IT TYPICALLY REMOVES ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH THE BASIC SERVICE.  THIS SERVICE IS USUALLY PERFORMED EVERY OTHER TRANSMISSION SERVICE.

WHY SERVICE AND FLUSH THE BRAKE FLUID?

A POPULAR MISCONCEPTION IS THAT WATER ENDS UP IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS THROUGH “CONDENSATION”/ THIS IS INCORRECT.  WATER MUST BE PRESENT IN THE FIRST PLACE TO CONDENSE.  IT ACTUALLY FINDS IT’S WAY INTO THE SYSTEM THROUGH MICROSCOPIC PORES IN FLEX HOSES AND MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGMS, AT A TYPICAL RATE OF 2-3% ANNUALLY.  THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO CORROSION AND DAMAGE OF BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS SUCH AS MASTER CYLINDER BORES, WHEEL CYLINDERS, DISC BRAKE CALIPERS, AND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE MODULATORS.  THE BOTTOM LINE IS SIMPLE.  ANY BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, WHETHER FILLED WITH GLYCOL OR SILICONE FLUID, IS SUBJECT TO WATER CONTAMINATION.  SYSTEMS SHOULD BE FLUSHED AS NEEDED.  THIS IS AN ISSUE OF TIME AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY, NOT ACCUMULATED MILEAGE.

ENGINE COOLANT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE ENGINE &COOLING SYSTEM IN THREE WAYS?

1.        HELP PREVENT OVERHEATING IN SUMMER BY RAISING THE BOILING POINT AND AIDS IN THE TRANSFER OF HEAT AWAY FROM YOUR ENGINE.

2.        PREVENTS FREEZING IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

3.        CONDITIONS AND PROTECTS GASKETS & METAL SURFACES IN THE ENGINE.

ENGINE COOLANT HAS A LIMITED LIFE, AND AS IT AGES, TURNS FROM AN ENGINE PROTECTOR TO A ENGINE DESTROYER BY DAMAGING GASKETS & METAL SURFACES RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS.

WHEN ENGINE COOLANT DETERIORATES IT PRODUCES A SLIGHT ELECTRIC CHARGE THAT CAN BE MEASURED.  TWO SIMPLE TESTS CAN TELL YOU THE CONDITION OF YOUR COOLANT:

1.        HYDROMETER TEST MEASURES THE FREEZING POINT. (-30F FOR MONTANA WINTERS)

2.        VOLT METER MEASURES THE SLIGHT ELECTRIC CHARGE.

.0-.1 VOLT GOOD

.1-.2 DUE FOR REPLACEMENT

.2 OR HIGHER CAUSING DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE.