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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Numpty of the Week power steering question...


Rob Dublin

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As it's Friday, I thought I'd give you all a good laugh. Was dark last night and while topping up the oil in the 320 down the petrol station, I in advertently took the cap off the power steering resevoir and tried to fill the oil. Excuses:

 

  • Its fairly central in the engine bay and has oil stamped on it.

  • It was dark

  • I don't have the car long

  • I'll think of more for when in the pub later

 

Anyway, was fairly full already so not a lot went in. The fact it filled up so quick (or at all) made alarm bells ring in me noggin. Managed to soak it out a bit using tissue roll to get the level back down. My question is how much damage might this do to the power steering pump. Should I drain the system? Is this easy?

 

Ta in advance, hope I've cheered you all up!

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You'll have to get it out or it may damage your power steering pump or seals. Engine oil is significantly thicker than power steering fluid chap. To get it all out you'll have to flush the system as well. Garage appointment next week I think fella.

 

Numpty.:) As Dangerous says and you may damage seals, affecting the steering etc. Not good.

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If you haven't started the car you might be able to sort it easily enough.

You should disconnect the inlet and outlet pipes from the power steering resovior. You will most likey get the fluid everywhere when the pipes come off but try to contain it best you can. The remove the fatter pipe from the power steering pump inlet which will still have fluid in it so it will go everywhere too. By doing this you will have removed pretty much all the engine oil as it won't have travelled though the pump if the engine hasn't been run. Clean the pipes and resovior before refitting them and topping up with powersteering fluid.

As mentioned before, the engine oil is thicker than powersteering fluid so strictly speaking it should float on the top and not sink into the pipes/system.

If you have started the engine already though then it is a full flush you need.

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