V50 2.0d (2005) Power Steering Fluid Change

[IainG]

Hi
My car is just over 100k and although the power steering fluid, I believe, is not changed for life of the car, I decided I would like to change it.
It is the Green, WSS-M2C-204-A Fluid and was showing signs of becoming slightly darker in colour.
I wanted to change the fluid with minimum dismantling.
The reservoir is behind the headlight unit and the pump is lower down behind the wheel arch protector.

Plan A (failed)
Tried the vacuum pump through the reservoir and down the reservoir / Pump linking hose.
The hose has a few bends in it and the vacuum sucker hose would not negotiate the bends.


Plan B (worked)
Remove the Headlight
Vacuum out the reservoir and top section of hose,(the vacuum hose will poke part way down the pump reservoir hose)
Lift reservoir from fixings (3 rubber grommets)
Remove reservoir from bottom hose (1 spring clip and a twist and pull)
Ease the end of the hose into the space the headlight was in. The hose bends can now be straightened out enough for the vacuum hose to slip right down into the bottom of the pump.
I sucked out all the fluid.
I managed to retrieve about 900ml old fluid.
I think the manual says it holds 1.2 lt. So most of it out and more than enough for a refresh.
Whilst the reservoir was out I cleaned it out as it had a thin dark coating inside.
Reservoir held and hose reattached, reservoir mounted back in its clips.
Topped back up with fluid, engine run,steering turned and fluid level checked again.

All in all it took me 30 minutes, no wheels off or crawling under the car, pressure side and pump not touched. Very pleasantly surprised.

I feel happier now especially as the old fluid was darker than the new.

Hope this is of use to others.
Photos
1 How reservoir and pump looks
2 Reservoir mounted(looking from space for headlight)
3 Vacuum hose down hose to pump
4 Vacuum hose sucking out
5 Reservoir after cleaning (just to be dried)
6 Ford part no on reservoir
7 Fluid used

Iain

[Ian Straub]

IainG, thanks for this info. I have beeen looking for a supplier of www m2c204-a and after a lot of searching find that carlube does it, https://www.carlube.co.uk/product/ch...teering-fluid/ - but, that web site doesnt support online orders just info i think. They told me to get on https://www.tetrosylexpress.com/prod...f001/TETHPF001 which seems to be their sales outlet or someething, and the stuff is known as HPF001 when you do a search for it. Thats what it is called in the carlube website if you look carefully. BTW theyre charging about £18.99 and delivery not free ouch. I checked for other supps and asda do 500ml for £6.00 but it doesnt mention m2c2014-a.
I see m2c204-a2 in various places and I noticed one tech site that said it has superceded m2c204-a which would mean its ok to use. But I dont know for sure - any ideas? It seems to be easier to get

[MDS40]

M2c204 is just a Ford spec for central hydraulic fluid.
I used Comma MVCHF and a turkey baster to suck out the old stuff and top up with new a few times. All good.

[StatusRed]

How easy do you reckon it would be to do an alternative approach to this?

This is how I did it on my C70 after advice on the forums..

1. You disconnect the return hose to the reservoir and direct it into a jar for disposal
   
2. Move the steering wheel left and right (with the engine off!) to pump through the old fluid
   
3. Keep topping it up with new fluid (ensuring it doesn't go dry) then the new fluid would have run through the system and no old fluid should be left

The placement of the reservoir on the P1 platform makes this more difficult but do you think it would be doable? I want to refresh the fluid on my S40 having done 140K miles.

[MDS40]

Sounds okay but with the engine off the pump wont work.
I did it my way as i didn't want to remove the pipes and then get a leak.
What i did was similar to an auto box sump dump a few times.
Nice green fluid and only used just over 1 litre of fluid.
Each to their own i guess but worth changing fluid that's so called sealed for life.

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by MDS40

Sounds okay but with the engine off the pump wont work.
I did it my way as i didn't want to remove the pipes and then get a leak.
What i did was similar to an auto box sump dump a few times.
Nice green fluid and only used just over 1 litre of fluid.
Each to their own i guess but worth changing fluid that's so called sealed for life.

Yes but fluid still flows through when you turn the wheel, if you turn the engine on it will pull it through too quickly and the reservoir will run dry and damage the steering rack.

[emy]

I am planing to change the power steering fluid too.
The way I am thinking to do is, first to suck out the fluid, add fresh, start the car moving the steering wheel left/right, then empty out again and add fresh fluid. Is this OK?

[MDS40]

Exactly the way i did it. See post 3

[emy]

I just did it today, using Carlube HPF001 Power Steering fluid. I bought 2L, but 1L was enough to flush it three times, the old one was dusty dark green color, heavier/thicker in terms of fluidity. Each time went for a few km drive, turning the steering wheel left/right...I think it is a bit better than before.

[StatusRed]

I've just sucked out what I could, by taking out the driver's side headlight, sticking an oil syringe in there with some hose and sucking it out. I got out about 400ml, then put 400ml fresh back in. I'm going to drive it for a week or two, then suck out what I can again and put back in the rest of the 1l bottle I have. Not bad for about 10 minutes work.

Hopefully by the time I've done that it's effectively replaced at least 75% of the old stuff. If I can be bothered I might buy another 1l bottle and do it twice again.