[BYUFAN]

Thanks for the info. If I can convince my wife or kids to help out next time I might give that a try. If I can’t do you know if you jack the front wheels up and just turn the steering wheel from lock to lock (engine off) how much of the ps system gets exercised?

This is how I do it. Jack up the front, pull the return line, put it in a jug to collect the fluid, plug the return line hole in the reservoir, and turn the wheel from lock to lock making sure to keep the reservoir full of new fluid. Once you see the new fluid coming through stop. Super easy and it changes all the fluid.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Johnjk]

When you do the initial drain of the fluid, make sure you look inside the reservoir. the PS filter is located at the bottom of the tank. You cannot remove/replace without replacing the entire reservoir which is what I did, but you will see any large particles of dirt or debris caught by the filter on top. Make sure your filter is clean before you start adding new fluid.

 

[plplplpl]

No issues with the power steering, but I figure it's due for a little preventative maintenance. Never been done since I've owned my Pilot. I'm planning on a quickie turkey baster method job.

My question is this: Any opinions on using the Beck/Arnley PS fluid made for Hondas? It's the only PS fluid that pops up on Rockauto for our generations. I mean these guys must know what they're doing and wouldn't steer you wrong?

2006 HONDA PILOT 3.5L V6 Power Steering Fluid | RockAuto

More Information for BECK/ARNLEY 2520020

 

[boom]

I used "carquest" brand once when I was doing a flush.... but once I realized that you can get OEM fluid for $5 a bottle on eBay shipped, I quit experimenting. It's just too cheap to mess with anything else, IMHO.

 

[cintocrunch]

I've almost always done the turkey baster method... 3 or 4 times over a week or two.

I've also only used Honda fluid in my Hondas since they don't list an approved product. My Traverse lists Dex VI so I will use the same Dex VI I put in the transmission.

 

[road2cycle]

I’m a believer in sticking with OEM fluids or manufacturer approved equivalents. The cost difference between the OEM fluid versus a non-approved equivalent is normally less than a couple dollars a quart. I’m willing to shell out an extra $10 for each fluid change for peace of mind.

 

[plplplpl]

Yeah, put it in my cart at Rockauto and with shipping and it's 50% more expensive than OEM at the stealer.

 

[plplplpl]

Got three bottles of the OEM stuff at the stealer. As a bonus I got to walk through the showroom, stick my head into a 2020 PIlot and take a deep whiff of that new car smell. Then run before the stiletto-heeled sales associate was able to latch onto me.

Will begin basting soon.

 

[plplplpl]

So I started emptying the power steering fluid with a turkey baster and I found it to be somewhat slow and messy, so I took out the little fluid hand pump I got for changing the VTM-4 fluid and it made the job a bit faster and cleaner.

 

[road2cycle]

I use a horse syringe, modified with 1/4” irrigation tubing on the end, to get the fluid out of the reservoir. There are a lot fewer drips compared to the turkey baster method.

 

[ConrodM]

I think I am going the “Power” method. I ain’t suckin’ nuthun’ ! ?

 

[plplplpl]

I think I am going the “Power” method. I ain’t suckin’ nuthun’ ! ?

That's what... OK, never mind.

 

[ConrodM]

Lol! Got PS fluid drained & filled. Note to self..... even if you don’t have help- get help to hold the drain hose in the bucket and let it flow! a shut off valve left in closed position is not a good idea!! LOL!!!

 

[plplplpl]

Finally got around to doing my third out of three PS fluid pump 'n' fills. Yes, I know there are other methods, and call me lazy but this one suits me fine. I figure if Honda recommends a 3x drain and fill for its sometimes troublesome automatic transmission, this adaptation should be perfectly OK for an already well functioning power steering system as regularly scheduled or preventative maintenance. Took two minutes and then I slowly drove forward and in reverse turning the steering wheel left lock to right lock back and forth a couple dozen times to spread the fluid joy within the system.

 

[Nail Grease]

OEM PS Fluid?

Maybe a silly question, but I've been told to only use Honda fluid in the power steering (and it wasn't by a dealer). Is this really important or can I use any stuff I buy in there? It's a 2003 with 200K miles on it, so not real concerned about it overall...

If you want to insure you don't have problems, buy Honda PS fluid.

 

[john-john]

I am going to do the 1st of the horse syringe drain & replace the reservoir later this week. 3 bottles of Prestone full synthetic power steering fluid for Asian (on label as compatible with Honda) vehicles (36 ounces total). The 2007 Honda Pilot hold 1.2 quarts of power steering fluid. Mine looks like it's never been changed ever and starting to sound like it's never been changed ever too.

The way I figure it, the syringe method will dilute to 50% new / 50% old for each set of 3 12 oz bottles you switch out. 2nd set of 3 12 oz bottles = 75% new / 25% old, 3rd set of 3 12 oz bottles = 87.5% new / 12.5% old, 4th set = 92.5% new / 6.25% old, and final 5th set = 96.88% new / 3.12% old.

Actually, that's not really accurate but is lazy math as after the 1st bottle from then on, I will be replacing in a ratio of 12 oz 100% new to 12 oz 100% old only on the very first bottle. The 2nd bottle will be adding 12oz 100% new and removing 12oz fluid pre-mixed at a ratio of 12oz new/ 24oz old / 3 = 4oz new / 8 oz old so I will confoundingly be tossing 4 oz new fluid in the pre-mix. That means after 2nd bottle, I'll have 20 oz new and 16 oz old. 3rd bottle I'll be tossing about 6.6 oz new and 5.3 oz old and have 25.4 oz new and 10.7 oz old which works out about to the 70% new 30% old ratio.

Still pretty dirty at 70% new / 30% old? Would adding bottles 4, 5, & 6 help much? 4th bottle works out to toss about 8.5 oz new / 3.6 old tossed and you add in 12 oz new for 28.9 oz new / 7.1 oz old (80% new 20% old). 5th bottle = 31.3 oz new / 4.73 old (87% new / 13% old). And the final 6th bottle would be 33 oz new / 3 oz old (92% new / 8% old) So probably doing that for 6 bottles is more than enough, I think, at least for me the improvement in doing the 6th bottle after the 5th is minimal but it's about equivalent to the YouTube video posted earlier and others that say they wound up having to do 2 flushes so I'll do 6 bottles but no more although I will do 3 bottles per year of the synthetic PSF for Asian vehicles from here on out just to play it safe. I really want to get switched to the sufficiently synthetic with 6 bottles starting out though as it oxidizes much less readily than the natural.

So, changing out only 6 bottles using the horse syringe method is good for me. The current price is $10.97 at the local Walmart so to reduce the amount of dirty fluid using this method is $66 plus tax. It's very expensive, but much cheaper than a new power steering pump and the labour for the mechanical clutzes like me that are hesitant to do it themselves.

 

[Nail Grease]

I am going to do the 1st of the horse syringe drain & replace the reservoir later this week. 3 bottles of Prestone full synthetic power steering fluid for Asian (on label as compatible with Honda) vehicles (36 ounces total). The 2007 Honda Pilot hold 1.2 quarts of power steering fluid. Mine looks like it's never been changed ever and starting to sound like it's never been changed ever too.

The way I figure it, the syringe method will dilute to 50% new / 50% old for each set of 3 12 oz bottles you switch out. 2nd set of 3 12 oz bottles = 75% new / 25% old, 3rd set of 3 12 oz bottles = 87.5% new / 12.5% old, 4th set = 92.5% new / 6.25% old, and final 5th set = 96.88% new / 3.12% old.

Actually, that's not really accurate but is lazy math as after the 1st bottle from then on, I will be replacing in a ratio of 12 oz 100% new to 12 oz 100% old only on the very first bottle. The 2nd bottle will be adding 12oz 100% new and removing 12oz fluid pre-mixed at a ratio of 12oz new/ 24oz old / 3 = 4oz new / 8 oz old so I will confoundingly be tossing 4 oz new fluid in the pre-mix. That means after 2nd bottle, I'll have 20 oz new and 16 oz old. 3rd bottle I'll be tossing about 6.6 oz new and 5.3 oz old and have 25.4 oz new and 10.7 oz old which works out about to the 70% new 30% old ratio.

Still pretty dirty at 70% new / 30% old? Would adding bottles 4, 5, & 6 help much? 4th bottle works out to toss about 8.5 oz new / 3.6 old tossed and you add in 12 oz new for 28.9 oz new / 7.1 oz old (80% new 20% old). 5th bottle = 31.3 oz new / 4.73 old (87% new / 13% old). And the final 6th bottle would be 33 oz new / 3 oz old (92% new / 8% old) So probably doing that for 6 bottles is more than enough, I think, at least for me the improvement in doing the 6th bottle after the 5th is minimal but it's about equivalent to the YouTube video posted earlier and others that say they wound up having to do 2 flushes so I'll do 6 bottles but no more although I will do 3 bottles per year of the synthetic PSF for Asian vehicles from here on out just to play it safe. I really want to get switched to the sufficiently synthetic with 6 bottles starting out though as it oxidizes much less readily than the natural.

So, changing out only 6 bottles using the horse syringe method is good for me. The current price is $10.97 at the local Walmart so to reduce the amount of dirty fluid using this method is $66 plus tax. It's very expensive, but much cheaper than a new power steering pump and the labour for the mechanical clutzes like me that are hesitant to do it themselves.

If I were using Prestone power steering fluid, I’d use the one specifically made for Honda/Acura. The asian formula (red label) is not as compatible despite what the bottle says.

Here is a way to have 100% clean PSF…,

How To Do A Complete Flush Of The Power Steering Fluid

After watching several DIY PSF flush videos, I took the good points from them to create what I feel is the best method of getting a complete flush without starting the vehicle which causes the fluid to become aerated (foam). Air sucked into the system can be a big problem and is preventable if...

www.piloteers.org

 

[john-john]

If I were using Prestone power steering fluid, I’d use the one specifically made for Honda/Acura. The asian formula (red label) is not as compatible despite what the bottle says.
View attachment 162505
Here is a way to have 100% clean PSF…,

How To Do A Complete Flush Of The Power Steering Fluid

After watching several DIY PSF flush videos, I took the good points from them to create what I feel is the best method of getting a complete flush without starting the vehicle which causes the fluid to become aerated (foam). Air sucked into the system can be a big problem and is preventable if...

www.piloteers.org

Thanks. I can handle that. I did not know you could drain that PS pump without starting the vehicle because I watched the video of a flush and it was a loud frothy mess that honestly sounded a bit damaging to the PS pump compared to just doing the horse syringe/turkey baster repeatedly.

I think I will do that this weekend then, when I don't have obligations to go anywhere. I already have the 3 bottles of Prestone Synthetic for Asian vehicles though because I already bought it and I'm set on trying the synthetics as fluid replacements except maybe the brake fluid (because I've read too many stories about not risking introducing air into a functioning system that doesn't absolutely require the work). Likewise, I won't do an automatic transmission fluid flush but a drain & fill I think they also did that a total of 3 times (with about 5 quarts of synthetic depending on the number of ounces drained). Honda says every 30K miles for the transmission fluid on the Pilot so that's definitely happening.

And truth be told, I did see the Honda Brand PSF on Amazon but not the Prestone Honda Accura PSF on Amazon or Walmart despite searching using my car type set as the compatibility search filter (doesn't always work though). I think because synthetic is more stable oxidatively and also with its viscosity in hot & cold temperatures, the Prestone Honda Accura PSF or the Honda PSF brand might start out better suited in the 1st 3000 miles or so but then the Prestone synthetic for Asian vehicles overtakes it for suitability. I could be wrong though, but that's what I was told. He (the YouTube mechanic Scotty Kilmer and one other I forget) said that was true of all these new synthetic ATFs, engine oils, brake fluids and so on. The higher prices on those synthetics I'm not really a fan of though on my budget.

 

[Nail Grease]

Thanks. I can handle that. I did not know you could drain that PS pump without starting the vehicle because I watched the video of a flush and it was a loud frothy mess that honestly sounded a bit damaging to the PS pump compared to just doing the horse syringe/turkey baster repeatedly.

I think I will do that this weekend then, when I don't have obligations to go anywhere. I already have the 3 bottles of Prestone Synthetic for Asian vehicles though because I already bought it and I'm set on trying the synthetics as fluid replacements except maybe the brake fluid (because I've read too many stories about not risking introducing air into a functioning system that doesn't absolutely require the work). Likewise, I won't do an automatic transmission fluid flush but a drain & fill I think they also did that a total of 3 times (with about 5 quarts of synthetic depending on the number of ounces drained). Honda says every 30K miles for the transmission fluid on the Pilot so that's definitely happening.

And truth be told, I did see the Honda Brand PSF on Amazon but not the Prestone Honda Accura PSF on Amazon or Walmart despite searching using my car type set as the compatibility search filter (doesn't always work though). I think because synthetic is more stable oxidatively and also with its viscosity in hot & cold temperatures, the Prestone Honda Accura PSF or the Honda PSF brand might start out better suited in the 1st 3000 miles or so but then the Prestone synthetic for Asian vehicles overtakes it for suitability. I could be wrong though, but that's what I was told. He (the YouTube mechanic Scotty Kilmer and one other I forget) said that was true of all these new synthetic ATFs, engine oils, brake fluids and so on. The higher prices on those synthetics I'm not really a fan of though on my budget.

After the full power steering flush, please let us know how it performs with the Prestone Asian Red. I’m sure many would be interested. Ty

 

[john-john]

After the full power steering flush, please let us know how it performs with the Prestone Asian Red. I’m sure many would be interested. Ty

Sure thing.

What is does now is make a "moan" when the steering is turned after the car has been driven 30 minutes or so but not a loud grating noise. However, when I get home and back in, up a 75 foot driveway, with a between 8 & 15 degree grade (not sure, it's a bit steep though), that's when it starts making the loud grating noise when I turn the wheels oddly enough, every single time (no frothing though as I checked but just absolutely filthy fluid).