Power Steering Reservoir Filter

[jimshoen]

Finally broke down and changed my power steering reservoir filter. It is locating directly above my chassis batteries. Purchased the filter from Prevost. Unfortunately the convertor failed to follow the "due regard for your neighbor" clause when they wired up all the isolators and equalizers.
The area above the reservoir that allows you to take the filter out of the canister is now half filled up with large cabling and wire bundles. Just checking the fluid level is a bit of a trick, and changing the filter (50,000 mile or one year interval) is down right maddening. Ended up removing about 15 large wire ties so I could push the wire bundles partly out of the way. Then unbolted the two outboard mounting bolts holding on the canister brakets. That allowed access to the two clamping (pinch) bolts on the brackets to loose the canister from the mounting brackets. Of course all the fasteners are very difficult to access, and the nuts on the pinch bolts are sick. Used two pairs of needle nose vise grips to hold the nuts on the pinch bolts. There is no visual access to the nuts so once I got the vise grips attached I did not want to let them go until it was back together. Loosened the pinch bolts. Then unbolted the two large hose clamps which support the large hose coming out the bottom of the canister. At this point I was able to lower the canister in the bracket about 1.5 inches and in combination with pushing on the loosened wire bundles remove the old filter. This is a three arm job, but your head can be used.
Reversed the process and bang the filter is changed.
This little adventure only took four hours. Next time it will only take two hours. Interesting how a 15 minute job can take half a day. :eek:
P.S. I am using the milage interval not the time. It is possible that this is the first time this filter was ever changed? 146,945 miles

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I will be changing mine soon and on previous changes found that rather than deal with the junk in the way I was better off to disconnect the reservoir bracket, spill the contents into a pail and remove the top while it was laying over facing me.

The first Liberty had it on the left rear near the top of the door opening and it was easy to do. This one, like Jim's, not so easy.

[jimshoen]

Jon, That is a good idea. The reservoir only holds two or three quarts of Dextron. Next go around I will do that. Thanks

[hhoppe]

This is the first time I have seen anything written on this subject. I checked with my new found mainjtenence shop in Sacramento and to my suprise changing the power steering fluid and filter is done fairly often on vehicles getting a lot of steering use. As with fire trucks and other city dwellers. The heat generated turns the fluid black. The next decision is do you go with dextron or motor oil. Has anyone got any recent info from Prevost as to this choice. Fire back quick if you have because I will be getting into mine this Thursday when I do the water service again. We lost too much cooling fluid along side the road when the high heat sensor was removed and changed. We did not have any extra of the correct antifreeze to replenish it. We had to resort to adding water until we reached civilization. Something to think about carrying along with your spare high heat water & Oil sensors.
Thanks for the previous info from Jim and Jon.

[jimshoen]

Use what is recommended by Prevost. My July 1996 chassis uses Dextron III. Look on the Power Steering Reservoir canister or your prevost service manual. My fluid was fine. All I changed was the filter.

[garyde]

Hi Harry. Yes, Prevost recommends Dextron lll.

[dreamchasers]

I remembered this post from Bruce that when he had the power steering fluid replaced with motor oil while at the Prevost Quebec service center. He spoke highly of the result. I think it would be a great upgrade for me.

http://forum.prevostownersgroup.com/showthread.php?p=31316&highlight=power+steering#post31316

Perhaps Bruce could shed more light on the subject.

Hector

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I am sure that other than Dextron III may be acceptable, I will stay with what is specified for my coach until Prevost issues a service bulletin advising of alternate fluids.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Hector DD is not the only manufacturer that allows motor oil. I used to put straight 30wt in a Cat power steering pump. Has to be straight weight, multi-grade will foam up.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I get concerned when alternate fluids are used and their use is not contained in an owner's manual or covered by a service bulletin.

We have all run into mechanics that are smarter than the engineers that design the product, and those mechanics often have their own way of doing things. The problem is they don't have to pay for their bad advice or mistakes. We do.

Use of motor oil may be perfectly acceptable, but if it is I would imagine Prevost would issue a revision to the service manual or a service bulletin. Joe states he can use straight weight motor oil, but not multi grade. I can accept that, but before I start dumping other than Dextron III in my power steering reservoir I want to know what weight oil, if it has a MIL spec, and if multi weight is not allowed I want to see that in writing. I would also want to be assured that I can mix Dextron III and oil, and if I cannot, what procedure is required to purge the system.

I doubt there are any using motor oil in their Allison six speed transmissions, but when the Allison five speed transmissions were more common there were owners and mechanics using oil in their transmission instead of Dextron. That probably made the Allison folks happy because they got more service work.

[dreamchasers]

I spoke with Jim Malcom, Presost Service Manager, Southern region. He stated that changing out the Dexion III to motor oil was recommended and practiced by Prevost. He also stated that if driving in the southern areas of the US, he recommends 30 weight motor oil. If driving in the northern areas, he would recommend 10 weight oil. He stated that 20 weight is a good compromise and works good.


He will look up the technical information concerning the motor oil recommendation and forward that information to me. When received, I will make it available to all.

Thanks for bringing the topic to light, I have the power steering fluid change out on my list.


Hector

[tdelorme]

I've been reading this thread for a couple of days and I'm just wondering why would anyone change their power steering fluid from Dextron III to motor oil. What is the advantage? Surely it's not a cost issue or supply problem. If there is some unstated advantage, let's hear it. Otherwise, why the heck would anyone switch???

[Jon Wehrenberg]

And as long as Ted is getting hardnosed about this, I want to see the approval to run oil in writing. Especially the part about oil types and weights.

The service manager says 30 is good, but if its cold 10 is better so why not use 20? Sounds like a real technical bit of solid advice.

Except for grasping at straws to placate owners who hear noises what is the reason for using oil? And just to beat this dead horse a little more, now that it is OK to use oil has the factory revised the label on the side of the reservoir to reflect the use of oil or are they waiting for the inventory that says to use Dextron III to run out before it is reprinted to say whatever weight oil you want to use is OK.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I have made a few calls to see what I can learn. First I called Vickers because I believe that is who manufactures the pump. I got voicemail and am waiting for a call back.

Then I called Shepard, that is who I believe makes the steering box. TRW also makes them and if someone is aware of the TRW box as what is being used please correct me.

I spoke with a Shepard service tech and asked him the fluid preference and he laughed and told be that was a sticky topic, no pun intended. At one time they used to recommend and 10-40 BUT received much grief from manufacturers of equipment using their boxes because those folks recommend power steering fluid and in an effort not to confuse they changed their policy to suggest using whatever the manufacturer suggests.

I then asked why they prefer that the motor oil should be used. He said that it holds its viscosity better and the seals last longer keeping in motor oil. He went on to say do not ever put Dextron 6 in because that will for sure eat the seals but other than that the steering box will function with any fluid in it short of dirty water.

When I get a call back from Vickers I will also post what I learn.

He also said 100000mile service interval. So there you have it. I have the red stuff in mine and am experiencing a small leak at the pump around an O-ring. When I get around to it I may try changing the fluid to motor oil to see if it stops as that would be easier than getting to the o-ring and could give definitive reason as to the use of one fluid for another if it were to stop that leak. That is only of course if Vickers gives me the same responce as Shepard.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

OK ladies and gentlemen....here you have it. The definitive answer. We can use Dextron III, but if we use motor oil use straight weight 30 unless its cold, use 10 weight, so we can compromise and use 20 weight, unless you want to use the 10-40 Shepard recommends.

Did everybody get that?

I'm thinking of running extended life power steering fluid. Anybody have an opinion on that we can discuss?

The label on the side of the reservoir and the fluid specs in the owners manual do not mean diddly so apparently whatever you want to put in your power steering is OK, and if it is not listed here, we will find someone who says its OK.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I will reserve my opinion until I here from Vickers.

I do remember Cat telling me to use motor-oil and I did that for the 12 years I had the truck. Peterbilt says use power steering fluid. Whos advice should I have taken? The folks who built the truck or the folks who built the engine neither being the one who manufactured the pump or steering box:confused:

I understand and respect Jons opinion to follow manufacturers directions to the letter. I do not think you could go wrong using what is labeled on the reservoir.

I am just trying to get information to add to the discussion from the folks who actually manufactured the components.

Sheppard includes motor oil on the suggested list of lubricants on their website.

Where is Orren with his 2 cents?

[truk4u]

My Liberty is 14 years old and has nice clean red stuff in it and will stay that way. How the hell would you get all the Dextron out of the system anyway?:(

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Remove the return line from the reservoir start the bus and pump it out. You arent going to hurt the oil by mixing it with a little trans fluid. That is an old trick I have been doing for years to keep my V-8's clean. Put some into the crankcase the day prior to changing oil, it is VERY HIGH detergent stuff. Also makes great hand cleaner.

[BrianE]

OOPS! Put that in the maintenance log Trukster, changed it about 2 years ago. :eek:

[truk4u]

OK Mole Man, I'll update the log and thanks for the fluid change!

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I would like to know from those who have done fluid changes how they did it.

Was the reservoir simply drained and only a portion replaced or were the lines cleared too?