Changing Power Steering Fluid

[rs6er]

My '01 Sububan has 90k miles. Oil change place told me I need to change my power steering fluid (and coolant). Is the PS fluid change difficult? If I do a coolant flush there, will they have the right stuff?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by rs6er

My '01 Sububan has 90k miles. Oil change place told me I need to change my power steering fluid (and coolant). Is the PS fluid change difficult? If I do a coolant flush there, will they have the right stuff?

coolant must be dexcool [GM APPROVED] WITH DISTILLED WATER.

If they use this product , flushing the coolant is good. what about thermostat ? I go 4 years max on this , with normal mileage use.


power steering is simply suck res. container completely ,,,then refill.make sure it says for GM vehicles. buy 1/2 GALLON. After a few days repeat. never run engine with low/no fluid.

IF IT SAYS GM DEXCOOL APPROVED ITS DEXCOOL." COMPATIBLE TO ALL COOLANTS MUST NOT BE USED !"

[rs6er]

[quote=j cAT;6802499]coolant must be dexcool [GM APPROVED] WITH DISTILLED WATER.

If they use this product , flushing the coolant is good. what about thermostat ? I go 4 years max on this , with normal mileage use.

Chilton says to flush block with a garden hose. If my water is high in mineral content, will this be a problem? (I know about using distilled water with the Dexcool.)

[j cAT]

[quote=rs6er;6805181]

Originally Posted by j cAT

coolant must be dexcool [GM APPROVED] WITH DISTILLED WATER.

If they use this product , flushing the coolant is good. what about thermostat ? I go 4 years max on this , with normal mileage use.

Chilton says to flush block with a garden hose. If my water is high in mineral content, will this be a problem? (I know about using distilled water with the Dexcool.)

with an engine with drain plugs in the block that can be opened your manual is correct. with this engine no .

drain as much as you can / suck out as much as you can . remove the hoses to the heater core at engine connections and flush those out with a water hose and then blow out with some air as the heater core can/will trap debris. this will make your heater work great this winter.

use 60 % dexcool 40 % distilled water on filling.with the coolant cap off idle engine and continue to fill until engine at normal temp . rev engine a few times to get air bubles out fill to the hot line on coolant tank.

tap water has metal and corrosive chemicals these will eat the aluminum and cause all kinds of bad gasket issues..


replace dexcool every 3-4yrs. thats all its good for ,,,5yrs is too long !

[rs6er]

Maunal says I have drain plugs. I don't? (5.3L Vortec)

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by rs6er

Maunal says I have drain plugs. I don't? (5.3L Vortec)

you have 2 drain plugs. one is under the starter motor. you will need a 7/8in allen socket 1/2inch drive.

I have tried to remove these . these I believe are locktight in place.

try to remove the driver side plug . let me know how it went .

[Cusser]

Originally Posted by rs6er

Maunal says I have drain plugs. I don't? (5.3L Vortec)

The manual I had that stated it covered my 94 Suburban ("up to 1995", Haynes) - was incorrect far more than it was correct. I let the new owner have that book.

For my 1988 Suburban I sprung for the factory single-year repair manual from Helm. It showed incorrect sender for the oil pressure gauge as being under the distributor; that there was for the idiot light. The sender for the pressure gauge was near the oil filter. I would've been better off that time WITHOUT a manual.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Cusser

The manual I had that stated it covered my 94 Suburban ("up to 1995", Haynes) - was incorrect far more than it was correct. I let the new owner have that book.

For my 1988 Suburban I sprung for the factory single-year repair manual from Helm. It showed incorrect sender for the oil pressure gauge as being under the distributor; that there was for the idiot light. The sender for the pressure gauge was near the oil filter. I would've been better off that time WITHOUT a manual.

I have found errors in my Helms factory manuals. I tried to report these and they would not even comment on it.

the dealerships get the corrected updates, we do not.