Willgatlin25

Hey all. Finally got some of my major mechanical issues all taken care of so now I’m moving onto more basic maintenance. Wondering if anyone has done a power steering flush on their Q7 and if there’s a good explanation of how to do so?
I’ve tried google research and YouTube etc but I’m not getting a consistent answer and I don’t want to mess anything up. The power steering fluid has never been flushed out and Id like to clean it out just to keep everything in top shape.

Mine is a 2008 Q7 Quattro Premium 4.2L V8 with 153,000 miles.

Thanks!

tigerwillow1

I flushed my '08 3.6L. I assume your hydraulic system would be the same. The way I do it is to capture the fluid returning to the reservoir in a bucket, fill the reservoir with fresh fluid, then have an assistant start the engine and turn the wheels lock-to-lock to push the old fluid out of the rack. The hard part with this car is that the pump sucks the reservoir dry in about 2 seconds flat, so the procedure for the assistant was start the engine, quickly turn the wheels full lock in one direction, and shut the engine off immediately. Then refill the reservoir and repeat for wheels in the opposite direction. Have at least 2 liters of fluid available.

Willgatlin25

I assume just manually pumping the fluid out of the reservoir by way of a hand pump would be the only real way to remove the fluid, correct?

968racer

This is the way I have always done it using an industrial syringe or turkey baster. You won't get it all out but you should feel a difference once you cycle the fluid with fresh fluid a few times.

Built4Sin

That's exactly what I did.
Remove all the fluid in the reservoir, refill with new fluid, turn the car on and turn the steering wheel full left to right (lock to lock) about 10 times. Turn it off and do the same thing 2 more times. Then once a year, go through the motions and do it again.

I've done it with 'auto fluid' syringes from amazon and the turkey baster. The syringe plunger rubber will swell from the fluid, I had 3 and barely was able to do the 3 changes. The turkey baster works like a champ. (knock out 2 cars at the same time)

Willgatlin25

Dollar store here I come! Turkey baster stock up time.

Maybe I should pick up some pregnancy tests with the Turkey basters and really get those cashiers to do a double take lol.

Built4Sin

Lol. Maybe toss in a headlamp and a pack of napkins!

Just make sure it’s a sturdy unit, I personally put a big *** worm clamp at the joint where the bulb meets the baster shaft 🤣. The fluid is pretty ‘slippery’, and if you squeeze too hard it could pop off 🤭.

Willgatlin25

So just to clarify here- You’re telling me to also get napkins and don’t “squeeze too hard or it will pop off”. Lord have mercy where did this conversation go so wrong? Lol.