Engine Fluid Color Questions

[cherrington17]

Now, i've never claimed to be a guru when it comes to engine... anything. i just changed out my oil and gave a decent cleaning with a can of seafoam (got a bunch of white smoke, so i guess it needed it)


then at the end i decided to check my other fluids... and got these two.

The first looks like a good chocolate shake color. ....and that would be my power steering fluid. I'm thinking that used to be pink....


and the second is my brake fluid. It is a pink color, but why have i never seen that yellow thing floating in there before??? its like a big foam cyclinder. :huh:


so i guess my question is... whats going on? (clearly two separate issues) i'm guessing i'm doing a power steering flush, in a little bit. how hard is that to do? (read that as, am i better off going somewhere to have it done...)

[cavaliers60]

I to would like to know some of this stuff as I probably need to change the transmission fluid... Brake fluid I'm not sure...

[nickbain]

the power steering fluid looks like mine. Does it smell burnt? If not I wouldn't worry tooo much. The brake fluid pink??? Never heard that one before.

[jayson_waltz]

the power steering looks perfectly normal to me, unless you think it smells burnt. and the brake fluid is light brown-ish color, not pink. the yellow float is supposed to be in there.

[CBLOHM3400]

brake fluid out of the can is clear, and actual power steering fluid is clear also
but in older cars you could use trans fluid which is reddish color

[cherrington17]

hmm i've just never seen the yellow float. ah well.

and i remember checking my fluid like 2 years ago (I have checked it since, but never really paid MUCH attention) and it definitely was a pinkish color... must it might have been relatively new.

and as per http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/cars-care-steering-fluid.htm
(just looking up links to find what i'm looking at) it says if its dark brown, it should be changed.
"Now it should be clear and if your power steering fluid is a dark brown or black you should have it changed. As you can see this fluid is a pretty dark brown color, it should probably be changed soon."

and from...
http://www.automedia.com/Power-Steering-Fluid-Maintenance/ccr20030601ps/1
"Power steering fluid of the "long-life" variety should be changed every five years or 100,000 miles. For conventional fluid, the interval is every three years or 50,000 miles. Most likely, the fluid will appear normal at this point—either amber (on most vehicles) or pink/red in color. This is good, as no serious problems are indicated."

sounds like its suppose to be clear,pink/red when its newish, or amber colored if its used, brown should be changed. :huh:

i'd appreciate if a local gearhead could yay or nay this... i do trust the research, but its done by "certified mechanics" which means they'll change something ASAP, and charge someone for it. I don't know what the functional operating range should look like.

[alerored04]

my power steering fluid made it to 90,000 miles before it looked pitch black and blew the pump. If it is getting dark i would change it. Certainly cheaper and less of a pita than changing the pump. Sadly i do not know how to change it since mine all dumped out when the pump blew. I am sure you can find it on here or gagt.

[cherrington17]

from gagt.com says, i guess the turkey baster method looks like the best way.


...and apparently mech shops want 99.99 for this!:ohmy:

any idea how much is in there?

[TheEdgeofSanity]

also, i have to add a question about coolant. on the coolant tank, it says change eevry 5 years or 100,000 miles. how do I do this? my car's at 97K and the coolant isn't as orange as it should be.

[alerored04]

cherry i know it is less than a quart. Edge, pull a coolant hose, let it drain out. Fill with water, run for a few min to circulate the system, drain that. Refill with proper mix. Make sure to dispose of the coolant properly.

[nickbain]

cherry i know it is less than a quart. Edge, pull a coolant hose, let it drain out. Fill with water, run for a few min to circulate the system, drain that. Refill with proper mix. Make sure to dispose of the coolant properly.

what he said about the cooleant but instead of pulling a hose I think there is a drain plug on one of the bottom corners of the rad, pass. side I belive.

[CBLOHM3400]

best performance mod for brake is flush the system ( yea i know you don't hear that ) but i have done it and i have had friends that have done it words cannot describe how much better your brakes work and feel

[alerored04]

what he said about the cooleant but instead of pulling a hose I think there is a drain plug on one of the bottom corners of the rad, pass. side I belive.
problem with the drain plug is that it is made of plastic and breaks. Mine is broken, that is why i pull a hose.