dvs_dave

So my power steering of late started to make the occasional moan and groan whilst maneuvering at low speeds. Fluid level was ok, but figured it probably needed a change as not sure it's ever been done in 12 years and 83k.

This is what came out, and it had a strong burnt odor. Yikes!



I flushed 2 quarts of cheapo Prestone mineral oil power steering fluid through it, then did the final flush/fill with 2 quarts of Pentosin CHF11S which is the equivalent of VW spec G0002000 and what is written on the reservoir cap.

Steering now feels smoother, a little lighter, and it's definitely quieter, especially at full lock.

Jack88

Yeesh, good to have changed it. Power steering is one of those often neglected fluids, some people never touch it and it just gets slowly worse as the fluid loses its properties.

dvs_dave

Yes I'm glad I did. Anything to hopefully prolong the life of and/or avoid a power steering failure as they're consistently $$$$ to fix.

richard-tx

Overheated hydraulic oil seems to pull the plasticizer out of o-rings and seals making them brittle and prone to cracking.

I would guess that someone was holding the steering wheel against the stops repeatedly and frrequently.

dvs_dave

Who knows, I have to hit the lock stops to get in and out of my garage each day....but what ya gonna do, a multi-point turn each time to avoid maybe overtaxing the steering fluid in a situation that it's designed to handle? What next, slipping the trans into neutral at stoplights?

Mechanical sympathy is one thing, but mechanical inconvenience, nah

Jack88

I believe shifting into neutral causes more wear than it saves on account that engaging and disengaging gears is worse than the pressure the engine puts on it at idle. If you can't avoid the bump stops, so be it. Remember, though, that hitting the bump stops and backing off even a couple degrees can make a big difference in wear and tear.

dvs_dave

I was being facetious.

As it happens the 6HP trans actually disengages itself when at a stop. For efficiency and comfort reasons.

Hitting the lock stops and carrying on yanking the wheel, no I don't do that.

Junius

Our transmission disengages at a stop? I did not know that......is that true?

richard-tx

I can find no evidence to support that notion.

MP4.2+6.0

From the D3 A8 Intro SSP. See middle paragraph. Honestly not sure exactly what it means or how it works, but it is what Audi said on intro.