Looks like I've got a leaking union on the PAS hose where it goes into the rack on a Focus diesel. Should just be a new gasket but obviously I'll be losing most of the fluid from the rack and reservior putting the new one on. Could anyone make a guess how much I'll need to fill it back up again? I cannot find any data and the dealr just fills it from his big 50 gallon drum of dextron whever he services one so he's no wiser either.
TIA
1 litre will be plenty
As mrcheerful says. A litre will be plenty. More than enough IMO. I don't know the Focus setup, but you might find you lose less than you think. I don't think disconnecting that pipe will allow the reservoir to drain. If I'm correct, you'll only partly drain that end of the rack, and the pipe itself. Mike.
Sadly both pipes appear to share a common gasket. How much will drain through the pump is unknown but as you say it hopefully won't be very much.
it probably has an o ring on each pipe end
Hi Chris
I had a similar problem. Try using Slick 50 power steering fluid. What will probably happen is the car seems to "use" most of the fluid as it did before. However, this time the Slick 50 is soaking into the seals and rejuvenating them. You can then top it up with regular Power Steering Fluid and with luck, the problem will have gone away.
I did this trick on an older car, a '92, and it worked a treat. It surprises me that there's a problem on a newish car like a Focus.
Hopefully it will work and save the trouble of disconnecting pipes and so on.
To answer your original question, a Haynes manual or other data source will be able to tell you how much fuid the system needs. Perhaps ask a Ford dealership or a mechanic who uses "autodata".
It's not the interior seals that is the problem, and there's no way I'm placing anything i there that is going to muck about with perfectly good seals.
What's it coming to anyway? Slick 50 -makes you turn the wheel faster or summat?
Maybe fishman should have been more specific. There are several Slick 50 products, apart from the better known engine additive. He's presumably referring to 'Slick 50 Power Steering Fluid'. which designed to keep seals in good condition, and stop leaks in p/s systems. IME such products can work. I used a smilar one Wynns made for auto boxes a few years ago when it developed a small leak. It's never leaked since, and it's had no affect on the way the g/box performs. Mike.
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