How to install an inline PS filter

[Dr_Snooz]

Did you know that there is a filter in the bottom of your PS fluid reservoir?

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/pic0048.jpg

And yet, the PS fluid is always black, right? You pull out all the old fluid and replace it with new and in a week, it's all black again. It's not much of a filter, is it? Forget that nonsense.

In an effort to improve the filtration of my PS fluid, I bought an inline PS fluid filter from Napa. It fits a 1/2" line. It comes with a directional filter and two hose clamps. Here's the part no.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00382.jpg

1. Move the cruise control actuator out of the way. It is held by two 10mm bolts, an electrical connector and a large vacuum line.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00367.jpg

2. Remove as much fluid from the reservoir as you can. Use a siphon, or a vacuum pump. Eeewww, icky dirty!

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00368.jpg

3. The remaining fluid will have to be removed by running the pump and blowing it out of the system. Remove the fluid return line from the reservoir. It's the upper hose on the reservoir, toward the front of the car. Push a drain hose firmly into it. Fluid will be coming out under high pressure when you start the car. If you don't have the drain hose secured firmly at both ends, you will spray nasty PS fluid all over the car next to you in the carport. Ask me how I know this...

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00369.jpg

4. Put the other end of the drain hose into a receptacle and weigh down the hose. Start the car and let it idle until fluid stops shooting out the drain line. Turn the wheel from lock to lock a couple times to purge the system.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00371.jpg

5. I didn't want the old dirty filter cruddying up my system anymore, so I removed it. I cut the top off a junkyard reservoir and removed the old filter. Then I epoxied the top back on. I swapped out my existing reservoir for this modified one.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00372.jpg

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00374.jpg

6. I chose to keep the existing support bracket so that the filter won't later droop down and rub on the PS pump belt.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00376.jpg

7. Cut roughly 3" of line out of the PS pump feed line. This is the line that loops up from the reservoir and over the pump. Insert the filter making sure that the flow arrow is pointing toward the PS pump.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00379.jpg

[Dr_Snooz]

8. Reconnect all hoses and check all fittings for tightness.

9. Re-install the cruise control actuator.

10. Add new PS fluid to the max line. BE SURE TO USE HONDA FLUID ONLY!!!!! Start the car and refill the reservoir to the max line. Turn the wheel from lock to lock a couple times to bleed any bubbles and check the fluid level one last time. My car held exactly 3 small containers of fluid.

11. Admire your handiwork.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/dr_snooz/SNC00381.jpg

For best results, I'd say change the filter and fluid every 30,000 miles.

[2ndGenGuy]

Looks good man! Always nice to have an easy to access, and easy to drain setup!

[88Accord-DX]

Looks good. I doubt the hoses will start to sag.

[lostforawhile]

looks good, i didn't even know you could buy a specific inline power steering filter, of course i will have to make a fancy aluminum bracket for mine :tongue:

[lostforawhile]

does anyone know if a regular oil filer will filter PS fluid? I had the remote filter from the civic for the transmission, never hooked it up, now I have a remote filter adapter and a small oil filter, and room to put it under the bumper corner, opposite the reservoir.

[lostforawhile]

Snooze, here's a thread on one of your filters installed inline on a Ford truck, and what came out of that same power steering filter after it was replaced, good stuff, and a good idea to install one of these. It looks like it's just a regular cartridge filter inside with a big magnet, the same company that makes that filter,also makes a magnet that screws on between your filter and the filter base, also a good idea, big magnets are always good for catching fine metal

http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3516

[Xaisk]

I like that snooz. It fits in seamlessly and fills up some blank space. How much were those things? Im going to look into this when I finally get into tech school.

I had no idea that there was a filter in the reservoir. I kind of want to go out and look at mine to see how dirty it is. I can assure that its never been changed ever haha.

Oh this could also be entered into the How-To section. I bet doing this will catch more popularity if it is in the How-to section.

Kudos

[Dr_Snooz]

So I kinda forgot to clean up my new reservoir with degreaser before epoxying the top back on. Now it's trying to come apart on me. Nothing disastrous has happened yet, but there is a little seepage from the top. I might be re-doing that part of it soon. I'll have to figure out a cleaner way to cut the top off and a better way to glue it back on.

[lostforawhile]

So I kinda forgot to clean up my new reservoir with degreaser before epoxying the top back on. Now it's trying to come apart on me. Nothing disastrous has happened yet, but there is a little seepage from the top. I might be re-doing that part of it soon. I'll have to figure out a cleaner way to cut the top off and a better way to glue it back on.

there are some other japanese cars with aluminum resevoirs, I just can't remember which, if you were able to find one of these you could swap it out

[ecogabriel]

I like what you did Snooz!

It fits VERY well as I can see from the photos. I should do that mod. Both Civic and Accord p/s fluid look like s...

I had seen that unit before in Rockauto.com but I kind of never wrapped up my mind on anything like that.... and I changed ALL my fluid only to get it all dirty again in a short while. Two images I took from rockauto about what they have in stock (one is the same as yours)

http://cardone.com/English/club/members/customer/ecat_brands/imageinfo.asp?PARTNUM=200038F
http://cardone.com/English/club/members/customer/ecat_brands/imageinfo.asp?PARTNUM=20FLT3

Good tips about sticking the hoses TIGHTLY INSIDE THE OTHERs before cranking up the engine... don't ask OK? :uh:

I wonder if the 5G civic P/S fluid reservoir would fit in the 3G. It is shorter in height but about the same diameter- even the fill plug is the same. But the hoses coming in and out are in different positions so I am not sure if it can be fitted; I am pretty sure that one DOES NOT have a filter inside... maybe worth exploring in a next trip to the jy.

Side note: I used a vacuum pump "like that" (unlike yours, a mere crappy plastic thing) to clean up the brake lines in my wife's gayota car -brake main cylinder crapped out. Fluid looking clean after 6-8 weeks of doing it (I used half gallon of denatured alcohol to purge the lines) so that is another job I have to tackle (in addition to what you did); the old brake cyl was pitted inside which seems to indicate aluminum rusted because of water contamination in brake fluid.

Again, nice job man.

[ecogabriel]

does anyone know if a regular oil filer will filter PS fluid? I had the remote filter from the civic for the transmission, never hooked it up, now I have a remote filter adapter and a small oil filter, and room to put it under the bumper corner, opposite the reservoir.

Go back to the thread you pointed out earlier,

http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3516

and read comment #5.

If he is right, the paper element filters 25 microns so an oil filter should -in theory- work. I believe regular oil filters trap particles 20 microns and larger...