I'm servicing my PAS pump and hoses, which means I'll also be flushing/putting all new fluid in the system. I've removed and drained my reservoir. There's some dirt sludge on the bottom and the filters have done their job as well—not clogged, but yes, dirty. Now, I've spent enough money on other repairs and have more yet that I expect to do. I'm not interested in replacing the otherwise good reservoir.

My question is: what cleaners if any are safe to spray into the reservoir to flush out the debris? Obviously, I'd need to make sure there is nothing residual when it comes time to refill the system, but I don't see a problem there.

 

Clamp the lines and remove the reservoir completely. Then use a can of brake clean and clean. Dry with compressed air, or air dry. Either will work. Then reinstall, refill and bleed. I tend to jack up the front and turn the wheel lock to lock to get the air out of the system. Then start and repeat. THEN take it off the Jacks and drive.

 

That's what I was thinking for cleaning, especially since the straw will help blast the crud up close and personal, but I didn't want to find out the hard way that whatever I used was somehow corrosive to the polyester (or whatever) filter screen.

Thanks for the extra tips, too.

 

If you're removing it and will be able to let it dry thoroughly off the truck why not just soap and water?

 

Brake cleaner won't leave residue. Soap*... may.

 

Are you talking about cleaning the insides of the pump or just cleaning the crude off it?

If cleaning the inside. I don't understand how clamping the hoses will help.

 

Clamping through lines to prevent the fluid from dripping out? Do you guys not believe in working cleanly? We are talking about removing the power steering reservoir and cleaning the interior of it.

 

I believe in working cleanly. Freakin' Bounty must love me!

For this, I slowly and carefully removed and drained the lines (and reservoir) into a small container vs. clamping. Less fluid to bleed later.