Hey Guys!

Another Newbie here so grit your teeth. Please put up with my first crude post. I did take the time to read all the threads on foaming P/S oil, O-ring replacement and noises but still wanted to ask about my situation. I have created a monster. My wife's 2000 V6 developed a new noise. Sounded like the alternator belt idler so I swapped it out. I noticed the P/S pump reservoir fluid level was down close to minimum so I did a BIG no-no. I put Dollar General P/S fluid in it. On cranking I had foamy oil running out the top of the reservoir and the noise was louder and definitely the power steering pump. I know I should have used Honda fluid but it was 40 miles to the dealer which is a trip I made the next day to get 8 12oz bottles to flush out the system. I took the return line off the reservoir and hooked a hose to it and put it in a catch pan. I emptied the reservoir as well. I then put my finger over the return line on the reservoir and filled it with Honda oil. I had 3 more bottles open and ready and cranked the car and poured all 4 bottles into the reservoir as the pump pulled it out. The catch pan filled up with what looked like a big brown milkshake of foam. Yes, I am sure that the reservoir did go dry for a second or so between pouring in a new bottle so I introduced a ton of air into the system. I put the return line back on and filled the reservoir with oil and cranked the car. Needless to say, I got a ton of foam out of the top of the reservoir. Since then I let the oil sit until the foam goes away for like 30 minutes and then crank the car and get more foam in the reservoir. After 3 or 4 times the foaming is much better but is still there and the pump is noisy and really worse when the wheel is turned.
I'm beginning to wonder if the foaming wasn't the original noise problem but with the reservoir down low it wasn't foaming over. I'll replace the O-ring tomorrow to address that problem. Any ideas on how to get all this air out of the system??? I've read where jacking up the car and turning the wheel without the engine running may help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks from a Newbie!!!

 

Once you get it back together after replacing the o-ring, turn the steering wheel from full left to full right. The foam problem die down fairly quickly along with the noise if the o-ring fixes the problem.

If not, then you want to look around to see how you lost the original fluid. Look around the power steering rack boots for signs of PS fluid loss.

 

I'm gonna throw another wrench in the works...

Down low in the reservoir is a mesh screen, usually submerged in fluid. If that screen is plugged up with crud, that makes more vacuum in the suction hose going to the pump. So when you had the system drained, that would've been a good time to check out that screen & clean it.

I've done drain/fill cycles on the PS fluid, and the foaming gradually gets better over some time. I think what I did was run it for a minute then let it sit & the foam settles for an hour. Top it up if needed; repeat a few times.

 

I appreciate your replys and will replace the O-ring and clean the screen this morning first thing. I've never had foaming like this on any car I have worked on in my entire life even when replacing P/S pumps so it must be the combination of a bad O-ring and clogged screen. I'll post a follow up later this morning. Thanks again!

 

Guys, I put the new orange O-ring in today. That little bolt being on the bottom is a bit difficult to get started back but after dropping it a few times I got it back in. I reinstalled the reservoir and filled it up. I did take the time to jack up both wheels and turn the wheels back and forth without the engine running. Hooray!!!! Not a bit of sound coming out of the power steering at all. Quiet as a mouse from the very git go and no foam at all!!! Can't thank you guys for the tips on the screen and O-ring.

BUT my original noise that started all this is still there and I found out where it is coming from. Since it is to do with the timing belt I'll start a new thread to get some ideas on it.

Thanks again!!!!