Power Steering Reservoir

[JeffAZ]

I have a W24 chassis and have watched Kevin Caudill's very informative video about changing out the power steering fluid and filter. I have acquired all of the components needed for this task and am ready to go, BUT . . .

I cannot turn the reservoir lid to access the filter. Mine is different from Kevin's video. His has large hose clamp that loosens with a scewdriver. Mine has a threaded cap that appears to twist off, (perhaps while simultaneously pushing down on it?) It is in a place where you must extend your arms and that makes it impossible to apply much force. The lid has 2 fins on top opposite from each other that is supposed to give your hands some leverage. I also had my 27 yo son try who has much stronger hands than I. Tried an opened plier against the fins and have tapped on the lid perimeter with a hammer, but have not budged it.

Has anyone here removed this style of stubborn lid or have any tool suggestion?
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[MrMark52]

In your picture, you can see the part of the word “tighten” molded into the lid, so that tells me it definitely screws off.

The reach on ours might be a little easier, but we also have the other style.

Not sure that you could get a strap wrench around the lid but it’s an idea. Another is you might have to reach up from the wheel well and take the mounting bolts loose and then hopefully the hoses will be long enough to allow you to move the reservoir to where you can get to it.

[edgray]

May I ask why you want to do this ?

I put 96,680 miles on a 2003 W22 and almost 50,000 miles on my 2009 W-24 and never did anything to the power steering fluid.

Did yours become contaminated in some way?

[JeffAZ]

Thanks MrMark, I don't think I'll have room, but I'll see how a strap wrench fits it that space.

Hi edgray. It appears that you are a Workhorse fan as am I. My odometer has just passed the 80,000 mile mark. I have done nothing with the power steering system and it has worked perfectly. But I am planning a long trip later this summer and trying to get everything ship-shape. Most of my coach's service has been in the hot Southwest, so I know that ps fluid is not in perfect condition. And it seems like lately I have been reading of quite a few Wh power steering system fails, and the scarcity of parts.

If I can't get the reservoir lid opened without causing damage, I'll just change out the fluid. Here is a link to Kevin's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJSpcQniIfI&t=1264s

And here is a photo of my dash from a 2018 trip in Nevada, note the outside air temp! Where is that sensor, btw?
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[edgray]

Other than religiously changing the engine oil and filter, lubing the chassis zerks , and installing TranSynd ATF in the 2003 Allison I pretty much relied on the “if it ain’t broke- don’t “fix” it theory. I usually break something that I should not have been messing with.

I believe the coach builder usually put the ambient temperature sensor somewhere near the front grill or perhaps behind the bumper for protection.

[donr103]

WAG.. if you still plan to work on it.. and I would.. I my humble opinion.. I would remove bracket and then hoses connected to it.. get it on bench and make repairs.. ofcouse put bucket under it.. to catch the oil..

Most people don't realize how important it is to change.. it not only works steering but on some models it supply pressure for entire brakes.. I put an inline cooler on mine.. that pump is not cheap any more to change.. but you also need to think about what all it does for you.. on mine that oil goes through some very expensive parts.. I believe that is why you should change it.. I also put inline filter..
Don't forget to flush brake if they are hydraulic too..

Oh by your picture.. the oil does not.. does not.. look too bad.. on mine.. it was sludge.. and black tar.. ofcouse pump was burned up.. only 33,000 miles.. I bought used rv.. I knew it when I got it.. got a great deal.. because of it.. you can just use a hand vac.. and suck some out.. then keep changing it.. over time.. that is one way.. the filter looks pretty clean..
Good luck and keep us posted

[JeffAZ]

OK, so yesterday I finally got that effin' reservoir lid off. My 6" strap filter wrench was an half inch too small to fit around the lid. I used my universal filter wrench standing straight up with the jaws fulcrumed onto the lid fins to apply good force. This allowed me to rotate the lid .5 inch. Then the fins were in a easier position to allow my gloved hands to exert force, and with max effort the lid would rotate 1/8" at a time. Then I got some PB Blaster with a straw applicator to shoot up under the lid overhang. The instructions said it can be used on hard plastics. I let that set 30 minutes and then was able to rotate the final bit to release the lid. I think it was the collection of 15 years of grit, dried grease and heat that froze this lid in place. There are 2 o-rings, one sits in a groove on the reservoir top, and the other fits around the inner part of the effin' lid threads.
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[MrMark52]

Good for you!

Glad you got it off - and the pictures will go a long way to help others with your type of reservoir.

[JeffAZ]

Thanks. Today I woke up and my tennis elbow is really sore from all that max effort torquing on that effin' lid. I drained the ps fluid from the gearbox, moved the steering a little to encourage the fluid to drain. But the filter wrench that I thought would fit the OEM filter was slightly too big, or maybe not the correct amount of fluting. I was hot and tired so I made an executive decision to leave the OEM filter in place. The fluid I drained was dark gold in color.

So I added the new fluid (Valvoline), drained a little more out of the gearbox drain until it ran clearer. Then started the engine and did the 20 cycles of pin to pin steering and tap of brake as displayed in Kevin's video until all the weird sounds disappeared.

I de-scummed and cleaned the threads and surfaces on the top of the reservoir and the effin' lid and sealed the lid back on. I'll keep an eye on the fluid level on my next trip.
Now it's time to ice my tennis elbow, and hope I never need to fight that effin' lid ever again.

[MrMark52]

Originally Posted by JeffAZ

Thanks. Today I woke up and my tennis elbow is really sore from all that max effort torquing on that effin' lid. I drained the ps fluid from the gearbox, moved the steering a little to encourage the fluid to drain. But the filter wrench that I thought would fit the OEM filter was slightly too big, or maybe not the correct amount of fluting. I was hot and tired so I made an executive decision to leave the OEM filter in place. The fluid I drained was dark gold in color.

So I added the new fluid (Valvoline), drained a little more out of the gearbox drain until it ran clearer. Then started the engine and did the 20 cycles of pin to pin steering and tap of brake as displayed in Kevin's video until all the weird sounds disappeared.

I de-scummed and cleaned the threads and surfaces on the top of the reservoir and the effin' lid and sealed the lid back on. I'll keep an eye on the fluid level on my next trip.
Now it's time to ice my tennis elbow, and hope I never need to fight that effin' lid ever again.

I totally feel your pain - it beats me up to do much work under the coach, or pretty much anything else for that matter - after living a life of doing whatever I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.
If it’s not sore muscles and joints, it’s nap time.

Ive got a rear trac bar and the UltraPower ECM/TCM upgrades showing up this week that will need to get installed to get ready for a 2-3 week trip leaving end of this week. And I still have to put the baseplate and brake cable on our new Jeep. I spent part of Thursday upgrading my front jounces to Sumo’s, part of Friday doing the rears, and yesterday morning cleaning my leveler sensors and trying to decide if I need to drop the pumps to figure out where they are leaking and if I can get rebuild kits for them.
All of the above in the heat wave we’re having in Texas right now. It’s brutal, and I’m not the spring chicken I used to be. But the next week is supposed to only get into the low 90’s so maybe a little more can get accomplished.

[JeffAZ]

Dang, you've got a lot more skills than I, (but that's really not saying much )
Good luck on your trip!