Hey, I have flushed (turkey baster method) but still the power steering is really offering no help when the car is first started, esp in cold weather. I have searched enough to know that my first plan (Mobil 1 ATF) is a no go. How about another synthetic PS fluid? Of course, I have MB PS fluid now.

TIA,
-Tom

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2004 Audi A8L
'98 VW Passat 1.8T 5M
'87 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5L 5M
'67 Impala convertible, 327cid

GM made a bunch of steering racks that exhibited this problem. It was commonly called "Morning Sickness." The cure was a new rack.

I would suspect that the valve is sticking. It is also possible that the buffering devices in the lines (located where the lines bolt to the rack) are not letting the cold fluid through properly.

If it were mine, I would try to change more of the fluid. The reservoir contains only a small fraction of the fluid in the system. Most of the fluid is in the steering gear. Use the MB stuff.

I'd had good luck with the Valvolene sythetic power steering fluid; put it in at 50K, did one turkey baster fluid change at 85K and things are still smooth and quiet at 101K.
Cheers, SocksE420

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SocksE420
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