I have been working on fine tuning the steering lately, and decided today to address the humming sound that appears to be coming from the power steering pump. I read on many posts that it goes away with the addition of Lubegard.

I called around to various Napas until one had it. The bottle I got was the stuff, but it was in an old looking white bottle instead of the purple bottle that is one their site. In the parking lot, I sucked some of the old stuff out and added the Lubegard. Got the level close and headed home.

I didn't notice much in the improvement of the hum, but worse yet, the steering slowly stiffened up and got kind of jerky as I drove. By the time I got home, I had to use two hands to turn into the driveway. I checked the level and added a little more just to make sure it had enough and drove around the block. It improved slightly, or I just imagined it did because I really wanted it to.

Can anyone with more expertise regarding this subject offer any advice as to what's going on? I would greatly appreciate it!

 

UPDATE:
I just drove it around for about 30 min in the hood. Everything has seemed to loosen up since I added the extra fluid EXCEPT left turns under braking. I thought it was all better until I turned left onto a side street while braking. It really feels like its fighting me in a jerking fashion. I am more confused now, so please help.

 

make sure your belt is not lose or any fluid on it.

 

The white bottle is the PS flush! You're not supposed to run it with that. You need to do a drain and fill ASAP. The Lubegard PS conditioner is in the purple and yellow package.

Good luck! Randy.

 

Thanks guys. I also forgot to say that the fluid that I pulled out to make room for the Lubegard was brownish and opaque. Being that this was the first time that I have seen the PS fluid out if this truck, I was only slightly alarmed. I am off to do the fluid change shuffle, with Valv. Synpower and the PURPLE Lubegard. Will report back this evening.

 

Checked the belt and it was good. Did 6 rounds of: suck out-refill-drive around block with fresh fluid and Lucas (Guess I got the only Lubegard that this Napa carries ).

I think she's back to normal, hum and all. It's not the agonizing groan that is so common in Fords, it's just a humming in the area of the pump, even when I'm going straight. I'm wondering if it is another component of the hydraulic system. I'm not too worried about it though, now that I can make left turns. Any ideas?

 

The PS pump is gear driven. The belt condition makes no difference. To flush the system I use a turkey baster and suck/refill/run engine while turning the steering wheel from lock to lock (tires off the ground) at least 6 iterations. There is a lot of fluid in the system that is not in the reservoir.

 

I just run synthetic fluid for the cold weather, works great. Keeps it from humming with thick oil.