Oldsmobile 98 Power steering fluid is brown or black Inspection at your home or office.

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Power steering fluid is brown or black Inspection Service

How much does a Power steering fluid is brown or black Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Oldsmobile 98 Power steering fluid is brown or black Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1996 Oldsmobile 98V6-3.8LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1988 Oldsmobile 98V6-3.8LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1982 Oldsmobile 98V8-5.0LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1995 Oldsmobile 98V6-3.8L TurboService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1980 Oldsmobile 98V8-5.7LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1961 Oldsmobile 98V8-6.5LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1974 Oldsmobile 98V8-7.5LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1984 Oldsmobile 98V8-5.0LService typePower steering fluid is brown or black InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Oldsmobile 98 Power steering fluid is brown or black Inspection prices

Finding discolored fluid in any component of your vehicle is worrisome. Discolored fluid can be a frustrating problem because you may not know what is causing the discoloration and because it looks harmful. Indeed, brown or black power steering fluid is never a good sign and should be addressed quickly.

How this system works:

Power steering fluid is a necessary part of your vehicle’s power steering system. The fluid is pumped from the reservoir to the wheels by the power steering pump. Near the wheels the power steering fluid applies pressure to a piston inside the rack and pinion, which is connected to the wheels. This pressure gives the wheels the strength needed to turn and makes a vehicle dramatically easier to steer.

When the fluid becomes contaminated, the entire power steering system can be damaged. The dark colored power steering fluid can clog the power steering pump hoses and damage the bearings in the system.

Brown or black power steering fluid is not a death sentence for your vehicle but it is an issue that should be handled promptly. You can continue to drive your vehicle however, it is best to make an appointment with a mechanic as soon as possible.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Contaminated with Aluminum: As your power steering fluid does its job, it comes into frequent contact with your vehicle’s rack and pinion. The rack and pinion system is made up of high amounts of aluminum which over time can shed into a fine powdered state. This fine powder can contaminate your power steering fluid resulting in a sludgy compound that does not hold the same consistency as your ideal power steering fluid.

This shedding of aluminum particles is natural, so you usually don’t need to be concerned with the status of your car’s rack and pinion. However, after having your steering fluid replaced, you should check its color with regularity. If the fluid returns to a dark color quickly, then the rack and pinion should be inspected.

  • Water In System: Water causes power steering fluid to oxidize, which diminishes the ability of the fluid and therefore of the system as a whole. As with many components of your vehicle, the power steering fluid reservoir can sometimes trap unwanted water. This water mixes with the fluid, causes oxidization and changes the color of the power steering fluid.

  • Fluid Degradation: Power steering fluid is subject to high loads of pressure, as it relies on pressure to do its job effectively. This pressure causes the temperature of the fluid to increase, especially during long drives. As the fluid rises in temperature, it begins to slowly break down as the chemicals separate from one another. This is known as electrochemical degradation and is the cause of discoloration and sludge in the power steering fluid.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the cause of the brown or black power steering fluid, and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

Discolored power steering fluid cannot be reversed. Instead, the fluid needs to be drained from the power steering system and replaced with fresh fluid. This is called a power steering fluid flush. A mechanic will disconnect the power steering hose from the power steering pump and drain all of the fluid out of the system. After reconnecting the hose to the pump, a fresh batch of clean power steering fluid will be added to the reservoir. Once the system has been flushed, the mechanic will usually turn on your vehicle and turn the steering wheel a few times to introduce the new fluid to the system. This process will also allow your mechanic to identify any other issue that may require his or her attention.

How important is this service?

When your power steering becomes discolored, it runs the risk of harming the rest of your power steering system. It’s important that you schedule an inspection as soon as you notice that your power steering fluid is brown or black, so that you don’t cause severe damage to the system.

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Excellent Rating

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Rating Summary
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Steven

14 years of experience
425 reviews
Steven
14 years of experience
Oldsmobile 98 V6-3.8L - Oil Pressure Sensor - Tempe, Arizona
Cool guy. Looks out for the customer. He's always my first choice.

Shaun

10 years of experience
542 reviews
Shaun
10 years of experience
Oldsmobile 98 V6-3.8L - Car Heater Blower Motor Resistor Replacement - Tempe, Arizona
I feel like he's real with his clients which I appreciate. As a person who isn't super familiar with cars he explains everything in a way in which I would understand. He goes out of his way to even help you outside the job. I'll probably be using his services for all my mechanical needs.

Breck

20 years of experience
681 reviews
Breck
20 years of experience
Oldsmobile 98 V6-3.8L - Oil Pressure Light is on - Houston, Texas
The mobile mechanic came. I must say I am impressed! He found my house. He and I started talking. He said he owned two Ninety Eights previously. He was there to look at my Oldsmobile Ninety Eight. He had two Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Touring Sedans. The ones he owned were from the 1987-1990 era. He was describing the floor shifters and they had and how much he liked Ninety Eights, Touring Sedans, and the Oldsmobile Eighty Eight LSS too. He talked about how a family member owned one and how he was fixing his. He talked in detail about the Touring Sedan and the things he loved. He asked me how long had I owned my Ninety Eight. I told him 2003. He told me how he become a mechanic and went to school for it and more. He got into the Ninety Eight and it would not start. He got out and disconnected the battery and rubbed the negative and positive battery terminals together. He reconnected them and the Ninety Eight started! The instrumentation then told him exactly what it was. There is a sensor at the bottom of the oil pan. He said by doing what he did with the terminals, it cleared the computer and reset it. We went underneath the car and he showed me the sensor. He said which one did you replace? I told him. He said you were on the right path. You know what you are doing. You need to replace this sensor and not the one you did. You can get the sensor and replace it because it is clear you know what you are doing and on the right path. He said you also need to replace your valve cover gaskets. They are leaking. I told him I will request him to come back and do that. I am not doing that even thought I can.

Joseph

33 years of experience
540 reviews
Joseph
33 years of experience
Oldsmobile 98 V6-3.8L - Crankshaft Position Sensor - McKinney, Texas
Fast, efficient and extremely convenient. Joseph is friendly and knowledgable on the necessary repairs and did it for a fair price. We will be using him again in the very near future.

Excellent Rating

(34)

Rating Summary
33
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33
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Number of Oldsmobile 98 services completed
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services done by our mechanics
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