[Hook'em_Horns!]

Originally Posted by aggar

NIce write up. Might have to give it a try. How many miles were on that dirty fluid??

Not sure on the miles, I don't even keep track on it anymore as my use is out of GM parameters anyway.

IIRC, under heavy use, GM suggests intervals of 20k miles. That’s a BIG guess as everyone’s definition of ‘Heavy Use’ varies as much as the Owners use varies under even more diverse conditions.

On one end is a light commuter that occasionally pulls the Bass boat out on the weekends. In between is the Owner that pulls 10k lbs, 2-3 times a week. I’m on the other end, sometimes moving 60+k lbs daily.

Add in level or hilly terrain, highway or city use, in light or heavy traffic with extended repeated heavy braking for more than an Hour, how can one pick a definitive point to schedule service?

I just look for the telltale signs of Fluid Wear for my intervals. When backing a trailer and applying the brakes while turning the wheel, you can feel and/or hear, the PS pump whine/strain and sometimes an unusual feel to the pedal also.

Many folks will drive their gassers for hundreds of thousands of miles and never think of changing their PS fluid, then seem perplexed when the unit finally gives up. I have never seen or witnessed a PS pump failure in high mileage vehicles that had the fluid changed regularly.

It’s not uncommon for the HB unit to fail at 50-70k miles on many HDs that have lacked service in this area.