To replace the power steering fluid in a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500, you will need to drain the old fluid from the power steering fluid reservoir and then refill the reservoir with fresh clean fluid. You can find the reservoir underneath the hood on the driver's side near the front of the engine block. Its cap is clearly labeled.
Power steering fluid (PSF) is a critical component in your truck's steering system. It allows your hydraulic power steering fluid system to function—which makes it easy to steer and control your vehicle.
If your power steering fluid needs to be changed, you’ll likely notice that your steering wheel has stiffened up and is more difficult to turn. If you wait too long, you may even notice a loud screeching noise when you turn your truck.
Fortunately, draining and refilling your power steering fluid is much simpler than it sounds. You can do it yourself from home with just a few basic tools. In this handy guide—brought to you by
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car insurancecomparison app—we'll walk you through how to replace the power steering fluid for a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500.Read till the end to see how you can save on your
Ram 1500 insurance costs!
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How do I replace my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500’s power steering fluid?
Replacing your power steering fluid may seem like an advanced maintenance job, but it's easy once you know what to do. Follow the step-by-step instructions below and you'll have fresh power steering fluid in your truck in no time!
Locate the power steering reservoir. Directly under the hood on the driver side of the engine block towards the very front, you will find a black circular cap labeled power steering fluid. Remove this cap in order to access the steering fluid reservoir.
insert a pump into the reservoir and drain the fluid. You'll need an all-purpose fluid transfer pump in order to drain the fluid. If you don't have a pump, you can purchase one at an auto parts store for about $10. Insert the hose that is attached to the steering fluid reservoir and pump out the old fluid.
Refill the reservoir with new fluid and replace the cap. Once the old fluid has been pumped out, pour fresh power steering fluid into the reservoir and screw the cap back on.
And that's it! The entire process usually only takes a few minutes and is one of the simplest maintenance tasks required for proper vehicle care.
As easy as replacing your power steering fluid is, some people would prefer not to get their hands dirty. If that's the case for you, don't worry end—you can always
take your Ram to a mechanicand have them replace the fluid for you.
MORE: How to check and add power steering fluid
Should I change it myself or take it to a mechanic?
There are benefits to changing your power steering fluid yourself or leaving the job to a professional.
If you decide to replace the fluid yourself, you will save around $120, which is about what most mechanics will charge for parts and labor at an auto shop.
On the other hand, if you have a professional mechanic drain the fluid for you, they will usually be able to drain the fluid completely, which is hard to do on your own. They do this by fully disconnecting all the fluid hoses and directly pumping out the old fluid.
In the end, it's entirely a matter of personal preference. Pretty much anybody will be able to successfully change their power steering fluid—you don't need to worry much about messing up that particular task.
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But if you don't mind spending the money to save time, having a professional handle the matter on your behalf is always a viable option.
MORE:
How to dispute your mechanic billWhich power steering fluid is best for a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500?
If you do decide to change the power steering fluid yourself, you'll need to make sure that you purchase the correct type of fluid for your vehicle. Not all steering fluids are the same, and they cannot be used interchangeably for any car.
For the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500, you can use most universal power steering fluid products and fully synthetic automatic transmission fluids. Here are some of our favorite picks for your truck:
Power steering fluid | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Prestone PSF | 12 ounces | $9.99 |
Peak OET Full Synthetic North American PSF | 12 ounces | $13.29 |
Valvoline Full Synthetic ATF+4 | 1 quart | $12.99 |
ACDelco 10-9240 | 1 quart | $5.47 |
When do I need to replace my 1998 Dodge Ram 1500’s power steering fluid?
Generally speaking, you should replace your power steering fluid every two years or every 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
That being said, you will sometimes need to replace your power steering fluid sooner than expected. If you notice any of the symptoms below, it’s probably time to replace your power steering fluid:
Screeching noises when you turn the wheel
Difficulty steering and less precision
Bubbles in the power steering fluid
A leak in your power steering fluid
MORE:
Basic car maintenance scheduleHow to save money on Dodge insurance
Changing your power steering fluid yourself is a great way to reduce your regular vehicle maintenance expenses. But, there's always more that you can do to tighten up your budget and cut back on unnecessary costs.
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