It Was Dark, I Was Tired ... Yadda Yadda Yadda Poured Oil Into Power Steering. HELP!

So the internets say that everything is fabulous; I just have flush the power steering. And the internets say that everything is terrible and that I'm going to destroy my rack and pinion ...

I haven't started the engine, and managed to get a good deal of it out with a turkey baster. It's in a grocery store parking lot, so I'm hoping I can do whatever I need to do with it right there.

It's a Tacoma 4X4 four banger, 2.7 I believe, if that helps at all.

Any advice appreciated (and yes, you can laugh, it's okay)!

 

might be able to pull the lines off the rack and point them in a buck to drain the rest. if not, I don't see it doing any harm. at least you didn't pour it in the radiator...

 

fawk...

 

My 03 Tacoma manual calls for Dexron II or III for the steering system (hydraulic system).

We used to run motor oil (10W40) or hydraulic oil or Dexron III as hydraulic fluids in railroad roadway equipment hydraulic systems for tie & rail installation. Sometimes we would mix different fluids when changing oil, without issues.

Like Btnewman, I don't see any harm either.

 

Good luck. That's pretty Krazie....

 

I see what you did there

 

I'd say drain what you can and fill it with power steering fluid. Run it a couple days then drain it again and refill it. Should be fine

 

OK First - don't panic.

Second, yeah you're gonna want to flush it and put in the right fluid.

And flushing it is a bit of a messy job.

So really, if it was me? I'd just drive it to the nearest 'oil quick change lube' type joint and have them flush it for me. They're set up with tubes and exchangers to do fluid flushes as neatly as possible. Whereas if you DIY this particular job, you're gonna end up with more spilled fluid under the hood.

Now if a quick oil place wasn't close by, I might use a big syringe or gear oil pump to remove the fluid out of the reservoir, then refill it with actual power steering fluid before I drove over there for a complete flush.

But as self inflicted hassles go, this is fairly small time. Do take care of it right way, but don't worry, be happy.

 

Waiting for hilarity to ensue!

 

Both are the correct answer. You choose the solution.

 

No one has asked why he was changing his oil in a grocery store parking lot?

 

Sodiam Vapor overhead lights?

 

It's pretty obvious, no oil change involved, - just late at night, low on oil, go into the store, buy two quarts, come back out, flip open the lid (they're within what, six inches of each other?) start pouring.... GAAAK!!!

And the lesson to be learned? Don't let your truck get so low on oil in the first place that you need to add oil under those circumstances.

 

I'm here to supervise.

 

oh good!

 

Thanks, all!

Yeah, that. And THIS: Never become so comfortable with doing something that you don't even bother to think about it anymore. I'd added oil a thousand times without incident. It was as familiar as taking a whiz. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

 

Okay, so, I siphoned the fluid out, and, refilled it with ATM, and given what was said here, I'm going to drive it to a quick lube to get it flushed out tomorrow.

Right? Does anyone want to scare the hell out of me so I can agonize over this a little more? Last chance!

THANKS!

 

if you are really sweating about damaging it, have it towed.

 

Boo. Happy Halloween. :frankensteinsmonster: