Power Steering Fluid Change

There was thread on here a few days back that had asked about steering fluid change and a few other things. I had seen a how to video posted up by blazze2005 in another thread. I linked to that thread for the video.

I decided to change mine out as it was more than likely due with 50 some thousand miles on it. Looked for a how to thread and couldn't find one so I just went with the video which is the last link.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/336453-100k-taco-maintenance.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/335603-right-differential-fluid.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg9Yjt__KHw

So earlier tonight after I got out of work I went and picked up the fluid, odd bits and pieces. Went back to work and pulled the truck into the garage and got down to business. Took a few pictures also.

Bits and pieces used:
3/8" ID clear tubing- bought ten feet at the home depot.
3/8" brass hose coupling- also purchased at the home depot.
2 small hose clamps- you don't need them but I bought them anyway.
1 gallon dexron II or III ATF Fluid- bought at O'Reill'y Auto Parts.
1 small funnel- does not need explanation.
1 empty gallon windshield washer fluid- I always save these for oil, diff,trans, transfer case and now power steering fluid changes.
1 floor jack- to jack the front wheels off the ground to make turning them easy.
1 small step ladder- not necessary, but it helps when the front is jacked up.
1 set of pliers- makes it easier to get the return line hose clamp off the power steering. I used my fingers.
1 or 2 bolts that fit snugly into the 3/8" tubing- good stoppers

Now the how to. This is for the 2.7 I4 engine and I'm not sure if the 4.0 V6 is different.

Assemble all bits and pieces.


Put plenty of rags under the return nipple and around the reservoir to keep spillage contained. Now I didn't siphon any fluid out of the reservoir first like in the video. I just put a section of hose long enough the reach the return inlet in the jug. Then taped it up. Passed that up through the wheel well. *Next time I do this I will also put the drain line that is attached the power steering return line in the jug and pass both pieces up through the wheel well, explanation later.




Once I had the end I wanted to attach the return nipple where it need to be I quickly pulled the return line (seen above just above the clear tubing) with one hand and stuck the drain line on the nipple with the other. You might want to use pliers for the clamp on the return line. I didn't but next time I will. Minimal spillage.


While I gave the fluid in the reservoir time to drain I attached my long piece of tubing to the return line for the power steering. At this point I realized I wanted to stick the long tubing in the jug too. Time to peel back the tape and stick this one in.

Once the small amount of fluid that was in the reservoir drained out and I had my long tubing in the jug I cut the piece of tubing connected to the nipple short and stuck one of the bolts in it and bent it around. My second bolt went in the other half of the tubing I had connected to the return nipple (made it easier to pull down through the wheel well without making a mess). Stuck my funnel in and poured some fluid in.



Then I went and started the truck. Now in the video the guy says to turn the wheel to pump out the fluid. Mine started pumping instantly and very fast. So I turned the truck off quick to avoid pumping out all the fluid as I saw clean stuff right away, and if yours is like mine it's obvious when the clean stuff comes out. Nice and red. On the first start stop cycle it seemed as though all the fluid was changed but I gave it a couple more cycles. Also on the tacoma some of the rags are right near the serpentine belt and fan, they might get sucked away when she starts up. Be careful of that.

I will also say that I found it easier to pour enough fluid into the funnel that the reservoir would have overflown had I not ran around and started the truck pumping some out.

Once you are satisfied that you have flushed out all the old fluid ( I wound up using half the gallon-way more than I needed to) take the long hose coupled to the return line out first and wrap a rag around it. Then pull the short hose attached to reservoir and jam the return line back on the reservoir. Check fluid level and add as needed. It gets sucked out so fast it might be close to dry when you are ready to put the hoses back. grab all you rags, tools and caps. Put it all back together.


Clean everything well in the shop sink. Let dry for next time. Critiques and comments welcome. If anyone has tips or tricks to make this easier I will gladly use them next time.

 

Bravo old chap. Bravo.

 

need to do this

 

Nice!

 

@MJonaGS32 we need a mod meet. @jAndyMendo and I got shit to do. Jan 7?

 

sounds like you need to do your rear diff fluid also? I am in

 

My diff is crying.... Need to take it to the shop soon.

 

three quarts is cheap. May want to try that first. If it is still there then yeah someone is already going. You may still be able to save some teeth.

 

Got a 3 year warranty on my diff and gears... so ill just take it to the shop

 

@jAndyMendo might do this Sunday at @MJonaGS32 . You do this yet?

 

I did it. Was fun (not really). Make sure you have all the hoses and clamps to make it not so messy. From there it is just turn the truck on, turn it off fast, fill it up again, repeat. Crank tires and it goes brown again, repeat.

 

sounds good

 

I may drop by, looks like I will be doing the last few items on my truck laundry list this weekend

 

I just jack up the front of my truck, start it up, open the fluid reservoir and suck the fluid out with a 1000ml syringe and fill with fresh fluid. Turn the wheel lock to lock 3-4 times then repeat the process until I've cycled 3 quarts of new fluid through the system. If the old lady is home, I have her assist at the wheel. Only takes about 20 minutes.

 

That sounds a lot less messy

 

It is! There's pro and con with everything though. My way the engine is idling for 20 minutes +/-

 

And it probably takes more fluid then a full flush to get the same results but that's fine. Just trying to get a couple extra miles out of this rack before the next.

 

Hartford listed a gallon in his parts list, I flush with 3 quarts, so I'm using less. But, you could use as much as you want. My Haynes manual does not list power steering system capacity, but I figure it couldn't be more than 2.5 or 3 quarts (just guessing).

 

My truck has 130,000 miles. I've freshened up the power steering fluid once at about 80,000 miles - sucked it out with a turkey baster then refilled, did this twice while running the motor in-between. I did this just for giggles, the fluid was clear at that time and it is still perfectly clear. Not sure if changing the power steering fluid is a real maintenance item? I've heard of aftermarket filters (with/without magnets) that can be placed inline in the return hose to capture particles.

 

My wife's 04 Highlander has 285,000 miles on it and I just flushed the power steering fluid a few weeks ago for the first time. The fluid was dirty, but was still doing its job, and the pump is original. So, probably a good (and fairly inexpensive) preventative maintenance practice, but I doubt it is critical. Some may disagree and that's okay.