Power steering fluid flush

What would you use a vacuum for? When you undo the hose, the fluid gravity drains out and then can be further pumped out by cycling the steering rack. Mine continuously drained almost too fast to keep up with refilling the resi.

 

Not sure. I guess it would be used to siphon oil outta the resi before pulling return line hose. I guess i would kinda do the same. Siphon out oil, disconnect lines, removed resi, clean resi. in and out, re install with return line disconnected, fill with new new oil, and cycle steering and filling as needed until oil comes out red.

 

really ATF in the powersteering system? I guess they are both hydraulic appliances.... hmm will have to do research on this.

 

I believe ATF is recommended because of friction modifiers that is present in ATF fluid. I'm sure there is more to it than that, but thats why I've read, and jave always done.

 

interesting.

So say i have an extra quart of Toyota WS, would that be ok for power steering?

 

Oh, to get the fluid out of the resi. I just used a little syringe with a rubber hose attached to it. There's not much fluid to get out of there.

 

Yup, thinking of doing the same.

 

A turkey baster might get it out of there in one squeeze.

 

I've got access to some pretty big syringes lol

 

Toyota has spec'ed Dextron II or III type ATF for the power steering systems for a long time.

Lot of folks use a turkey baster, but I like to use a spray bottle, like a Windex bottle or cheap spray bottle from the dollar store and pump the fluid into the bottle. I keep a bottle around for the power steering and a separate one for brake and clutch. Also good for adjusting the fluid level if you overfill. On the older reservoirs there was a pretty small difference between filled and overfilled.

 

Well shit. Good to know. planning on doing a full fluid change out at 60k miles (F/R diff, tcase, trans and power steering)

 

I have one of those and use it for siphoning all kinds of reservoirs. The turkey baster only gets so much out and the chemicals(brake/power steering/etc) kill the seal around the edge where the rubber meets the plastic tube. Once that happens suction is gone. Doesn't take long.

 

Going to do this tonight. It's a bit below the "min cold" line and has never been done. Thanks for a great write up!

 

I just did this today. Pretty straightforward process. Just needs some precautions to avoid making a mess of fluids when disconnecting the return line hose.

Thanks to OP!

 

I need to do this. So what is the consensus? ATF or reg PS fluid? I have about a quart and a half of Valvoline Maxlife ATF left over from when I did the trans flush. It would be nice to just use that up.

 

the Toyota PS fluid is just a DEX3 ATF in a golden color, the on shelf ATF in red is only red so they can diffentiate the 2 but are both the same>ATF. Most use Valvoline MaxLife full syn ATF which is still available in quarts at Autozone

 

Power steering doesn't need flushing unless it is really contaminated. Left sealed its good for the life.

 

I suck out the major part of the reservoir every month or so with a large syringe (i have a box of them) , plain ordinary ATF from mal wart that I bough some years back and it's still good and clean.

 

Why plug the inlet? To prevent air from coming in?

 

Hmm. Dumb question. I'm sure we plug it to prevent fluid from draining from the bottom when filling the reservoir.