Power Steering Fluid Question. Red vs brown

So I need to add some power steering fluid to my 2010 tacoma. I called the parts dept at toyota and the guy there told me to check the color of the existing fluid. If its brown, then he said I need the regular power steering fluid. but if the color is red than I need the ATF Dextron 2 or 3. The owners manual says to use ATF. but the color of my existing power steering fluid is light brown.
So that creates a confusion between whats suggested in the owners manual than what the guy at toyota parts told me.
Which fluid have you guys used? I am not flushing the system. I just need to add some.

 

Parts guy doesn't know dick. Use Valvoline max life dex/merc. Would be good if you could siphon or drain some of the old shit out the reservoir then add some new shit, but rolling off will be ok. Cold, go to max cold mark, hot, got to max got mark.

 

I am planning to siphon some out. I will check if my local walmart has the valvoline max atf. thanks again

 

Some wal marts do, some don't. All parts stores do.

 

How much would i Need to siphon 3 times. 5.5 qrts? or just 1 qrt bottle?

 

Vatozone si, WALMART nada

 

how about this?

$27 Castrol TRANSMAX DEX/MERC ATF, 1 Gallon, Automatic , Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DILUBL6/ref=psdc_15719641_t2_B007VWRUQC
Would this work?

 

Instead of siphoning it three times, how about flushing it once?

I use the method described in this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/power-steering-flush.416379/ Other than jacking the truck up/putting it on stands, it takes about a half hour and that could be shortened if you have a beer fridge in the garage instead having to go to the kitchen for beer.

I use Valvoline Maxlife ATF, but your owners manual specifies on page 373 to use Dex II or III. Anything backwards compatible will be fine.

Manual found in your glove box and here: https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM35A51U/pdf/OM35A51U.pdf

 

2qts oughta do it.

 

If it's brown then it needs to be changed. What a maroon.

 

Your vehicle manual is not a person and thus is never wrong.

 

Yes, It's really easy to flush the PS fluid

 

Drop skid plate, position drain pan, disconnect soft return hose from rack, let drain, reconnect, refill, turn steering wheel lock to lock a few times, top off until fluid stays same level, start truck, top off fluid again, turn wheel lock to lock, top off, done. Repeat as necessary.

 

Easier to do it from the reservoir so you don't have to drop the skid plate, fuck with the fittings on the rack, or even get on the ground.

 

What are you doing that makes it easier from the reservoir? Siphoning?

 

Remove the return line as described in the thread I linked above.

 

That works well, and keeps more air out of the system also. Just makes more of a mess, at least I make more of a mess.