Need help with power steering fluid

OP, good time to do a full flush. It's really easy and quick. There are a couple of good DIY threads on here on how to do it.

 

you can switch back and forth with a clear ATF and maxlife - helps with determining when the flush is done.

 

Would Castrol Transmax DEX/Merc work? Pretty hard to find an actual DEXRON III fluid .

 

Toyota power steering fluid is ATF fluid without the Red dye color

 

The bottle should say what applications it fulfills

 

Yes - research from way back when showed that Toyota uses undyed ATF in their P/S units. A yr. or so ago, I called 6 Toyota dealers n my area - parts dept. - asked what was used in the shop. All said they used plain jane power steering fluid. Go figure?

So it would seem there are 2 distinct ideas of what to use.

Regarding the Idemitsu product shown earlier in this thread. Here's some info about it from an online seller of that product:

12 Ounces. Mineral Based Power Steering Fluid. Engineered for Asian import vehicles Meets: Honda/Acura PSF-S - Toyota/Lexus/Scion D2 - Mazda M3 -Nissan PSF. Idemitsu Lubricants America Corporation is a manufacturer of finished lubricants for a variety of applications including the automotive and in

Years ago I owned a couple of Honda Accords. Those vehicles used specific P/S fluid for Honda. The Idemitsu product claims to be OK in Honda's and other non-Honda Asian vehicles.

I wonder how that works?

 

I do a suck and fill on the reservoir with Maxlife ATF every 5k. Been doing that for about 20k miles on my current truck. Our rigs clearly call for ATF. Not sure what all the confusion is about. The truck does not care that it's red in color.

Also....been using Maxlife in both the transmissions and power steering systems in all of the Toyotas in my family and extended family for years. Zero issues

 

What does your owner's manual recommend? I'd go with that.

 

I've worked on cars for 15 years. Family owned shop of 50 years. Always have used atf for power steering for Asian vehicles. Trust your tech/mechanic but always do your back end research. I have never trusted anyone to work on any of my cars in my entire life for that reason. I break, I cry.

Very interesting to read the Toyota power steering fluid is undyed atf. Can't say I've heard that before lol

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvolin...MI_sjR6oim4wIVD1uGCh2ndgP6EAQYASABEgKZdPD_BwE

USE THIS AND BE DONE WITH IT !

 

Yup used Valvoline Maxlife on my power steering. Used only 1 qt. Honestly the easiest and cleanest fluid change you can do on the vehicle.

 

THIS!!!!!!

 

Did a power steering flush and fill on my taco a couple months ago.

Used Valvoline Maxlife, works perfect as it is what the owners manual states to do which I'd trust over that one user's mechanic.

 

Keep it simple, a quart of Supertech (rated Dexron II and III) at Walmart is only $5. It's just the power steering for goodness sake. Any new clean fluid is better than nothing; no need for anything fancy.

 

How often are you guys changing the fluid? I didn’t see a change interval in the owners manual.

 

IMO depending on the frequency of your driving every 1-2 years. Just keep and eye on fluid color. I bought my truck with 129K and it was black and dirty (as in never changed), but performed OK. No increase in performance other than the piece of mind. Like others posted here it's a 15-30 minute job depending on how you're feeling that day, lol.

 

I drank a beer first, used that as my return line catch, drank another beer whilst doing the procedure to push old fluid out and topping off the rez before i pulled air. Final top off and rewarded by an after job well done beer.

Needless to say its a 1 beer job of actual work.

 

Changed and flushed mine at 60k miles and used Valvoline Maxlife. Took about 30 minutes.