Two Basic Maintenance Questions.

Hi all,

Two questions.

1) My power steering fluid is low. Can I top up, or do I need to drain and fill? Which fluid do you recommend.

2) My 2008 TRD OR Prerunner is at 198500k. I have changed with semisynthetic oil since 116k every 7k miles with zero issues. Do I gain anything by moving now to 5k intervals? Or stick with 7k?

Thanks!

 

You posted in the 3rd gen section. Is your only vehicle the '08?

 

Yah was just trying to figure out how to delete or ask mods to move to 2nd gen.

 

You can just add ps fluid.

You can do an oil analysis for 30 bucks. I'd say stay at 7k miles, they will tell you to go 10k I guarantee.

 

That's all I need. Thanks!

 

Click 'report' at the bottom.

If you've never changed your PS fluid, it won't hurt to do so. But I'd be looking for a leak, because it's not really consumable or likely to evaporate.

Keep doing what you're doing with the oil, assuming that OCI meets the duty cycle outlined in your owners manual

 

There's a write-up on here for a flush if it hasn't been touched in ~200k, prolly wouldn't be a bad idea. Manual calls out for Dex/Merc ATF.

5k per the manual, not sure where the 7 or 10k numbers are coming from.

 

Ok thanks.

Yeah they said there was a leak, but I haven't got under there yet to check it. It will be a slow drip, if anything. Was just hoping i could seal it up, rather than having to redo the whole system.

And thanks for the oil. That's 2 votes for stay at 7k. Done.

 

Cause when I check it at 5k it looks like brand new. When i check at 6k it looks like it's starting to be not so brand new. Then with life sometimes its another 500-1k before I get to the shop.

 

At 198,000 miles I'd say you've done fine so far and not worry about 5k or 7k at this point I don't think it would make much of a difference.

Back in the day ( I'm that old ) anything over 50k was glorious and we knew we were driving on borrowed time.
Then when competition became vogue 100k was considered the new gold standard.

Now... it's like 100k is expected, and in a Toyota 200k - 500k is attainable ...

 

I'd say just top up ps fluid. Go to a dealer and get Toyota oem and proper specs. Worth the few bucks extra.
Just stay with you past oil routine.

 

1) Top off the ps fluid and then find the leak and have it repaired asap. If you run with low ps fluid you risk burning up the pump. Get it repaired and flushed.
2) If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it. Your engine is doing fine at the 7000 interval doubt you’d gain anything by going down to 5000 intervals. As far as the difference between 5000 vs 7000 intervals all you are going to get are personal opinions based on personal opinions. Bottom line follow what your owners manual says and don’t exceed OM stated intervals.

 

OP didn't say ps was low because of a leak. If there's a leak of course repair it. Level may just be low due years of slow evaporation.

 

See response #8, the op says there’s a leak.

 

Ya right you are, missed that.
Sorry (ya I'm Canadian)
But he does say,"Yeah they said there was a leak, but I haven't got under there yet to check it. It will be a slow drip, if anything"
So could be anything.
Old hose leaking, clamps loose, or just evaporation.
Fix if something needs fixing, then top it off.
I'm not big on flushing ps systems just for the sake of it.
Can quite often create more leaks and failures.

 

Ps fluid is usually low due to rack and pinion leak, check the boots, a little is ok, soaked and damaged is not. Any dex 3 atf works for top up.


Stick to 7000 with synthetic. If it works it works. Synthetic is usually good for 10k

 

I've done 10K oil changes since new. Currently at 239,000 and I've never added a drop of oil between changes. I am usually close to a quart low when I do get around to changing it but I don't top off with partial quarts. The only time I'd suggest less than 10,000 miles is if you don't drive much. Time is as important as miles.

I'd top off the power steering fluid.

 

Thanks all. will get underneath and take a look. It was the valvoline guys which told me there was a leak, so could have been a sales tactic too. But i did notice the level was low, then again i haven't checked it in 80k miles. So yeah will get under a take a look before posting again.

Thanks re: oil. Seems no reason to change the interval. 10k would be great for sure, but not going to change it up now.

 

I drained and filled with M1 and some stopleak

OCI I do syn every 3-5k. You do what you want. It’s your truck.
Oil is cheap. Engines are not.
M1 for those who use it is routinely on sale $12 5qt jug