Power steering fluid, not Dexron from factory

I have a 2021 Tacoma TRD OFFROAD 35k miles. Noticed the power steering fluid was kinda low. So I check the fluid. Keep in mind I have not topped off or changed the power steering fluid since buying new from dealer.
The fluid was a carmel color. Photo of it on the dip stick best I could show you.

I thought this was odd as it should be Dexron that has a reddish tint. Even old Dexron has a little red or black color to it.
So I smell it, and I'll be damned if it isn't power steering fluid. Power steering fluid and Dexron II or III smell very different.
The fluid on the top is power steering from the truck with 35k miles. Fluid on the bottom is new Dexron II or III.

Just curious if anyone else has power steering fluid from the factory. And also confused why they would do that, if Toyota says Dexron II or III.

Also flushing my power steering system and putting Dexron II or III in. Time now

 

Damn now I’ll have to check mine when I leave the beach.

 

It's dirty.

 

That is the OEM fluid, Toyota uses fluid that just doesn’t have red dye in it.

 

I can understand Toyota "dye free" Dexron II or III. I may need to confirm that. But the smell is definitely power steering fluid. I wonder if there's a way to confirm that other than, smell.

 

It's just factory fluid with no dye.

Check your steering boots for leakage.

 

Rack and pinion is dry as a bone. But will keep an eye on it.

 

Honestly I just didn't want to mix power steering fluid with DEXRON II or III.

 

Here is what the dealership sold me when my rack was leaking and had to top it off. It’s multi-functional

 

That's normal factory fill. ATF Dexron 3 is what's in the owners manual. My dealer uses johnsen's power steering fluid.

I bought the Toyota ATF and power steering fluid in the post above. 3 quarts for a full flush.

 

I just use the BG power steering fluid…

 

Just be a man and loops the lines, remove the reservoir and shorten the belt. Instant power increase and a daily arm workout. Win win.

 

I had a 2002 Camaro while in the Marines. It takes power steering fluid only. Not a multi purpose like toyota. The fluid in my truck smelled exactly like GM power steering fluid. I was just hesitant mixing dexron with what I believe is not Toyota ATF/Power steering fluid.

Looks like I need to get my hands on a bottle of the toyota fluid and smell it. "Science for Marines"

 

It only takes 3 quarts of dexron 3 for a full flush on the Tacoma.

I had a couple of those 02 catfishes. Red 35th anniversary, t-tops, 6spd, full hotchkis suspension and a SOM hard top 6sp SLP#260. Prestone power steering fluid for both. Red one was my favorite.

 

If they say it's supposed to run dextron 3 then i'd just top it up and call it a day despite the colour differences. They wouldn't tell you a fluid that was incompatible to the factory fill.

Of course monitor for if the level drops more or you notice a leak.

If mixing it concerns you then just flush a couple litres through the system of the fluid you want to use. You could probably even flush it through with a single litre.

These trucks aren't picky for fluid. I've been running Pentosin CHF 202 for over 150'000kms in my truck with no ill effects or leaks. Reason for that fluid choice is just because I have tons of it.

When I run out of the Pentosin i'll most likely just run my favourite flavour atf that's readily available as the Pentosin fluid is quite expensive last I checked.

If I remember correctly, GM specifically has a Dextron III(K) fluid which was ONLY for manual transmissions and power steering systems that specified Dextron 3 fluid and it differed from the normal dextron 3 which I think was Dextron III(H), in that the K fluid didn't have friction modifiers in the fluid which are used to facilitate smoother shifts in an automatic. According to the service bulletin of the time, the lack of friction modifiers was also better for the power steering system. How? I don't know.

The K fluid would be similar to the Motorcraft Type F fluid and I consider them equivalent.

I can't say that i've ever noticed a difference between the two different Dextron 3 fluids or any atf for power steering applications though in either performance or reliability. I would just recommend a thinner fluid if you experience cold winters

 

Thank you for the info. Flushed system last night with AMSOIL ATF.

 

Does Dexron III fluid even still exist (officially)?

Asking because GM's "Dexron III" fluid specification (along with Ford's nearly identical "Mercon" spec) were superseded long ago with new formulations (Ford's is now Mercon V, not sure what GM's is other than it's no longer Dexron III). The names for these specifications were licensed to other companies (such as Valvoline, etc.) to be able to sell the fluid as well, but they have long since been nullified.

Dexron III (and Mercon) is still available aftermarket (it is now called "Dex/Merc" because of said license thing), but for a car company to continue recommending something no longer officially made seems odd... (even the Toyota fluid above says "Formulated to replace Dexron III in applicable Toyota models", so it too is not an official Dexron III product).
Maybe there's something here I'm missing?

 

Officially, no Dextron III is superseded to Dextron IV. GM still sells a "Dextron III" but only the version for Manuals and Power steering. Various other companies sell a Dextron III fluid but technically GM no longer issues that license so fluids claiming to meet that spec are self proclaiming that. GM only currently licenses Dextron IV which is supposed to be backwards compatible with the legacy version

I would assume this to also be the case with Ford's Mercon fluid but I can't say for sure as I was only ever a GM technician.

I would guess they just stated dextron III as the power steering spec as it's the easiest spec that meets their requirments but is readily available. My question though has always been why does it matter? Why not just Toyota Ws fluid or even the older Toyota fluid. I'm not a tribologist though. Maybe a fluid expert like @hiPSI could educate us

 

So after all this discussion, running

$79 Toyota 00289-ATFWS Automatic Transmission Fluid, 192 Ounces, 6 Pack

Toyota 00289-ATFWS is perfectly fine?

 

Honestly I put WS in lots of vehicles, I usually have more of it lying around.

Any transmission fluid thats red works fine. Dex 3 is basically obsolete as a bare minimum for ATF.