Let's Settle This...Power Steering Fluid or ATF for Power Steering

Yep, that's the one.

 

just ordered this based on your recommendation, way easier for me to do it than pay the mechanic.

 

Cheers! Mine is still dry at 103k.

Lemme know how it goes.

 

Come on, we all know that the armchair engineer is the smartest.

 

00718-ATF00 is the same as

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

00289-ATFWS?

I have 00289 and was gonna use that this weekend.

 

Guys which power steering do I use for my 3rd gen Tacoma? The fluid in thier seems to be a dark bluish color. I have Toyota atf and power steering fluid which is bright red, and some sshop pro power steering which is a clear color. Photo below which one??

 

From 2022 owners manual..
https://www.toyota.com/owners/warranty-owners-manuals/vehicle/tacoma/2022/


Power steering fluid type Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON ® II or III


Not sure what type of ATF is in that bottle but if its is the one that list dexron II/III on the back you are fine. On my 2015 the transmission uses toyota WS atf, but not the power steering specifies Dexron II/III atf just like your 2022. So saying the power steering uses "ATF" without specifying the type isn't correct. There are so many different formulations.

 

The left bottle. This is what Toyota calls out to use.

 

I cant believe this is so much of a thing

 

Agreed, its all in the owners manual. Why even ask.

 

The reason people get confused is because lube shops will throw regular clear p/s fluid in there as a top-off and then the next time somebody looks it looks clear..

 

How can you get confused when the owners manual and even the top of the PS reservoir tell you to use Dexron III.

 

The fact that Dexron III isn't "officially" made anymore I'm sure also plays into the confusion (no bottle in a store actually says "Dexron III" on the front (haven't since 2008 or so), you have to look at the back of the bottle to see that it says "Meets Dexron III requirements" or something similar). Such bottles are most-often labeled "Dex/Merc" on the front.

 

I get the OEM Toyota P/S fluid from/on their parts website for $15.99 when they are running a sale or free shipping: Pick a dealer near you and avoid shipping with one that has a "free pick-up at parts counter option". Mine is local and it's there for pick-up next day. The site runs free shipping and 25% off promotions now and then. 5-yr/50k miles change interval for me.

https://autoparts.toyota.com/products/product/automatic-transmission-fliud-00718atf00

 

Life is hard. It's harder when you don't read

 

Jeez some of yall need to take the stick out of ur a$$. I noticed the fluid in the resevior was a darker bluish color so I wasn’t totally sure if the red dextron III shit was correct. AutoZone told me this clear ps fluid was correct then I heard the red was the stuff. Added in the red power steering fluid and returned the clear crap after clarifying on here. Thanks to the people for double clarifying.

 

My Toyota dealer sells Mobil ATF D/M and it's what that dealer puts in any and all Toyota power steering systems that call for Dexron II or III. The Car Care Nut is nothing special. He's just another mechanic (like all of them) on YouTube. Many people find him charismatic which fools them into thinking that he's the LAST WORD on Toyotas.

 

My trucks cap actually says "Use Specified Fluid".

 

just leaving the dealer, told them I wanted the power steering fluid for my 2019 tacoma, and that it calls for ATF fluid. he handed me the bottle of Johnsen's Power steering fluid off the shelf and said this is what you need. sound right?

 

That brand has at least 6 different formulations so without knowing which one its hard to say

https://www.johnsens.com/fluids/power-steering-fluid/