What Power Steering Fluid to Use?

I am interested in changing out the power steering fluid in my Tacoma - the manual states to use Dexron II or III ATF fluid for power steering fluid.

If I do not want to buy Toyota branded fluid, what should I buy from the store to use? I found DEX/MERC ATF and Dextron VI/Mercon LV ATF and am unsure which would be most appropriate. The DEX/MERC ATF says its compatible with Dexron III but is not fully synthetic - the Dextron VI is fully synthetic.

Has anyone used either of the Valvoline brand ATFs pictured in this post?

 

DexMerc is what I used. Fits the spec perfectly and is cheap. I used just over half a gallon but I did a flush vs suck/refill.

 

Dexron 3 ; Valvoline is fine.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/power-steering-fluid.772930/#post-27612360

Oem part number 00718-ATF00.

3 quarts for a flush or buy the gallon and have an extra quart.

 

I'd run the dex 3 unless you get frigid winters. In that case the dex 6 may be better. Really you wouldn't notice a difference though.

 

(bottle from first pic)

 

How do you do a full flush?

I bought a siphon and was going to suck and refill from the reservoir, drive the car around and then repeat a few times to flush the system.

 

To do a flush you jack up both front tires of the truck, siphon out the reservoir, remove the return line(the line that doesn't lead to the power steering pump) put the return line into a waste oil receptacle. Cap the opening on the reservoir then fill it with new fluid and then with the engine off, cycle the steering wheel from lock to lock while checking on the reservoir and topping it up before it goes empty. Keep doing that until the fluid comes out the return line clean. Once it's clean, reinstall your return line, fill the reservoir and keep going lock to lock again atleast 10 times in each direction until the level stabilizes and stops dropping. At that point wait 5-10 minutes and then go lock to lock another 10 times and if the level is still good then start the truck and go lock to lock a few times more to make sure there is no abnormal noises which would signify air in the system. If you have noises turn off the truck and go lock to lock a few more times and try again.

These trucks don't really hold air in the power steering system like older ford like to but if you can't get the system to quiet due to air in the system then i've found going lock to lock with the engine running to help. If that still doesn't work then with the engine running I hold it at full lock for a second and blip the gas pedal while at lock then let off the wheel and continue going lock to lock.

After that, clean your mess, lower the front end down and go for a test drive.

 

I take the lazy approach, this has been my method for many years.

When doing an oil change (engine) I siphon the reservoir dry and refill it.

My theory:
The only thing that really contaminates the fluid is aluminum from the steering rack just like the black that you get when scrubbing an aluminum pan too hard. Regularly changing a percentage of the fluid out keeps the contamination level low without much work or mess.

 

you just siphon out of the top from the reservoir correct?

is there any risk of contaminating the reservoir by mixing in a different brand or type of fluid than what was already in there?

I was going to do this by cycling in the valvoline Dex/merc shown in my original post.

 

It's fine. Dexron II/III is specified in the manual, so it's close enough to the factory fill, for what it's worth anyway. Steering rack leaks are endemic to the OEM design on OEM fluid, so it's nothing to be put on a pedestal.

Make sure your suction gun or pump has a thin enough hose (under 1/2") to actually reach inside the reservoir opening.

 

Yes, just pop the cap and vac it out. You can use a turkey baster or the more impressive (and very handy) extractor made for the job. They are really nice for servicing small engines like mowers too.
Like this one from HF:



As long as it meets the published specifications (Dexron II/III) it will be fine.
Dexron is an old and simple fluid design, modern transmissions use more specialized fluids.
The power steering system is pretty old basic technology fortunately.

 

I just use one of those $25 brass hand pumps. Bought it for transmission fluid, but works here too.

 

One vote for Mobil ATF D/M here!

 

1. 3/8" vacuum seal cap to cap off the return line on the reservoir
2. place the return hose in a clear gatorade bottle
3. With the truck on jack stands and the front tires off the ground turn the wheel all the way to the left
4. refill reservoir
5. turn the wheel all the way to the right
6. refill reservoir
7. repeat steps 3-6 until you've flushed 3 quarts through the system

Each full wheel turn all the way to the left or right completely drains the reservoir, so refill it each time or you'll get air in the system.

The other option is to siphon out and refill multiple times, but you won't get as good of results and you won't completely flush the system. My suggestion is to put the truck on jack stands for this job. It won't take very long and it's not hard to do.

 

That's exactly how I did mine. Took just over half a gallon to flush it out.