2nd Gen Power Steering Fluid Recommendations

BG power steering fluid in mine

 

I use Lucas oil power steering fluid with sealer. It stopped a minor seal leak in my 08 Taco.

 

Thanks man my leak is also very minor I may give your method a shot instead of paying the stealership a few $100..They confirmed it was the return line but could not confirm seal or actual line.

 

This issue has come up many times here and on other Toyota forums.

Toyota owners manual say to use Dex_II or Dex-III; Dex-II is gone, BUT to many, the fluid that comes in the vehicle is colored the same way as traditional power steering fluid, so some of them use regular P/S fluid. Research indicates Toyota buys uncolored Dex-III in bulk to save a few pennies(has no dye in it).

For what it's worth, I have gone both ways in the Toyota's I've owned/own. I see no difference in performance using either Dex-II or traditional power steering fluid. I called all of the local Toyota dealership parts depts. in my area a year or so ago and asked what they use in the shop. All said that traditional power steering fluid was used.

So...to my way of thinking, you can use either Dex-III or traditional power steering fluid. If switching from Dex-III to P/S, I would do a complete flush first. Just my 2 cents.

 

If it’s the seal, it may work, but if it’s the line it will need to be replaced. My leak was at the rack leaking into the boot.

 

Can anyone confirm the power steering return line is 3/8 diameter?

 

Post #8 in this thread may help. Better yet - read thru the whole thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...hed-forums-no-posts-this-is-the-first.372524/

 

Just to put some numbers on this, I used the turkey baster drain and fill route on my 2001 DC 3.4L. Fluid looked worse than the picture at the top of this thread, was the original clear Toyota fluid with about 160K on it. Pull out 125ml, replace with new red DexMerc Dextron III ATF, repeat. Each time i started the truck and moved wheel from rack to rack twice. Mixing seemed very effective and the cloudiness decreased every drain. Took 16 drain/fills to get fluid clear enough to see the bottom of my plastic measuring cup. Was still a little cloudier than the fresh stuff. Still thats about half a gallon of fluid or about $8, plus the time, maybe an hour.

 

Hmm. My power steering fluid is damn near black... And probably 100k miles on it. Think it's time?

Haha.

I'm thinking about doing the turkey baster method for my power steering fluid AND brake fluid master. Obviously a full flush would be better but a little refresher won't hurt, right?

 

I bought a couple of boxes of Dex -III bottles (plastic) from Malwart a very long time ago. Still good and still haven't used it up yet. Turkey baster method works fine. I change the fluid everytime I change the oil.

 

Your avatar indicates you have a Tundra - not a Tacoma.

Go to -> www.rockauto.com

Provide your year/make/model/engine and look up -> power steering return line.

You might also be able to simply replace the hose on the return line and install new clamps.

 

I just had mine drained and filled with Valoline max life atf fluid , working great ! I had a slight leak before and this stopped it

 

Do you guys use the turkey baster method for quickly swapping your brake fluid also? Or just the power steering

 

I did, just suck it out, refill with new, and use a plastic 32 oz container with clear hose to finish pumping out the old fluid in the lines as you keep topping off.

 

Is this the right fluid for 2012 Tacoma power steering thank you.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...VogytBh0gwQCWEAQYBSABEgJ9XvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

That should work fine

 

used syn Mobil 1 ATF since I got it.

Anyone notice it's disappeared off the shelves?

 

I would use actual power steering fluid rather than ATF. Advice from an actual Toyota technician. You can buy from Toyota dealer but you have to specifically ask for it. Otherwise, guy at the counter will give you ATF. I’ve used that and also Lucas power steering fluid. Never had any issues.

 

Spec is Dex-III, use something compatible. Flushing is easy and cheap, do it when you service the diffs or more often and things stay happy. PS fluid is probably fine but depending what you read it might attack the seals; K.I.S.S. method says why risk it unless you think chasing leaks is fun? It ain’t rocket surgery.

 

Already flushed it along time ago.
Picked up a quart of red container Valvoline maxlife ATF dexron2/3 to refill when I replace the return line and add my magnefine filter while I’m in there.
Since nobody seems to carry the M1 syn ATF I used before

rack has a slow leak from the ends but I think it’s an age and miles thing.

on German cars I’m used to using Pentosin CHF202 but don’t know if that’d work in a Tacoma.