Power steering fluid change?

2011 Tacoma V6 4x4, 76K miles.

I recently took my truck by the dealer for the seatbelt recall. While I was there, they told me that my power steering fluid was bad and needed to be replaced, and they wanted to charge me $$$ to do it. I declined at the time.

The manual says to use automatic transmission fluid, DEXRON II or III. Fluid in the reservoir is a rich brown color and somewhat opaque (see picture). Autozone had some in stock (house brand) that is pink in color and transparent. My questions are:

- Does the fluid need to be replaced, or just topped off to the fill line? (in other words, does the fluid from the factory really change color to brown or are they just hoping to profit from my ignorance?)
- Can I just siphon off what is in the reservoir and replace, or do I need to drain the whole system?
- Does anybody recommend a specific brand/type of fluid, or is it okay to use whatever is on the shelf?

 

Easy to flush out. I just did it yesterday and used mobile 1 ATF

 

i heard some where i think it was on here that they used motor oil for power steering fluid in the tacoma? cant quote or support it thought but might make sense looking at the color of the fluid you have

 

Dex 2 according to this http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...6toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/04500110.pdf

 

MassTaco did a short write-up is in this thread - I did it last year and it is really, really easy.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...gen-power-steering-fluid-recommendations.html

Also, when you are doing this, don't let the level fall below the outlet line or you can damage the steering pump.

 

Not sure why that fluid is so dark, but it needs to be changed. Don't cheat and try to siphon it, drain it all and replace. You don't need to get every last drop, but you should pull a line and get most of it out.

 

This! I do it every 30,000 miles...

 

Workman does it the lazy way...suck some out with a hand pump till reservoir is down to a 1/4 fluid, refill with fresh ATF. Drive around for a few days, repeat.
Repeat till you have gone through a quart of ATF, as long as it takes, or as lazy as you are.

 

I used an old turkey baster to suck out the reservoir until it was dry, then filled with fresh synthetic fluid. As like Workman, I repeated every couple of days until I used up that quart. The ATF fluid breaks down faster than you may think, in the steering rack. Easy piece of mind.

 

To answer your question with a question. Is it good to change the fluids on a truck? Do you change the oil, trans fluid, Brake fluid ect?

Now let me ask this. Would you add perfectly good/new fluid to old dirty contaminated fluid?

Yes I would change the fluid. The power steering system is under a lot of pressure. The power steering pump generates extremely high temperatures and pressures that can cause failure without notice.

The dealership/independent shops use a nifty tool that helps remove and replace fluid. I know this because I sell it to them. It is nearly impossible with this system to get out 100% of the old fluid. Just topping off does nothing. If you use a turkey baster empty out the reservoir of the old fluid then refill it with new fluid then turn the wheel lock to lock then do the procedure again. The more times you do this procedure you will see the fluid turning "new" The more you do this the more you will be adding in new fluid.

This will save you $$$.

If you lived close to me I would tell you bring fluid as I have the machine to do it.

Hope this helps

 

It's possible you had standard power steering fluid in the system instead of ATF, which is what happened to me. Between pulling the rack and replacing the PS pump on separate occasions I figure I've gotten more ATF in there now than PS fluid.

Change it and call it good. ALl fluids and their containment are subject to breakdown and wear over time so it never hurts to check/change.

 

Synthetic "power steering fluid" thats my replacement and that was from a Toy tech

 

Thanks for all of the great responses. It sounds like my best bet is to do a full change using the method that SpacemanSpiff linked to.

 

so strangely enough I believe my 2013 has power steering fluid in it. I did not check the manual to see what it says I should have. the power steering lid says to check the manual. What the hell are we supposed to use?