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Power steering fluid top up question

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by 1toyota2toyota, Oct 20, 2019.

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  1. Oct 20, 2019 at 3:59 PM
    #1
    1toyota2toyota

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    1toyota2toyota [OP] New Member

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    Hi Guys, I’m reading conflicting reports on fluid to top up my power steering with. ATF, power steering, dexron 2/3. Would it be ok to use this Totya ATF fluid?
    Thanks

    3588FAB5-DA9C-4124-AF09-5026F8C35190.jpg
     
    1toyota2toyota, Oct 20, 2019
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  2. Oct 20, 2019 at 4:01 PM
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    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    Should be fine yeah. Whatever you do don't use actual power steering fluid. ATF that meets Dextron II - III is what you want
     
    eon_blue, Oct 20, 2019
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  3. Oct 20, 2019 at 4:15 PM
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    TheDevilYouLove

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    TheDevilYouLove You can’t polish a turd, but you can polish a TRD

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    WS is perfectly fine.

    Why not flush the whole quart through it?
     
    TheDevilYouLove, Oct 20, 2019
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  4. Oct 20, 2019 at 4:21 PM
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    1toyota2toyota

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    1toyota2toyota [OP] New Member

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    Thanks guys! I’m guessing a flush is pretty straight forward? Lots of online resources I’m sure
     
    1toyota2toyota, Oct 20, 2019
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  5. Oct 20, 2019 at 4:26 PM
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    TheDevilYouLove

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    TheDevilYouLove You can’t polish a turd, but you can polish a TRD

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    TheDevilYouLove, Oct 20, 2019
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  6. Oct 20, 2019 at 4:29 PM
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    NYCTaco52

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    NYCTaco52 Half man, half goat

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    This is new to me. Why not use actual power steering fluid for power steering?
     
    NYCTaco52, Oct 20, 2019
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  7. Oct 20, 2019 at 4:36 PM
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    Alexely999

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    Alexely999 Well-Known Member

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    Wondering as well.
     
    Alexely999, Oct 20, 2019
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  8. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:00 PM
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    TheDevilYouLove

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    TheDevilYouLove You can’t polish a turd, but you can polish a TRD

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    5B3D0276-D966-42D8-AAB7-75534D158C7B.jpg
     
    TheDevilYouLove, Oct 20, 2019
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  9. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:08 PM
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    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    Toyota for whatever reason designed the system to use ATF/Dextron II - III fluid.

    I don't know about later gens but with 1st gens guys have reported their pumps start whining badly when a shop puts regular PS fluid in it by mistake. Maybe that has to do with it mixing with the ATF, I'm not sure.

    Nice thing about it though is you can use any kind of compatible ATF for cheap. Unlike say Honda where you pretty much have to use their Honda PS fluid or the seals on the rack will fail prematurely
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2019
    eon_blue, Oct 20, 2019
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  10. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:13 PM
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    Killowatt

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    Killowatt Well-Known Member

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    Sure happy I stumbled on this thread, mine's a little low and I've been thinking of topping it off.

    Thanks
     
    Killowatt, Oct 20, 2019
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  11. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:29 PM
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    nd4spdbh

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    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    Honestly the PS fluid flush is one of the easiest and cleanest fluid changes to do on our trucks. DO IT.
     
    nd4spdbh, Oct 20, 2019
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  12. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:31 PM
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    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    Don't forget to clean the screen on the reservoir...I neglected to last time and now I gotta do it again since I'm 99% sure that's why it still whines
     
    eon_blue, Oct 20, 2019
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  13. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:33 PM
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    Plain Jane Taco

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    Plain Jane Taco Well-Known Member

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    I do a suck and fill with Maxlife at every oil change....every 5k
     
    Plain Jane Taco, Oct 20, 2019
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  14. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:38 PM
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    nd4spdbh

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    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    AFAIK there is no screen on the rezi of the PS on 2nd gen
     
    nd4spdbh, Oct 20, 2019
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  15. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:39 PM
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    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    Lucky :(
     
    eon_blue, Oct 20, 2019
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  16. Oct 20, 2019 at 5:47 PM
    #16
    JC15Taco

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    JC15Taco Well-Known Member

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    They all whine....but nothing like mid 90's Ford's.:)
    They lasted well too.
    Jeff
     
    JC15Taco, Oct 20, 2019
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  17. Oct 20, 2019 at 8:41 PM
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    Alexely999

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    Alexely999 Well-Known Member

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    Well I learned something new today, been using power steering fluid... no issues as of yet. But that’s good to know.
     
    Alexely999, Oct 20, 2019
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  18. Oct 21, 2019 at 1:33 PM
    #18
    Plain Jane Taco

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    Plain Jane Taco Well-Known Member

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    Power steering fluid tends to be very thin
     
    Plain Jane Taco, Oct 21, 2019
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  19. Oct 21, 2019 at 2:08 PM
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    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    If it were me, for the peace of mind I would get a proper power steering flush done with the right stuff (ATF). Your truck isn't that old being a 2015 but long term you don't want to run into issues with your power steering pump or steering rack.

    I usually just do the at-home method of power steering changes (suck fluid out of reservoir, fill with new ATF fluid, turn wheels a few times, repeat process a dozen or so times until the fluid looks new)..but in this case a proper flush with the right machine will insure you get all the regular power steering fluid out of the system
     
    eon_blue, Oct 21, 2019
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  20. Oct 21, 2019 at 2:25 PM
    #20
    Plain Jane Taco

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    Plain Jane Taco Well-Known Member

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    Grab a couple of quarts of this and you'll be good to go

    afa41575-25aa-4f6a-a55c-836eb9937601_1.c3c64c23f14542fdc4bbba375984795e.jpeg.jpg
     
    Plain Jane Taco, Oct 21, 2019
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