Power Steering Fluid Topoff

I edited my post above after you quoted it, but are you replacing the fluid only, or are you replacing power steering components?

 

Yes, the whole ps hose assembly is being replaced, tube cracked where it attaches to pump, just spent $500+ at toyota for the entire assembly minus the return line from res. and rack and pinion itself. Brand new ps pump and brand new ps line assembly. Also valve gaskets are leaking, replacing those and intake gasket too. And doing full tranny flush with machine,... new filter, fluid, and gasket. Either happening tomorrow or monday.

 

oh and output shaft seal is leaking, that's getting replaced too. With labor i'm sitting at $1200+ right now lol

 

That's weird, not a common failure anyways. I've heard of the PS lines rusting in two, but I haven't ever seen them crack. What cracked, the banjo bolt? Pics?
As far as the PS fluid goes, you can cap the reservoir return line nipple and put the return line in a bucket(I use a 3/8 hose mender and 3/8ID clear hose to make it easier). Jack the truck up till the front tires are off the ground, turn the key on(don't start it), then fill the reservoir with atf, the turn the wheel lock to lock to push fluid through the system. Keep checking the reservoir and adding fluid every couple of turns of the wheel. You can get practically all of the old fluid out doing this. If you happen to let the reservoir run out of fluid and get air in the system it's no big deal, just reconnect the return line when you're done and turn the wheel from lock to lock and keep topping off the fluid, the air will work out of the system and float to the top of the reservoir.

 

Dex II and III products have been superseded for years. As in no longer made.

Dexron VI was introduced in 2005, and is backwards compatible for most all applications, although most non GM OEs have not bothered to validate that with their components.

I'm comfortable with using it, or any Dex III compatible fluid, syn or otherwise. ATF has been a common PS fluid for decades on many marquees. I had an autox car that in summer would foam/overflow the PS reservoir ATF, so I bled the system and replaced it with Valvoline syn. PS fluid. Worked great.

But the Dexron deal is something like API ratings on motor oils. There is a rating in the owners manual based on the current API at the time of vehicle production. 10 or 12 years later, it's very likely that API has been superseded a couple of times.

Everyone freaks over viscosity matching the 'book', but I've never seen anyone even notice the API they 'should' use is out of date.

BTW, the newest SN API is almost as good as the syns of 10 years ago.

 

My rack and pinion has been seeping slightly for the last 5 years, it was seeping before I ever changed the fluid, I have never had to add fluid between changes(I've been changing it about every 1-2 years), so I'm gonna keep flushing it every year or two and see how long it'll last. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse. I think if I hadn't been keeping the fluid fresh it would have given up on me a long time ago.

 

Ill get pics once its pulled off, its going to a Chevy dealership lol, friend is pulling it apart, he's charging way less than what others quoted me for labor so I'm happy about that. Looks to be banjo bolt broke, replacing that and the lower nipple fitting on the rack and pinion just in case. I mean I could do the ps stuff myself if nothing was being replaced but would rather have him deal with that and since it's already there might as well have him do proper tranny flush with a machine rather than by hand.

 

Output shaft on tranny, about to go LT front and rear including new 1 piece DS, might as well have him to that too.

 

Most of the flush machines just attach to the cooler lines, it pumps fresh fluid in at the same rate old fluid is coming out. Pretty much exactly what you'd be doing yourself, just a little easier. I'd still put it in temp check mode and check the fluid level when you get it back.

 

Yeah, I think there was a TSB and updated seal on the prerunners.
Output shaft seal

 

Yep, I never did it, and from what I've seen Ive missed the cut off date by YEARS lol Hes got the tool at the dealership too and he's done it before, should be easy. I purchased the new seal, was like $18.

 

A little info on the dex 3 vs dex 6... according to some guy on the internet. As always, do your own research and come to your own conclusion. YMMV.

 

Just an update for y'all. I went to autozone and got some STP multi vehicle transmission fluid and topped off with that. Says it's DEX II and III compatible. No issues so far.