What is this in my power steering pump

I noticed what appeared to be a bit oil around and under the steering rack guide. Not enough to drip but enough I could see it looked more like oil than ATF. I checked the pump reservoir by dipping a paper towel in it and I don’t think this is ATF, at least none that I’ve ever seen. I think the P.O. may have had the power steering serviced and they used power steering fluid.



Should I try to flush this stuff out and replace it with ATF?
Is their way to seal the rack guide?

 

Shops that seldom see Toyota vehicles Use Power Steering Fluid all to often.

You can try flushing but the damage to the seals may already have happened.

You can always rebuild the Steering rack The only thing that will fix leaky seals is replacing.

You can always try a Hail Mary with some sort of power steering stop leak I have no experience using that.

 

Says ATF right on the f*ing lid of the f*ing pump. I need to go through the receipts from the P.O. to see who was that stupid. Probably the same place that used permatex on the oil drain instead of a 15-cent crush washer.

 

What can you do.

I have showed different people the power steering cap and they have said that can not be right.

ATF does not go in the Power Steering

At one time Cat engines used Engine oil in the Power Steering system.

Finding a good shop is so very hard!

 

You could flush whatever's in your steering system out and replace it with ATF (which of course is factory-recommended). Here's what I would do:

1. Buy a couple quarts of ATF and a turkey baster.
2. With the engine off, use the turkey baster to suck out as much of the old fluid from the pump reservoir as you can.
3. Refill the reservoir with ATF and reinstall its lid.
   
4. Start the engine and move the steering wheel from one lock to the other 10 or so times.
5. Repeat until the turkey baster appears to have all ATF in it. This will take several repetitions.

Hope this helps!

 

I’ve been on the fence about wanting to flush the power steering, I’m not sure power steering fluid vs ATF makes a difference but since Toyota went to be trouble of embossing the ATF message on the power steering pump I guess I will flush it.

 

You were already told why; the seals are effected by power steering fluid.

If you don't want to listen to those offering help, why ask for it anyway?

 

These are super easy to flush.
Just pull the return line going back into the reservoir....
add an extension line to that hose and shoot into a bucket...
and dont forget to put a plug on the line-in nipple on the reservoir....

Then go and swing steering back and forth....and keep refilling the reservoir....
if you dont start the engine....you can control the speed real easy....

its much easier if you lift front end and take some weight off the wheels.




And in my opinion everybody should be using max life atf.....
keep running thru until you see the ruby red....

and then once or twice a year I just swap out what's in the reservoir....
so every 2 or 3 yrs I end up with a complete turn over.....

old fluid is 1200psi liquid sand paper......

 

Also your hoses are rated for 5 years......
.....then they secretly rot from the inside out.....

toyota must use magic dust.....so most here aren't worried about it......

 

I'm pretty sure that brown fluid is what Toyota uses in their shops for power steering. I used to have my truck dealership maintained and that's what I found in it the first time. Same with my parents 4Runner. I've been using Castrol Dex/Merc ATF since I took over the maintenance.

 

What I meant was it doesn’t matter if I’m leaking ATF or power steering fluid, the damage is done. I’ll do the flush this weekend but I don’t think it’s going to fix my problem, I’ll just leak ATF instead. Guess I could have worded that better. It just pisses me off that pump says ATF right on it and someone still used power steering fluid. Kinda pissed at myself for not catching it earlier, I’ve checked the level but never the color.

 

I doubt it was serviced by Toyota. The PO, as good as he was for keeping up on maintenance, went wherever was convenient for oil changes and a local garage for other stuff. I have a ton of receipts for Walmart oil changes and one from a local shop for coolant and brake fluid flush at 62K miles but nothing about a power steering flush.

 

There is a chance the seal conditioner in the ATF will revive them some but they will probably need to be replaced long term.

I added a bit of 5W30 high mileage when I had a more severe leak out in the sticks and it swelled the seals enough to get me off the trail without puking fluid at the rate it was before

 

Think your over thinking it......power steering fluid is just a variation of hydrolic fluid........

Its just most of the modern atfs are 100% synthetic now.....
Changing it in a timely period is more important.

I would flush and drive it for a couple months and reassess again....
Worst scenario..... if its still leaking I would use a seal saver additive....
Like

$15 AT205 ATP Automotive AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle

AT205 reseal........

 

The only auto you have to use factory steering fluid......is honda...
on Honda's you can only use Honda fluids on everything.....period.......
or pay the price........

 

That’s typical for me.

 

Yes, power steering fluid is a mineral based hydraulic oil and the steering system is indeed a hydraulic system. The catch is that many power steering fluids are not labeled in terms of viscosity and have different to no additive packages like an off the shelf ATF will.

I actually run ISO32 hydraulic fluid in one truck with aftermarket steering parts but I won't advise that here. The best thing is whatever Toyota specified because that's what the seals and pump are rated for.

 

If you use a sealer. I would use it sparingly at first until you see what it does.....

 

Are the latest gen of Toyotas still recommending ATF for power steering? I heard that originally it made perfect sense but now the additives in the latest ATFs (Dex II was the current one in 1996 and is no longer made) are not good for the power steering system.

 

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