Toyota power steering fluid

[Samilcar]

Originally Posted By: martinq

A Dexron VI certified fluid just means it meets the more stringent shear, viscosity, volitility and friction specs above / beyond that of Dexron III.


For an automatic transmission, I 100% agree.


Originally Posted By: martinq

Either way, I would always trust a DexVI fluid over a too-thick or high-shear DexIII.


This was my thinking at first. However, for some reason, Toyota doesn't trust Dex VI fluid in its PS systems. My van is a 2008, well after the 2005 introduction of Dex VI, and both the cap and the owners manual still explicitly spec only Dex III fluid for the power steering. Could Toyota just be dragging its feet on specifying a newer fluid that could work just as well? Possibly. I decided to play it safe and use the fluid that they recommend.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: Samilcar
Originally Posted By: martinq

A Dexron VI certified fluid just means it meets the more stringent shear, viscosity, volitility and friction specs above / beyond that of Dexron III.


For an automatic transmission, I 100% agree.


Originally Posted By: martinq

Either way, I would always trust a DexVI fluid over a too-thick or high-shear DexIII.


This was my thinking at first. However, for some reason, Toyota doesn't trust Dex VI fluid in its PS systems. My van is a 2008, well after the 2005 introduction of Dex VI, and both the cap and the owners manual still explicitly spec only Dex III fluid for the power steering. Could Toyota just be dragging its feet on specifying a newer fluid that could work just as well? Possibly. I decided to play it safe and use the fluid that they recommend.


It's probably not on the "HIGH PRIORITY LIST" for Toyota in regards to testing the DEX VI for their P/S systems. It's easier to just recomend what has been working for them!

 

[artificialist]

Numerous Toyota cars made after 2005 have a yellow fluid in the P/S reservoir, but call for ATF.

Replace it with ATF and you will never have a problem related to having the wrong fluid. I have used Mobil1 Dexron III and Valvoline Dexron VI in Toyota power steering systems, and they both work better because of it.

 

[martinq]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
It's probably not on the "HIGH PRIORITY LIST" for Toyota in regards to testing the DEX VI for their P/S systems. It's easier to just recomend what has been working for them!

A higher priority would be for Toyota to spec / recommend their own brand of PS fluid. Also keep in mind that there are no DexIII certified fluids anymore (since 2006). And I can't see why Toyota would recommend an oil that's spec'd by GM.

All I'm saying is that with a certified DexVI fluid (or similar) you are getting a known quality & performance of fluid, not so with a 'DexIII'. Even if DexIII was a current spec, I doubt anyone would really want to use it for ATF or PS applications.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Numerous Toyota cars made after 2005 have a yellow fluid in the P/S reservoir, but call for ATF.

Replace it with ATF and you will never have a problem related to having the wrong fluid. I have used Mobil1 Dexron III and Valvoline Dexron VI in Toyota power steering systems, and they both work better because of it.


Most Toyota's that I have owned pre-2000(or friends/family) were all the same with their OE P/S fluid being Clear/Yellow(ish) and not RED, like the ATF. I believe that the RED is just the dye.

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
I have always used(with great success) Mobil 1 ATF as P/S Fluid in my Toyota's!

Well, in the last 2 yrs, I have replaced(on our '01 RX-300), the P/S return line(July 2010) and the High Pressure P/S line(July 2011) and in both instances when replacing the P/S fluid, I have used Castrol Import Multi Vehicle ATF in the P/S system.

Jump to NOV 2011 and to date, we started to have sticky/hard/lack of steering return in the power steering. I have never susspected the IMV ATF as the cause of this sticky/hard/lack of steering return but, I am now thinking about it! Although it may just be the P/S Pump, IDK yet.

While we're driving, the steering become more normal but, only while driving. But, when the engine is first started, the steering is "Catchy" with no steering return on it's own until it's warmed up.

I am going to Drain and Refill with Mobil 1 ATF before I delve futher into the steering system. I also use Mobil 1 ATF as the P/S fluid in my '04 Altima 2.5 steering system...Great stuff!

The reason I brought up this issue is because, some years ago on an older Honda Accord, I used an off brand of P/S fluid in the Honda P/S system and I had the "EXACT" same experience as I am having today. When I replaced the fluid with Honda Genuine P/S Fluid(or even BARDAHL P/S Fluid for Honda's), the steering slowly returned back to normal.

So, Mobil 1 is what I am going to try 1st in my Lexus as I have always had good success with it.

Also, I don't believe that when using the WRONG fluid in any system, that problems occure overnight. They may take time as in my instance(1-1.5 yrs).


-Check your strut bearings.
-If you think it might be "morning sickness" try adding 1.5 to 2.0 fl. oz. of EOS to the PS fluid, drive it normally for a week, then drain and refill the fluid.