RuninRoach

Right....so i went and bought Mobile 1 ATF fluid so i could do the turkey baster method to slowly change out the powerstreeing fluid.....From what i remember, ATF fluid goes from Red --> brown if it is over used.....

Now...when i open the cover of the power steering reservoir, i see a clear liquid which resembles power steering fluid NOT ATF fluid.

What do i do here? I don't think mixing the ATF and power steering fluid is a good idea...and if i take it to the dealer they will probably want to change the whole unit cause i didn't conform to blah blah blah...

Anybody have had this experience before or have any suggestions what i should do?

Oz

draco

Are you doing power steering fluid or transmission fluid (ATF). If you opened the power steering reservoir and the fluid looks like power steering fluid why are you looking for ATF fluid? Are you using the manufacturer specified fluid for your power steering? If not, I wouldn't put ATF fluid in the power steering reservoir and get the proper stuff and drain and fill the reservoir.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Drain the system... turkey baster won't get all of it out.

These cars use ATF as the fluid for PS... which is stupid since mistakes like in the OP happen all the time.

RX330inFL

Draco, factory spec power steering fluid for the 2nd Generation RX IS ATF Dextron II or III. Here is the Owner's Manual picture:



If they put in power steering fluid they were wrong.

kiwi

option 1, do the turkey baster method once a week for several weeks until you are satisfied most but not all the fluid has been replaced.

option 2, take your car to a non toyota/lexus service station and have them drain a fill / replace fluid. at least this way toyota lexus wont know about it in case there is an issue in the future.


lets be honest, if there is a problem, lexus will not send you fuild to a lab to test for proper type.

RX330inFL

This URL might help:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...uid-flush.html

hypervish

I took a spray bottle, and just un-screwed the nozzle part and put that part into the reservoir and squirted the ATF out into a bottle. Basically same thing as the turkey baster method, but this worked quicker, and got more fluid out.

RandomTech

Most dealerships use clear power steering fluid, like from the factory, to help distinguish particulates and condition more easily.

Plus it looks better to the guest.

drewcam888

iTrader: (1)

It isnt to hard to remove the reservoir. Just take it out that way you empty the all the spare storage

RuninRoach

great ideas, i will choose the full switch as a last resort as i'll have to overcome language barrier here in Hong Kong.

For the slow swap out (turkey baster / spray bottle) i still haven't seen anyone reply if mixing the ATF and power steering fluid will do any serious damage or gunk.?

groomerz

I would go to Bobistheoilguy.com and post your question. Some of them are petro engineers that might be able to tell you about compatibility and mixing. Both atf and ps teering fluid are hydraulic fluids derived from petroleum so I think if you'd be fine doing the spray bottle method several times

infinirx

So it's not something I need to go to the dealer for? Is it really as easy as that link says for the 1st gen and 2nd Gen?? I need to do this asap.

rxonmymind

Bump.

Great tip. Thanks.

jakenbake

In the past I have changed the power steering fluid myself by removing the return hose from the reservoir, aiming the hose into a gallon jug.. Then I get an assistant to start the car and begin to turn the wheel back and forth until the fluid stops squirting. Then I poor in a new bottle and have the assistant turn the wheel a couple more times to clean out any residual fluid. Turn off the car, put the hose back on and fill up the reservoir with new fluid. Then start the car and turn the wheel a few times to get air out of the line and then fill the reservoir again to the FULL line. This worked for me on my F150, TL, and X3. I haven't had to do it on the RX since the hybrid has electric power steering. The only downside to this method is it can get a little messy...But if you are careful you can do it without getting covered in fluid.

jakenbake

Or if I had just read the link that RX350inFL had posted, I could have avoided typing all of that. LOL