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Power steering fluid: should I replace, and with what?
Greetings, new owner here of 2012 ES 350 with 56,000 miles. When I am driving slowly (like in a parking lot) and I turn the steering wheel (like to make a U turn) I feel a very slight pulsing from the steering wheel to my hands. The power steering pump is not whining. I figured I'd change the power steering fluid using the "siphon out of top of reservoir a few times" method described on other posts, with Valvoline MaxLife full synthetic transmission fluid (Dextron III compatible), as suggested on other posts.
But when I looked at the fluid in the reservoir, it was 1) Full, 2) Clear, not red, and 3) Not very dirty (when I shone a flashlight through the top of the reservoir I could easily see through the fluid to the bottom of the reservoir). My questions are: 1. Should I change the power steering fluid? (Is the slight pulsing I feel while slow turning abnormal?) 2. What should I use? (The cap of my reservoir does not say to use Dextron III. It says "Notice: Use the fluid of our specification") Thanks. Also, thanks to everyone who has posted over the years. I have found the posts to be very helpful. |
You should replace it, with Dexron II or III. You should also clean the reservoir with brake cleaner. |
Originally Posted by tanstaafl
(Post 10459534)
Greetings, new owner here of 2012 ES 350 with 56,000 miles. When I am driving slowly (like in a parking lot) and I turn the steering wheel (like to make a U turn) I feel a very slight pulsing from the steering wheel to my hands. The power steering pump is not whining. I figured I'd change the power steering fluid using the "siphon out of top of reservoir a few times" method described on other posts, with Valvoline MaxLife full synthetic transmission fluid (Dextron III compatible), as suggested on other posts.
But when I looked at the fluid in the reservoir, it was 1) Full, 2) Clear, not red, and 3) Not very dirty (when I shone a flashlight through the top of the reservoir I could easily see through the fluid to the bottom of the reservoir). My questions are: 1. Should I change the power steering fluid? (Is the slight pulsing I feel while slow turning abnormal?) 2. What should I use? (The cap of my reservoir does not say to use Dextron III. It says "Notice: Use the fluid of our specification") Thanks. Also, thanks to everyone who has posted over the years. I have found the posts to be very helpful. |
I have a 07 ES350 and i use Mobil 1 Full Synthetic ATF fluid for the power steering i do mine at home with a turkey baster and a small plastic pip line to suck out as much as i can and then i just refill it with new fluid make sure the level is good drive around the corner a few times then back home to do that process 1 more time and than im good about every 20k i have been doing that.
One thing i am supprisd about is that lexus was still using Power steering fluid systems in 2012 i wonder when they switched over to electronic power steering systems my mothers 1 year older chevy has a electronic no fluid power steering unit |
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