Power steering fluid: should I replace, and with what?
03-06-19, 12:03 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
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.
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.
03-06-19, 12:23 PM
#2
You should replace it, with Dexron II or III.
You should also clean the reservoir with brake cleaner.
You should also clean the reservoir with brake cleaner.
The following users liked this post:
tanstaafl (03-06-19)
03-06-19, 01:55 PM
#3
9th Gear
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Ia
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
03-06-19, 04:04 PM
#4
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
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
The following users liked this post:
xcalderon (03-12-20)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RuninRoach
RX - 2nd Gen (2004-2009)
14
12-04-14 05:13 PM
ToyotaLexus
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003)
4
02-12-09 10:05 AM
