Hi

I am planning to change both brake fluid and power steering fluid in my car but I don't wanna bleed neither the brakes nor the power steering fluid. I was wondering if I can just replace the fluids in reservoirs and drive the car for a few days and repeat the process a few times. would it be enough to get most of the fluids replaced with new fluids?

 

That works for the PS system not as effective for the brakes but better than nothing. I recommend bleeding properly as this pushes out fluid and contaminants that tend to settle.

 

As Lexus2000 said above. It is effective on your power steering to drain and fill the reservoir a few times as the power steering only holds maybe a quart. So you can change all the fluid doing a few drain and fills with the old Turkey Baster. Power steering fluid circulates as it is pumped around. I have done this on several cars.

Brake fluid does not circulate. It is a closed stagnate system that works by pressure. So you have to bleed it. Any independent shop can bleed your brakes or flush out your brake fluid. Call around for prices. The most I have seen it cost is maybe $150 at a dealer. Much less at other shops. It should be done every 3 years according to Toyota as brake fluid absorbs water.

 

what should we replace the power steering fluid with? just any transmission fluid?

 

Dexron II/III or compatible.

 

Have you seen this method to change fluids? I made one using a Gatorade bottle instead of a glass jar. The Gatorade bottle caved in due to the pressure. So I drilled another hole in the lid and stuck another inlet tube through the hole. No more crushed Gatorade bottle! This could be used to bleed the brakes. You'd need one person at the wheel and another person monitoring the brake fluid level.
I tried to use it to bleed the brakes and it was a no go. I think the suction from the vacuum is too much for the brake fluid.

However, the tube and gatorade bottle made a great one person job. I bled all four calipers in 15 minutes. I went through probably half a quart of a brake fluid.

For thicker fluids like the power steering fluid, be sure to use a wider diameter tube than the one for bleeding brakes. Unless you want to wait for it to suck the viscous lubricants through that small of a tube.

 

Bleeding the brakes is an easy, albeit monotonous, DIY job. Too, it can be done with a minimal number of tools if you have a second person to help by pushing the brake pedal (see YouTube how-to videos). Doing it solo will require a hand vacuum pump and catch container.

 

Consider buying a MightyVac tool as it can be used for both the power steering fluid & brakes, and other jobs as well.

Replacing the power steering fluid in the reservoir several times will certainly make the fluid "more fresh".

The MightyVac tool can be used to replace all of the power steering fluid at once:

1. Suck the reservoir fluid out using the MightyVac tool
2. Remove the upper hose (return line) from the reservoir and block off the reservoir port
3. Add new ATF to the reservoir
4. Use the MightyVac to suck the fluid out of the return line - when the reservoir fluid level is low, add more fluid. Do not suck air into the system!
5. Keep doing this until clean ATF fluid is coming out of the return line
6. Suck the reservoir dry one last time - to minimize the mess for the next step
7. Remove the cap on the reservoir return line port and reconnect the return line
8. Fill the reservoir one last time to the correct level

As mentioned, the brake fluid does not circulate, so the brakes should be bled. You can use the MightVac tool for brake bleeding too.

1. Suck the reservoir fluid out
2. Fill the reservoir with fresh fluid
3. Slip the MightVac tool over the bleed nipple of the first caliper - suck out fluid until it looks new ...... being careful not to suck out all of the fluid in the reservoir as this will introduce air into the system.
4. Top off the reservoir.
5. Move to wheel #2 and repeat as above - filling the reservoir as needed
6. Repeat for wheels #3 and #4

I still use a helper to step on the brake pedal before I loosen the caliper bleed screw.

 

I too am a MightyVac fan. It makes brake bleeding an easy one person job. I also got the reservoir tank that fits over the master cylinder so you do not have to check the fluid level as much.

 

I presume Toyota's ABS system is like some others. Technically, it should be cycled to remove any fluid from that piece as well. I would bet a dealer/shop has the tool to cycle the abs pump. Then again, even if you don't flush that pump, you would have replaced 99% of the fluid in the system. Good time to check pad and rotor thickness to see if those need replacement as well.

 

I was not aware of the reservoir tank that fits over the master cylinder ........ that might go on my wish list.