How do I know if i should change my power steering fluid??
12-16-10, 02:30 PM
#16
I went to Dollar Tree and bought a turkey baster for $1.00 and picked up a container of dex lll for $3.83. I attatched a thick straw to the end of the baster and sucked out the dirty fluid. The reservoir does not hold all that much. I replaced the fluid but it is still not bright red yet. I will wait a few days and do it again. Not a big deal.
12-17-10, 07:59 AM
#17
Driver
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Location: TN
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I went to Dollar Tree and bought a turkey baster for $1.00 and picked up a container of dex lll for $3.83. I attatched a thick straw to the end of the baster and sucked out the dirty fluid. The reservoir does not hold all that much. I replaced the fluid but it is still not bright red yet. I will wait a few days and do it again. Not a big deal.
12-18-10, 08:22 PM
#21
I found that the black fluid stains the inside of the reservoir and it is no longer transparent to see the actual level.
12-19-10, 05:23 AM
#22
Moderator
On my 07 Highlander its actually pretty easy to disconnect the two PS hoses and just pull the plastic PS fluid reservoir out entirely.. on the Highlander the reservoir is held in only by a metal tab that detents and releases the plastic reservoir body by pulling straight up. Makes it very easy to drain and completely clean the reservoir body, and then replace, reconnect hoses and refill.
On the LS, pulling the PS reservoir looks like it would be harder to remove and potentially more messy to catch spills as you disconnect.reconnect hoses and as the LS engine bay is much tighter area to work in.
The original OEM fill of PS fluid in my 06 with 28k miles still shows pink and clear...so far so good. I may just change it out at 30k just to be safe with some M1 PS fluid.
On the LS, pulling the PS reservoir looks like it would be harder to remove and potentially more messy to catch spills as you disconnect.reconnect hoses and as the LS engine bay is much tighter area to work in.
The original OEM fill of PS fluid in my 06 with 28k miles still shows pink and clear...so far so good. I may just change it out at 30k just to be safe with some M1 PS fluid.
Last edited by Jabberwock; 12-19-10 at 05:34 AM.
12-20-10, 11:34 PM
#23
Pole Position
Thread Starter
12-20-10, 11:35 PM
#24
Pole Position
Thread Starter
12-21-10, 07:03 AM
#26
Lexus Champion
12-21-10, 09:42 AM
#27
12-21-10, 03:06 PM
#29
Same here. I put back in exactly what I removed. I don't think overfilling does much harm other than causing a mess. I wish I knew a way to clean the inside of the canister without having to remove it. It's probably better to leave well enough alone as every part that breaks on our cars costs an "arm and a leg".
12-21-10, 08:30 PM
#30
Turkey basters are too far to get to the bottom of the resevoir. I found a car battery bulb at ACE hardware in the automotive section ($5-6) that's like a turkey baster but with a tube that's long and as narrow as a soda straw. It easily reaches the bottom of the resevoir. Just suck out the old fluid into a small bottle, refill resevoir w/ new fluid, drive around the block, repeat like 3x and you should have most of the old fluid out of there. IMHO, it's a lot easier than jacking up the front end since for that, you have to remove those 18 bolts that hold on the front wind deflector. That alone takes like 20 min to remove and replace.