2003 LS430 Recommendation for Power steering fluid
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: FL
2003 LS430 Recommendation for Power steering fluid
Hi all,
I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).
Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.
Thank you in advance
p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).
Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.
Thank you in advance
p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
Last edited by beylerbeyi; Dec 28, 2017 at 02:09 PM.
Hi all,
I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).
Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.
Thank you in advance
p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).
Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.
Thank you in advance
p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 831
From: 565 St Peter NOLA
Type IV is not Dexron compatible.
Almost all Lexus PS systems call for Dexron III
Most guys here use Mobil1 Synthetic ATF which is Dexron compatible and readily available.
DO NOT use Mobil 1 Synthetic in your transmission. Lexus is very specific about only using Type IV or Ws based on the year make model etc.
Almost all Lexus PS systems call for Dexron III
Most guys here use Mobil1 Synthetic ATF which is Dexron compatible and readily available.
DO NOT use Mobil 1 Synthetic in your transmission. Lexus is very specific about only using Type IV or Ws based on the year make model etc.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 87
From: Delaware
Hi all,
I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).
Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.
Thank you in advance
p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).
Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.
Thank you in advance
p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
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You're over thinking things. Just buy a quart of Dexron III and be done with it. GM came up with the formulation, so Dexron III for Ford or for Honda is irrelevant. Not enough market to label the Dexron III bottle to say "for Lexus", lol. Just put some Dexron III in there. Be careful with the level though. Nearly all of us have stained insides of the PS reservoir. Look closely to the level, or place a light behind the reservoir to see the level better.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Alabama
01-06 LS430 power steering systems specify use of Dexron III (which is actually ATF fluid). Use any fluid label specifically as compatible with Dexron III. Any other type of ATF or PS fluid (not labelled compatible with Dexron III) could damage your PS system.
Royal purple is not that great in the g35 350z community people actually loose power when they run it, mobile 1 is what I swear by it performs awsome in cold and heat and takes longer than most to loose viscosity due to heat and the like. Bob's the oil guy forum they go into great depth and length about oild and filters the stuff they have on there is deffinetly worth a read.
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 716
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From: FL
Royal purple is not that great in the g35 350z community people actually loose power when they run it, mobile 1 is what I swear by it performs awsome in cold and heat and takes longer than most to loose viscosity due to heat and the like. Bob's the oil guy forum they go into great depth and length about oild and filters the stuff they have on there is deffinetly worth a read.
But, remember, we are talking about power steering fluid. I am not sure what you mean by "loosing power", but I guess you mentioned about actual application of this oil in the transmission. Some time ago i was doing my research to determine what may work very well with steering rack mechanism and power steering pump in our cars, and determined that Royal Purple actually has a very good mixture of additives that smooth out gears and provide noise-free operation. I never intend to use for transmission obviously as there are products that suite better, however, again, I do not have a valid reason to believe Royal Purple is not that great. Otherwise, I guess I could notice that my steering wheel would not rotate extremely smoothly and gently.
If you have a good article / research information, please share it here so other viewers can make a good choice.
Thanks for information. I will take a look at their forum to confirm your statement.
But, remember, we are talking about power steering fluid. I am not sure what you mean by "loosing power", but I guess you mentioned about actual application of this oil in the transmission. Some time ago i was doing my research to determine what may work very well with steering rack mechanism and power steering pump in our cars, and determined that Royal Purple actually has a very good mixture of additives that smooth out gears and provide noise-free operation. I never intend to use for transmission obviously as there are products that suite better, however, again, I do not have a valid reason to believe Royal Purple is not that great. Otherwise, I guess I could notice that my steering wheel would not rotate extremely smoothly and gently.
If you have a good article / research information, please share it here so other viewers can make a good choice.
But, remember, we are talking about power steering fluid. I am not sure what you mean by "loosing power", but I guess you mentioned about actual application of this oil in the transmission. Some time ago i was doing my research to determine what may work very well with steering rack mechanism and power steering pump in our cars, and determined that Royal Purple actually has a very good mixture of additives that smooth out gears and provide noise-free operation. I never intend to use for transmission obviously as there are products that suite better, however, again, I do not have a valid reason to believe Royal Purple is not that great. Otherwise, I guess I could notice that my steering wheel would not rotate extremely smoothly and gently.
If you have a good article / research information, please share it here so other viewers can make a good choice.
Bobistheoilguy forum is amazing a lot of knowlegable well put together tests and such royal purple is not bad but it's o erpriced for what it is, when it was a small "mom and pop" type of company there products were top notch but since they were bought out by a corporation after the owner died there not as good as tbey used to be.
Google Nissan royal purple problems and you will get a bunch of threads I am trying to find a video of a test they did when I find it I will post.
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