power steering fluid question
in [Toyota]
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From: badgolferman on 9 Sep 2009 19:03 The power steering fluid reservoir on my 2000 Sienna is below the low line and I want to fill it a bit. The manual says Dexron II or Dexron III. The fluid that's already in the reservoir is not red like automatic transmission fluid and looks like power steering fluid to me. Can I mix the transmission fluid with what's in there now? The automatic transmission fluid I have is probably 6-8 months old and the container has been opened. I have some old power steering fluid in a plastic container that has been opened up. It's probably at least 5 years old. Can I use either one of those?
From: Ray O on 9 Sep 2009 19:15 "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:xn0geygz4flspgh000(a)news.albasani.net... > The power steering fluid reservoir on my 2000 Sienna is below the low > line and I want to fill it a bit. The manual says Dexron II or Dexron > III. The fluid that's already in the reservoir is not red like > automatic transmission fluid and looks like power steering fluid to me. > Can I mix the transmission fluid with what's in there now? The > automatic transmission fluid I have is probably 6-8 months old and the > container has been opened. I have some old power steering fluid in a > plastic container that has been opened up. It's probably at least 5 > years old. Can I use either one of those? Yes, you can mix the fluid in the PS reservoir with automatic transmission fluid (ATF), and 6-8 months in an opened and re-closed container is fine. If you are going to stick with Toyotas, you can take the old PS fluid to the place that changes your oil and ask them to dispose of it properly for you, or if you change your own oil, take it to the place where you get rid of your old oil. -- Ray O (correct punctuation to reply)
From: Michael on 9 Sep 2009 19:19
On Sep 9, 4:03 pm, "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolfer...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > The power steering fluid reservoir on my 2000 Sienna is below the low > line and I want to fill it a bit. The manual says Dexron II or Dexron > III. The fluid that's already in the reservoir is not red like > automatic transmission fluid and looks like power steering fluid to me. > Can I mix the transmission fluid with what's in there now? The > automatic transmission fluid I have is probably 6-8 months old and the > container has been opened. I have some old power steering fluid in a > plastic container that has been opened up. It's probably at least 5 > years old. Can I use either one of those? You can probably use the 6-8 month old ATF, but I have a few comments: 1. This is your power steering system. You may be better off getting new Castrol Dexron 3 and putting that in, instead of old stuff. 2. Do a complete fluid change, too, if you can. There are tutorials on the web... IIRC they involve raising the vehicle on jackstands, removing a PS hose, and turning the steering wheel all the way to the left and to the right (while the engine is OFF - I think the key is in ACC or ON, I forget) and adding new fluid as necessary. 3. When I changed the PS fluid on our Camry, it stank terribly, was black-ish, and didn't look or smell at all like red Dexron 3. Just my 2 cents worth Michael |