Power steer fluid??

[pradojon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradojon]

Hi
I want to drain and flush my power steering
Can anyone please tell me what is the best way to go about this?(is there a line i can undo and pump it out?)
And how much fluid will i need to fill it back up(what do they Hold?)
And is there a special power steering fluid i need to put back in?
The car is a 2004 prado
Cheers Jon

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

I can't seem to find anything specific about draining the power steering system in the workshop manual. There is plenty on how to bleed the system. I guess you could remove supply hose from the steering gearset and drain the fluid in the reservoir from there, this might not get all the fluid out of the gearset or pump though.

Can I ask why you need to drain all the fluid?

There are no specs on quantity for replacement. Fluid type is ATF Dextron II or III.

[pradojon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradojon]

Fluid

Hi
Fluid is very black
Car has 200,000klm
Cheers Jon

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Re: Fluid

Hi
Fluid is very black
Car has 200,000klm
Cheers Jon

:shock: Wow, that's a lot of kays. Have you considered taking it to a Toyota Service Centre?

I had a fairly close look at the factory manual for you today and it's refers to a drain procedure but the page number it mentions doesn't discuss it.

I'll have a look in the crapo Ellery manual when I get more time.

I wonder what makes Dextron go black?

Good luck.

[Drewski Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drewski]

Re: Fluid

Hi
Fluid is very black
Car has 200,000klm
Cheers Jon

I wonder what makes Dextron go black?

Dextron will typically darken if it gets impurities in it... This can happen if there has been a leaking hose, or if the cap on the fluid tank is a little loose....

Then again, if it hasn't been changed in 200,000 km, it's well overdue, and performance of the power steer could be a bit reduced...

Jon, I would imagine that you should ideally be draining the current fluid, flushing it, and then putting more new fluid in... Easiest option, is to get Toyota to do it...

I have done a full power steer fluid replacement on my Forester using a modified Seastar power steer bleeding system, but it was a pain in the butt...

[John Member Find all posts View Profile Close John]

Most power steering pumps are vane pumps.
http://www.pumpschool.com/principles/vane.htm
Vane pumps have a number of blades in them. Usually they contain carbon. As the vanes wear the particles are taken up in the fluid, hence the discolouration.

Jon, your power steering fluid was probably dark blue or green to start off, rather than red. Mine is bluish-green (probably to mask the discolouring).

[steveo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close steveo]

This is the procedure

1 fill the fluid to the correct level
2 jack up the front of the vehicle
3 with the engine not running turn the steering wheel from lock to lock serveral times
4 lower the vehicle
5 start the engine
6 run engine at idle for a few minutes
7 turn steering wheel to full lock and hold it for 3 seconds
8 turn to other lock and hold for 3 seconds
9 repeat serveral times
10 stop engine
11 check fluid for foaming or emulsification
12 top up fluid
13 walk around the car patting your head
14 jump twice on 1 foot
15 your done


just kidding about 13 & 14

Good luck

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Stevo,

I think you've described the bleed procedure from the factory manual. I think he's after the drain and re-fill procedure.

Cheers,

Drew.

[steveo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close steveo]

Drew, I think your correct

For Draining

1 remove the cap from the fuild res
2 Remove the suction port union
3 Drain fluid into container and discard
4replace the port o ring
5 reinstall the suction port
6 refill fluid and bleed as per prior post