Power Steering fluid change on an 08'?

[08TRDOFFROAD]

The last two times I have taken my wifes 08' Camry SE to have the oil changed, they have recommended a power steering fluid change, saying the fluid is "dark and gritty." The car only has about 45k on it....I can't find a power steering fluid change on the maintanence interval anywhere and I have a hard time believeing that it needs to be changed already....

Is it possible that the car really needs this, or is the dearlership just trying to jerk my chain and take $114 for nothing????

[Blaam]

next time ask to see it. and ask for a comparison chart. these charts show different colors the p/s fluid goes thru from new and clean to dirty. 114 is a little high i must say but if its dark, and youll decide this, its good to keep in mind to flush your power steering at least every 30 to 40k miles. you could end up with power steering problems down the road if not.
same thing with the automatic transmission, 30-40k miles about.

[arabianobsession]

30-40k for a transmission fluid change in an automatic 2008 Camry is pretty excessive. It's not really needed until at least 80k, and if I remember correctly, the 2008's have WS fluid, so technically it doesn't need to be changed at all.

[Mike Murrell]

You can flush your own power steering fluid. Not knocking the dealer for trying to make a buck - but you can save $$$.

PS systems have a pressure line and a return line.

Go to -> http://www.utoyot8.com

and provide your vehicles info - yr/make/model/etc

Look for -> Power Steering Tube

Sketch of your vehicles PS system there. Locate the return line/hose.

Buy a qt of reg. ps fluid at any auto parts store.

With car off - remove ps return line and point it downwards. You'll likely need to find a length of some kind of tubing to put into the end of the ret. line hose so you can get it all the way down where you'll stick it into a drain pan you've placed underneath the car.

Have some start car and gently rock steering wheel from side to side. While this is going on - add ps fluid to ps reservoir. Don't let the reservoir run dry. After the better part of a qt. has passed thru - shut off motor - reconnect ret. hose and top off fluid.

You do all this yourself for the cost of a qt of ps fluid.

Some cars actually use Dexron for PS fluid and some(Honda) have proprietray PS fluid. Never seen a Toyota that used Dexron - even though the owners manual may say it does. All 3 of the Toyotas I service - 2004 - 2007 indicate Dexron for PS fluid in owners manual. All 3 have golden colored PS fluid which is not the color of Dexron. I use plain ole PS fluid. Whatever is on the shelf.

If your PS fluid is reddish-purple - tranny fluid color - then you use Dexron in the PS unit. If its more of a golden type color(what it is when fresh) - you use reg. PS fluid unless manual says to use mfg-provided PS fluid.

[pmesfun]

On the cap it will show what fluid is needed. On my dad's 07 avalon, Dexron II or III was needed, so I flushed it with Valvoline Dex/Merc. The fluid was also dark, after the flush the steering is very smooth.
Same fluid used in my 99 avalon.

[08TRDOFFROAD]

So what I am getting is that it may be possible that the fluiid is indeed dark and gritty and needs to be flushed, but it is a job that I should be able to accomplish by myself with limited mechanical ability and limited access to tools...

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

You can flush your own power steering fluid. Not knocking the dealer for trying to make a buck - but you can save $$$.

PS systems have a pressure line and a return line.

Go to -> http://www.utoyot8.com

and provide your vehicles info - yr/make/model/etc

Look for -> Power Steering Tube

Sketch of your vehicles PS system there. Locate the return line/hose.

Buy a qt of reg. ps fluid at any auto parts store.

With car off - remove ps return line and point it downwards. You'll likely need to find a length of some kind of tubing to put into the end of the ret. line hose so you can get it all the way down where you'll stick it into a drain pan you've placed underneath the car.

Have some start car and gently rock steering wheel from side to side. While this is going on - add ps fluid to ps reservoir. Don't let the reservoir run dry. After the better part of a qt. has passed thru - shut off motor - reconnect ret. hose and top off fluid.

You do all this yourself for the cost of a qt of ps fluid.

Some cars actually use Dexron for PS fluid and some(Honda) have proprietray PS fluid. Never seen a Toyota that used Dexron - even though the owners manual may say it does. All 3 of the Toyotas I service - 2004 - 2007 indicate Dexron for PS fluid in owners manual. All 3 have golden colored PS fluid which is not the color of Dexron. I use plain ole PS fluid. Whatever is on the shelf.

If your PS fluid is reddish-purple - tranny fluid color - then you use Dexron in the PS unit. If its more of a golden type color(what it is when fresh) - you use reg. PS fluid unless manual says to use mfg-provided PS fluid.

Looking at the diagram on that site, if I remove 44406 hose at the reservoir and attach my own hose leading to a collection container, start the car with someone inside rocking the steering wheel...making sure to keep fluid in the reservoir until the majority of the quart is used up (or I see clean fluid coming out the return), shut the car off, top of reservoir and call it a day...saving myself $75 dollars...doesn't sound too difficult...

Now for a what if...what if I don't keep the reservoir full and I get air in the system??? What are the consequences? Will I end up having to have a dealership powerflush the system?

[tekdemon]

On my car the PS fluid is just ATF anyways...either way $114 sounds way too high but personally I don't think you really have a dire need to flush the power steering system. The fluid is more or less used as hydraulic fluid.

[Mike Murrell]

Originally Posted by 08TRDOFFROAD

if I remove 44406 hose at the reservoir and attach my own hose leading to a collection container

Now for a what if...what if I don't keep the reservoir full

If I understand you correctly - you want to remove the ret. line from the reservoir and connect a hose of your own at the reservoir port where you removed the ret. line from???

That won't work unless you want fluid from the now disconnected ret. line spewing all over the place. You remove the ret. line and point it downwards into a pan underneath car. The hose is too short to reach that far down - so you connect your own form of extension from the open end of the ret. hose.

Why would you not keep the reservoir full...at least above the low mark??? - someones behind the wheel - you shout if things are getting out of control....""Turn Off The Engine!!!!". You' re by the reservoir focused on filling it - keeping sufficient fluid in it. Funnel in the reservoir helps.

Air can enter the system w/o running system dry. One way to bleed and I would do this myself anyway is after flushing/refilling and helper out of car - elevate front of car with floor jack. Get front wheels off the ground high enough so they can be turned all the way to the left; all the way to the right. Start car - turn left - turn right - all the way in each direction. Do this several times. When done - shutoff motor - lower front of car.

Recheck PS fluid level.

[TOYOTAndy]

$114 is about right for a dealership. I work at Toyota and I have seen some really bad p/s fluid on lower milage cars before I do believe the industry standard is about 50k mile intervals.. It seems like the some of the older scions are the worst about having dirty looking fluid. Its not too hard to do yourself make sure to get the hose back on good. Or check around I bet somehwere might even do it for about half that price.

[MAToyotaSales]

You can leave the "dirty" looking fluid in there for the lifetime of the car without a problem. Hydraulic fluid rarely goes bad enough to cause a problem. If you are really anal, you can honestly accomplish this task with a turkey baster. Get as much out as you can, then add the new fluid in. Do it again a couple times to cycle out all the old fluid.

[Mike Murrell]

I've done what MAToyotaSales suggested on a couple of cars that are hard to do a complete flush on.

Works fine, but not many turkey basters will get down far enough into the Avalon power steering reservoir(or others) to siphon the fluid.

Something like the following works well - available at various McParts type places. After 3 or 4 uses it will no longer siphon as the PS fluid will have eaten away at the sealing surface between the rubber bulb and plastic stem. It's a throw-away item when worn out.


http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ier=95995_0_0_

[loubapache]

I have used this sucker to change many fluids that do not have convenient ways to drain. It has over 16 oz capacity. If the hose is too big for some applications, you can use smaller hoses with adapters or simply put it inside the bigger hose.



http://www.harborfreight.com/oil-suction-gun-95468.html

[Mike Murrell]

Originally Posted by loubapache

I have used this sucker to change many fluids that do not have convenient ways to drain. It has over 16 oz capacity. If the hose is too big for some applications, you can use smaller hoses with adapters or simply put it inside the bigger hose.

I use one of these to siphon gear oil from an SUV differential that has no drain plug. Good piece of gear. Need to find some adapters for smaller hoses.

[kn38ms]

I change my fluid for under $10 every 33K miles...

Get a Turkey baster at WallyWorld for $2 and a qt of Dexron III for $4


Suck out the as much fluid as you can in the res,

Fill with new fluid.

Drive around the block

Repeat... until Fluid has been 100% replaced and bright red...

EZ