Dirty Power Steering Fluid

[adam2551]

How big of a worry is this? Thanks

[gideon1331]

Technically, once it starts turning brown you should replace the fluid.

While power steering systems can function a LONG time with dirty fluid...my last corolla's fluid was nearly deep brown and chunky before problems arose, and even then it was only when extremely cold...there is more of a strain on the pump when the fluid is in poor condition. The cost of fluid is naturally much less than the cost of a new pump, and possibly more components later on.

Use something like a small turkey baster to take fluid out of the power steering fluid reservoir, and refill to the full mark. Do this every day/every couple days until the fluid is mostly cherry red. That's the equivalent of a system flush if you don't want to pay someone to do it for you.

[adam2551]

Originally Posted by gideon1331

Technically, once it starts turning brown you should replace the fluid.

While power steering systems can function a LONG time with dirty fluid...my last corolla's fluid was nearly deep brown and chunky before problems arose, and even then it was only when extremely cold...there is more of a strain on the pump when the fluid is in poor condition. The cost of fluid is naturally much less than the cost of a new pump, and possibly more components later on.

Use something like a small turkey baster to take fluid out of the power steering fluid reservoir, and refill to the full mark. Do this every day/every couple days until the fluid is mostly cherry red. That's the equivalent of a system flush if you don't want to pay someone to do it for you.

Cool, sounds like a good idea, thank you.

[jkjk15]

while I do realize the manual says to use Dextron III for the power steering fluid, has anyone used Amsoil Universal ATF fluid instead?

Since I have Amsoil ATF on me, I was going to just use it for the PS.

[JasonA]

As long as the Amsoil fluid says on the bottle that it's good for use in Dexron III systems, you should be good to go.