[Habanero64]

To finish up a series of repairs and restorations to my mom's '92 Camry XLE, I decided to flush and replace the power steering fluid. Partly because it was dark and nasty and probably hadn't been done in a long time, and partly because I'd been topping it off with Pennzoil power steering fluid, which I just realized was not suitable for use in this car and could damage it over time and that I had to use Dex II/III ATF instead.

So I flushed it out of the return line according to how most YouTube videos suggest (a very messy process as I'd never done this before), then topped it off with Valvoline Multi Vehicle Import ATF, that comes in a navy blue bottle, which is what I also used after I rebuilt the auto transmission.

Except, it wasn't truly fresh ATF, but rather fresh ATF that I'd briefly put in the trans after draining the old fluid and unsuccessfully trying to fix a no reverse issue by cleaning out the valve body. When that failed to fix the problem I drained that ATF and reserved it, dropped, took apart, cleaned and rebuilt the trans, and put in mostly fresh ATF with maybe a cup or so of the slightly used ATF, that was driven maybe a few dozen miles at low speed, tops.

So I'm wondering if it was ok to use that ATF in the PS system, since it has a bit of the older, nastier ATF in it, which can't be fully flushed without dropping the trans and taking it apart, along with a bit of clutch material from the slightly used ATF. Could this wear down the PS pump and system and should I do yet another flush and put in fresh ATF?

 

[JohnGD]

It's probably just fine. If you really have to reuse that ATF then I would have strained it with a coffee filter first.

Next time consider the red jug of Valvoline Maxlife ATF, which is fully synthetic, vs the blue bottles.

 

[1990Toyota]

I'd be worried about residual gunk and shavings in it, but if its very lightly used I can't see why a little won't hurt

 

[98LE2.2LCamryUS]

Please do it over again with new virgin fluid.

 

[Habanero64]

It's probably just fine. If you really have to reuse that ATF then I would have strained it with a coffee filter first.

Next time consider the red jug of Valvoline Maxlife ATF, which is fully synthetic, vs the blue bottles.

For just the PS, or also the trans? I did some digging and despite it no longer saying so on the blue bottle it's ok for these trans, according to Valvoline. But the blue is a blend or non-synth?

 

[Habanero64]

Please do it over again with new virgin fluid.

I probably will, soon, and view the slightly used ATF as an interim flush. It's just that I've been doing so much work on the car that I was just kind of burnt out and wanted to get it over with, and it was all that I had on hand.

 

[JohnGD]

There were occasions where I thought about reusing fairly recent coolant and ATF. But I always ended up using new, because plastic pans always attract dust however I cleaned them (and especially after you cleaned them generating dust-attracting static). Yeah it's a waste seeing relatively fresh fluid getting recycled, but sometimes it's just easier to use new fluid to keep the system clean.

Blue fluid is mostly conventional dino. Reformulated Mercon-V good for Dex/Merc applications would be a superior fluid than Dexron/Mercon, as Ford tightened the specs (which really needs a syn-blend to meet). The reformulated Mercon-V longevity is between Dexron III-H and Dexron VI. However Valvoline still says their Mercon-V is conventional. So dunno. In comparison, Valvoline's blue Dex/Merc has a pour point of -42C.

Valvoline Mercon-V, says "conventinal":

Shop Valvoline Mercon V (ATF) Automatic Transmission Fluid

shop.valvolineglobal.com

Valvoline Dex/Merc specs:

US_Val_DEXMERC_ATF_EN.pdf - Docusign CLM

sharena21.springcm.com

For just the PS, or also the trans? I did some digging and despite it no longer saying so on the blue bottle it's ok for these trans, according to Valvoline. But the blue is a blend or non-synth?

 

[JohnGD]

On next maintenance I think should be fine for both PS and transmission. Transmission has a strainer and the PS reservoir should have an integrated one at the bottom too.

On ATF durability, I didn't find much info on the NEW Mercon-V, but for comparison, old Mercon (simialr to Dexron IIIh) is tested to 356 hours at 32,000 shift cycles. Whereas Dexron VI is tested to 467 hours and 42,000 shift cycles. Obviously in local driving, those cycles will be used up a lot faster than highway driving.

Automatic Transmission Fluid Cycling Durability Test

The DEXRON®-VI Cycling Test evaluates an automatic transmission fluid's oxidation resistance, friction characteristic stability, lubrication properties, and viscosity stability.

www.intertek.com

I probably will, soon, and view the slightly used ATF as an interim flush. It's just that I've been doing so much work on the car that I was just kind of burnt out and wanted to get it over with, and it was all that I had on hand.

 

[1996ClaretCamry]

To finish up a series of repairs and restorations to my mom's '92 Camry XLE, I decided to flush and replace the power steering fluid. Partly because it was dark and nasty and probably hadn't been done in a long time, and partly because I'd been topping it off with Pennzoil power steering fluid, which I just realized was not suitable for use in this car and could damage it over time and that I had to use Dex II/III ATF instead.

So I flushed it out of the return line according to how most YouTube videos suggest (a very messy process as I'd never done this before), then topped it off with Valvoline Multi Vehicle Import ATF, that comes in a navy blue bottle, which is what I also used after I rebuilt the auto transmission.

Except, it wasn't truly fresh ATF, but rather fresh ATF that I'd briefly put in the trans after draining the old fluid and unsuccessfully trying to fix a no reverse issue by cleaning out the valve body. When that failed to fix the problem I drained that ATF and reserved it, dropped, took apart, cleaned and rebuilt the trans, and put in mostly fresh ATF with maybe a cup or so of the slightly used ATF, that was driven maybe a few dozen miles at low speed, tops.

So I'm wondering if it was ok to use that ATF in the PS system, since it has a bit of the older, nastier ATF in it, which can't be fully flushed without dropping the trans and taking it apart, along with a bit of clutch material from the slightly used ATF. Could this wear down the PS pump and system and should I do yet another flush and put in fresh ATF?

I would BUT I also suck out the fluid in the PS reservoir and top back up at every oil change too.

 

[retiredat444]

does no good to suck it out the whole system is full, also i believe it has a screen at the bottom

 

[Habanero64]

does no good to suck it out the whole system is full, also i believe it has a screen at the bottom

The issue isn't larger particles that a screen might trap but micro ones such as old clutch disc material and whatever else was in the trans before I took it apart and thoroughly cleaned it.

 

[m21bmr]

As a comment of "topping it off with Pennzoil power steering fluid" causing issues, I wouldn't worry much about that. I don't remember in which video he stated this, but I have heard the Toyota mechanic "The Car Care Nut" on youtube say that he prefers to use a power steering fluid specific product over the Toyota recommendation of ATF in power steering systems.

In my personal vehicles, I have used Mobil 1 ATF in several power steering systems over the past 25+ years with no issues.

 

[Habanero64]

As a comment of "topping it off with Pennzoil power steering fluid" causing issues, I wouldn't worry much about that. I don't remember in which video he stated this, but I have heard the Toyota mechanic "The Car Care Nut" on youtube say that he prefers to use a power steering fluid specific product over the Toyota recommendation of ATF in power steering systems.

In my personal vehicles, I have used Mobil 1 ATF in several power steering systems over the past 25+ years with no issues.

Perhaps, but he usually works on newer cars and this is a '92, so perhaps it actually does need only ATF.