Power steering

Ok I have a 2018 trd off road my power steering fluid is low. I was told by Toyota that I could not add to it cause it was a closed system that would need to exchange it. Not sure how true this is but I have never added fluid to it and the level is at (see pic below) I have not seen any indication of a leak on the ground or in the engine compartment. It has definitely gotten lower over the past year or so but very very slowly. If I can fill what type of power steering doni fill with? Any help with this would be great!!

 

^Just open the cap and pour fluid in until it reaches the "cold max" line on the reservoir. Use a thin funnel as the actual opening is small, like 1/2".

Use Dexron III transmission fluid per the owner's manual. Example:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/VAL798153?impressionRank=10 (on sale for $7)
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...ii-h-mercon-1-quart/val0/d?q=dexron+iii&pos=3
https://www.autozone.com/motor-oil-...tomatic-transmission-fluid-1-quart/811755_0_0

Avoid the low viscosity transmission fluids like Toyota WS or or Dexron VI.

Your steering system is probably leaking from the steering rack seals. The tie rod bellows are probably wet on the bottom.

 

^^^ What he said. ^^^

Make sure you carefully wipe all around the cap before opening, dirt is the mortal enemy of any hydraulic system.

Once you have the cap off clean that carefully also.
Cheap paint brushes from Harbor Freight work good for clean up like this.

BTW: Whoever at Toyota told you that was 1) dishonest 2) trying to sell you a service.

Read the maintenance section of the owners manual, even if you prefer not to do the work you will have a better understanding. Find a trustworthy independent shop.

 

I've had this stuff in mine for about 2 years. works great, but I did a flush. The Toyota guys a dork, of coarse you can add fluid.

https://www.redlineoil.com/power-steering-fluid

 

Wow, that's terrible advice from the dealer. Leak or not keep it filled or you'll burn up the pump. Any Dexron 3 ATF (Valvoline, Toyota, ect.) will work.

If you want to flush the system, put the front of the truck on jack stands so the wheels can turn freely off the ground. Cap the return line on the reservoir with a vacuum cap and stuff the hose in a sports drink bottle. The bottle can be wedged in the engine bay while you turn the wheel fully left and right.

Keep an eye on the reservoir so it doesn't go dry. Turning the steering wheel all the way to the left or all the way to the right and back to center will about drain the reservoir completely, so you'll want to keep filling it back up with each full crank to the left or to the right. I used about 3 quarts to flush mine out.

 

You might want to substitute a quart of dexron 3 atf with Lucas power steering stop leak.

 

Or you can just hook up one of these to the return line, suck out the old while keeping the res full. takes about 10 minutes.

ABN Automotive Fluid Transfer Hand Pump Syringe Bottle – Transmission, Brake, Steering, Differential Extractor Dispenser

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075NKV4CR?ie=UTF8

 

The pump mentioned above is a awesome idea. You can bag those at harbor crap tools, job lot etc, for about 5 clams.

 

My 18 did the exact same thing. As I reached 60K, I noticed the fluid level had fallen just slightly out of 'normal'. I checked for leaks and found none. I flushed the system with new Dex3 fluid.

 

Forget all the tools and other nonsense. Simply remove the top hose from the res and put it in a bottle. Turning the steering wheel will drain the fluid into the bottle. Top off the reservoir and continue to top off until new fluid comes out of the return hose. Job finished. Don’t let the reservoir suck air, keep topping off as you turn the wheel.

Use Valvoline maxlife ATF.

here is a video if your more of a visual guy like myself:

https://youtu.be/CSKae3h4NEM

 

Has the leak stopped?

 

you'll still need to cap off the reservoir when you pull the hose and while bleeding the system; hence the vacuum cap

 

Well, since it took 60K miles to go down maybe an ounce or two, not sure. The only indication of an oil 'leak' is some discoloration behind the PS pump. Not even sure that is a leak at all though. I didn't add any stop leak. If there is a leak, I want to find and fix it.

 

Could be the seals failing inside the steering rack. Fluid will accumulate inside the boots so not always easy to spot a “leak”

 

Oh no! fluid behind the power steering pump is often caused by a timing cover leak....