Malcolm99

Anyone else experience a brief grind / whine during cold starts -10*C and lower. It only does it during first crank in the morning, it sounds like the power steering pump grinding for a brief 2 seconds during first start up then doesn't do it again until next cold start. I noticed it was much worse this year as it would only do it a -30*C last year, this summer I replaced the power steering pump (mine developed a permanent whine) with a 75,000km wrecker donor and put the recommended PS fluid in it from Toyota and I am running Castrol Full Syn 5w30 with a toyota oil filter, I have about 145,000km. So I suspect the Carquest Power steering fluid isn't up to the cold weather, perhaps I should switch to ATF..

Update: Flushed system and switched PS to Mobil Synthetic Blend IV, I noticed this Section "05+ Tacoma" doesn't get much attention so I suspect I will and have answered my own question but will update outcome when we hit -10*C to -35*C as I noticed other forum discussions related to PS where dead ends or unresolved.

Malcolm99

Well we hit -15*C and no more noises coming from the Power steering at startup with ATF, I guess I should have known better than to listen to the dealership when they suggested Carquest Power Steering fluid, i bet they are busy this time of year changing PS pumps @ $700 each plus install, ect, ect.,.

EDIT: -25*C and no issues or noises.