Hello All,

I loaned my 4Runner to a neighbor for a week. He was going to northern AZ with family and pulling a boat.

He thought he was doing me a favor and added PS fluid to my PS pump when he checked out the fluids before coming back home.

What now? I have a noise, but steering works.

Thanks in advance

 

If he put NAPA PS fluid in there, no worries. If he put a cheapie in there, take a hose off your steering box (after putting some pan and drip catcher underneath, makes a MESS) and drain the dang thing. Reassemble, refill with ATF, jack up the front end, and with the motor off cycle the steering lock to lock about 50-100 times. Add more fluid as needed. Now repeat with the engine running.

Now repeat the ordeal. Should be good.

 

I'm SO glad to hear that. I didn't know I needed ATF in mine and topped it off with NAPA PS fluid.

 

do all toyota trucks need aft instead of ps fluid in the ps pump?

 

All Toyota vehicles use Dexron type ATF in the power steering systems. Dexron 3 is the fluid you'd get from a Toyota dealership. But basically any ATF will work just fine.

 

Your friend must have not read the ps reservoir cap lol.

Rob

 

at least you didn't get ps fluid in the tranny.

 

I don't get it... Is there something special about NAPA PS Fluid?

 

i use power steering fliud in mine i dont use atf and i have had mine for 3 years now and no nose at all and i used the chepo stuff

 

I use everythi9ng from 10w30 to 80W90 in mine...whatever's handy. Leaks like a sieve and needs to be replaced anyway.....

 

what happens if you use power steering fluid, generic stuff?

 

there is nothing wrong with using P/S fluid for your P/S

Unless you have one of those fruity German cars that have some "special" fluid

 

okay then what are they talking about by putting in ATF in place of the PS fluid??

 

Based on local dealer experience. Yeah, it is pretty good stuff. Still better to use what the factory recommends.

Using the generic stuff in my young ignorant days resulted in massive leaks in short order.

 

ATF is factory recommended.

 

ATF is recommended, but it's all basically hydraulic fluid. It won't hurt anything.

 

Too many threads to quote ...

My experience has been the same as RedChili - using power steering fluid instead of ATF has resulted in leaks and blown power steering pumps (yes plural) in short order.

I also x2 the purge procedure he listed, but I wouldn't be super anal about getting every drop out of there. Get most of it out and dilution will be your friend in this case.

 

I think there's a problem with mixing the two, though.

ATF has conditioners where as PSF does not. This may explain any issues. I've always just ATF. It's cheaper, anyway.

Oh, I have read that PSF was thicker and would cause too much pressure for systems not designed for it. Don't know how true it is. You read so many things.

 

If you look at them you can tell that PS fluid is thicker. ATF is like red water.

Rob

 

ive known many people who have put ps fluid just because it is called a ps pump. Even though it says in the manual and the cap to use atf. People are so stupid, they think that they know everything about something when they really dont have a clue.

Like last week my gf's mom says there is no oil on her dipstick so I tell her only put in 2 quarts and then check it again and fill to the mark. Of course she doesnt listen and thinks it is completely empty and puts in a whole gallon of oil. Now she wonders why the oil pressure is high and she has oil everywhere inside the engine compartment. She is just lucky it didnt leak into the cat and ignite.