Power steering flush: I like this method. What do you guys think?

[First 4Runner]

I liked this method. Planning on doing this next week sometime. Was wondering what you guys thought. My new (to me) 2007 Sport's power steering fluid is brown. I already have a mightyvac pump. Please let me know what you guys think or if this guy in the video left something out.
Regards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV_xRWCaY2U

 

[AuSeeker]

Looks like it should work well, I would still check it a few months later to see if the fluid still looks clean, if not then do it again which I would do the same no matter which process I used to flush the system.

 

[ZebRuaj]

+1 to using the tools you have.

I did it the old school way, running the return line down into a bottle, then turning the wheel side to side while topping off the reservoir.

 

[First 4Runner]

Looks like it should work well, I would still check it a few months later to see if the fluid still looks clean, if not then do it again which I would do the same no matter which process I used to flush the system.

Thanks for the reply. I will be doing this method most probably next weekend unless someone here tells me otherwise. It seems to flush the entire system in one go and looks quite fast.

 

[First 4Runner]

+1 to using the tools you have.

I did it the old school way, running the return line down into a bottle, then turning the wheel side to side while topping off the reservoir.

Yes, I already have the mightyvac but mine is the kind that hooks up to an air compressor and you don't have to pump it manually. So even faster and easier.

 

[TowMeOut]

Are you saying you have a big evacuator like the guy in the video or one of the little guys like for doing brakes? That's kind of a big job for the small one but it should work.

I drained everything down and pulled out/cleaned the reservoir (mine was just as nasty as the video). I did the fill and turn it over, fill and turn it over thing to let the pump drive the fluid through. It's basically the same setup as changing your ATF through the cooler hoses. Works great.

Good luck.

 

[First 4Runner]

Are you saying you have a big evacuator like the guy in the video or one of the little guys like for doing brakes? That's kind of a big job for the small one but it should work.

I drained everything down and pulled out/cleaned the reservoir (mine was just as nasty as the video). I did the fill and turn it over, fill and turn it over thing to let the pump drive the fluid through. It's basically the same setup as changing your ATF through the cooler hoses. Works great.

Good luck.

No, I have the big one. I think 7-8 quarts. Mine however is better as it is not a hand pumping one. Rather it connects to my 60 Gallon air compressor that creates the vacuum. So I just turn a lever to start and turn off the suction. I used to change the oil in my Mercedes with this, as is recommended by Benz, just like they do it at the dealer.

 

[AZ07Runner]

As a fan of synthetics, I used Redline D4 in mine. On my last truck (sig), the PS pump had to be rebuilt twice due to heat before it reached 100K. Switched over to synthetic and didn't have an issue for the next 106K before I sold it for the 4Runner. Looks like Mobil1 has Dexlll specs and approval. Cheaper and readily available, too.
https://mobiloil.com/en/automatic-transmission-fluid/synthetic-atf

That video shows a more thorough way of doing it. I just sucked out the reservoir a few times over the course of a month and then occasionally after that. Which reminds me I should do it!

 

[First 4Runner]

As a fan of synthetics, I used Redline D4 in mine. On my last truck (sig), the PS pump had to be rebuilt twice due to heat before it reached 100K. Switched over to synthetic and didn't have an issue for the next 106K before I sold it for the 4Runner. Looks like Mobil1 has Dexlll specs and approval. Cheaper and readily available, too.
https://mobiloil.com/en/automatic-transmission-fluid/synthetic-atf

That video shows a more thorough way of doing it. I just sucked out the reservoir a few times over the course of a month and then occasionally after that. Which reminds me I should do it!

Thank you..! Awesome info. I'm really a novice so every bit of info helps.

 

[Ventil8]

I used this guy's method. It was my 1st time changing it at 150,000 miles. It was relatively simple. I didn't have a jack to lift the tires, but it worked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlJ_aryio4&frags=pl,wn

This guy has a lot of good Toyota videos and I like his accent.

 

[First 4Runner]

I used this guy's method. It was my 1st time changing it at 150,000 miles. It was relatively simple. I didn't have a jack to lift the tires, but it worked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlJ_aryio4&frags=pl,wn

This guy has a lot of good Toyota videos and I like his accent.

Did he use the wrong fluid? :wow:
He is using a clear power steering fluid. My 2007 requires ATF. Maybe different for 2004 as in his video? And the fluid he took out looked clean to me.:shrug:

 

[First 4Runner]

Also, which ATF are you guys recommending for the power steering flush?

 

[fihnguy]

I did mine using this method: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/176877-power-steering-hose-size.html

I did it by myself and used just over a litre of fluid. We later did the same on my cousin's Tacoma and did it together and used less than a litre of fluid because I could actually see when the clear fluid started coming out.

The fluid I used was synthetic Castrol fluid. The bottle looked something like this (not exactly though):

If I had a Toyota dealership near me, I would probably garb original Toyota transmission fluid from them.

P.S. When doing the flush on the Tacoma we were in a rush and I did not pay attention to what was going on with the hose that went to the oil drain pan. That was a mistake because somehow the hose jumped out from the pan at the very beginning and all of the drained fluid ended up on my driveway, lol. There is still a huge spot on the driveway, but it did give us some good laughs when it happened.

Edit: I should also note that it takes only about 10-15 minutes to do this.

 

[First 4Runner]

I did mine using this method: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/176877-power-steering-hose-size.html

I did it by myself and used just over a litre of fluid. We later did the same on my cousin's Tacoma and did it together and used less than a litre of fluid because I could actually see when the clear fluid started coming out.

The fluid I used was synthetic Castrol fluid. The bottle looked something like this (not exactly though):

If I had a Toyota dealership near me, I would probably garb original Toyota transmission fluid from them.

P.S. When doing the flush on the Tacoma we were in a rush and I did not pay attention to what was going on with the hose that went to the oil drain pan. That was a mistake because somehow the hose jumped out from the pan at the very beginning and all of the drained fluid ended up on my driveway, lol. There is still a huge spot on the driveway, but it did give us some good laughs when it happened.

Edit: I should also note that it takes only about 10-15 minutes to do this.

Thank you. I think I'll go get the Toyota fluid. Dearlership is 2 miles away.