LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006) Discussion topics related to the flagship Lexus LS430

2003 LS430 Recommendation for Power steering fluid

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Old 12-28-17, 02:00 PM
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beylerbeyi
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Default 2003 LS430 Recommendation for Power steering fluid

Hi all,

I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).

Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.

Thank you in advance

p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?

Last edited by beylerbeyi; 12-28-17 at 02:09 PM.
Old 12-28-17, 02:17 PM
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05ls430518
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Originally Posted by beylerbeyi
Hi all,

I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).

Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.

Thank you in advance

p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
Any dexron merc will work dexron/merc 4 is synthetic dexron/merc 3 is regular they are fine to use. I have personally used dexron/merc 3 in my own ls and it's been fine..I would use dexron merc 4 due to it being synthetic.
Old 12-28-17, 04:16 PM
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bradland
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Don't use the Toyota Type IV
Old 12-29-17, 12:10 PM
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Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF multi vehicle formula about $8 a quart at Autozone is what I use
Old 12-29-17, 12:16 PM
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any reason?

Originally Posted by bradland
Don't use the Toyota Type IV
Old 12-29-17, 12:37 PM
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Type IV is not Dexron compatible.
Almost all Lexus PS systems call for Dexron III
Most guys here use Mobil1 Synthetic ATF which is Dexron compatible and readily available.

DO NOT use Mobil 1 Synthetic in your transmission. Lexus is very specific about only using Type IV or Ws based on the year make model etc.
Old 12-29-17, 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by beylerbeyi
Hi all,

I am confused about the PS fluid for my car. According to manual and the reservoir cap shows Dextron II or III ATF fluid. I don't have a problem with that, however, there are many choices at the part stores. There are synthetic or not (not sure if ok to mix them), IV or V (assuming these are back compatible), with leak stoppers etc. Many of them also indicates brand names such as fot GM for Ford etc (assuming this is just marketing gimmick).

Make the long story short, what can I buy from say Autozone? or should I buy directly from the Lexus dealer.

Thank you in advance

p.s. I also found couple quarts of Toyota T-IV ATF fluid I found at the garage I used for Sienna can I use those?
You're over thinking things. Just buy a quart of Dexron III and be done with it. GM came up with the formulation, so Dexron III for Ford or for Honda is irrelevant. Not enough market to label the Dexron III bottle to say "for Lexus", lol. Just put some Dexron III in there. Be careful with the level though. Nearly all of us have stained insides of the PS reservoir. Look closely to the level, or place a light behind the reservoir to see the level better.
Old 12-29-17, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by LS430inDE.
You're over thinking things. Just buy a quart of Dexron III and be done with it. GM came up with the formulation, so Dexron III for Ford or for Honda is irrelevant. Not enough market to label the Dexron III bottle to say "for Lexus", lol. Just put some Dexron III in there. Be careful with the level though. Nearly all of us have stained insides of the PS reservoir. Look closely to the level, or place a light behind the reservoir to see the level better.
I found out that the stains are from your power steering pump slowly coming apart lol I cleaned my resevoir out with gasoline, a air wand and I used a piece of brake line to scrape some of the crap off so i could see the level of fluid in the resevoir.
Old 12-30-17, 03:39 AM
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the Mobil 1 ATF removed the stain from the inside of my reservoir.
Old 12-30-17, 04:26 AM
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01-06 LS430 power steering systems specify use of Dexron III (which is actually ATF fluid). Use any fluid label specifically as compatible with Dexron III. Any other type of ATF or PS fluid (not labelled compatible with Dexron III) could damage your PS system.
Old 12-30-17, 04:21 PM
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Thank you all for the recommendations.
It seems I will buy Mobil 1 synthetic ATF
Old 12-31-17, 10:59 AM
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I use Royal Purple Max ATF. I believe the quality of this product is very high.
Old 12-31-17, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by ls430w140
I use Royal Purple Max ATF. I believe the quality of this product is very high.
Royal purple is not that great in the g35 350z community people actually loose power when they run it, mobile 1 is what I swear by it performs awsome in cold and heat and takes longer than most to loose viscosity due to heat and the like. Bob's the oil guy forum they go into great depth and length about oild and filters the stuff they have on there is deffinetly worth a read.
Old 12-31-17, 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 05ls430518
Royal purple is not that great in the g35 350z community people actually loose power when they run it, mobile 1 is what I swear by it performs awsome in cold and heat and takes longer than most to loose viscosity due to heat and the like. Bob's the oil guy forum they go into great depth and length about oild and filters the stuff they have on there is deffinetly worth a read.
Thanks for information. I will take a look at their forum to confirm your statement.

But, remember, we are talking about power steering fluid. I am not sure what you mean by "loosing power", but I guess you mentioned about actual application of this oil in the transmission. Some time ago i was doing my research to determine what may work very well with steering rack mechanism and power steering pump in our cars, and determined that Royal Purple actually has a very good mixture of additives that smooth out gears and provide noise-free operation. I never intend to use for transmission obviously as there are products that suite better, however, again, I do not have a valid reason to believe Royal Purple is not that great. Otherwise, I guess I could notice that my steering wheel would not rotate extremely smoothly and gently.

If you have a good article / research information, please share it here so other viewers can make a good choice.
Old 12-31-17, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ls430w140
Thanks for information. I will take a look at their forum to confirm your statement.

But, remember, we are talking about power steering fluid. I am not sure what you mean by "loosing power", but I guess you mentioned about actual application of this oil in the transmission. Some time ago i was doing my research to determine what may work very well with steering rack mechanism and power steering pump in our cars, and determined that Royal Purple actually has a very good mixture of additives that smooth out gears and provide noise-free operation. I never intend to use for transmission obviously as there are products that suite better, however, again, I do not have a valid reason to believe Royal Purple is not that great. Otherwise, I guess I could notice that my steering wheel would not rotate extremely smoothly and gently.

If you have a good article / research information, please share it here so other viewers can make a good choice.

Bobistheoilguy forum is amazing a lot of knowlegable well put together tests and such royal purple is not bad but it's o erpriced for what it is, when it was a small "mom and pop" type of company there products were top notch but since they were bought out by a corporation after the owner died there not as good as tbey used to be.

Google Nissan royal purple problems and you will get a bunch of threads I am trying to find a video of a test they did when I find it I will post.
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