Photo DIY 3: RX300 Power Steering Fluid Flush
#16
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
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philly777,
I don't have a chance to use the camera before it turned dark. But the 10mm bolt can be easily found by tracing one of the two metal pressure lines. I remember it was bolted to the steel frame of the car, inside the engine bay on the passenger side. Hope that helps.
I don't have a chance to use the camera before it turned dark. But the 10mm bolt can be easily found by tracing one of the two metal pressure lines. I remember it was bolted to the steel frame of the car, inside the engine bay on the passenger side. Hope that helps.
#17
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I am currently using the "turkey baster" method to replace the power steering fluid in my 2002 RX.
So far in about four weeks of individual sessions of siphoning and replacing I have removed and replaced about a quart and a half of fluid. I realize that along with the old fluid I am removing and replacing some of the new fluid I just added the week before. I am using Dexron III as the replacement fluid and the fluid in the resevoir is gradually turning the color of the new Dexron fluid.
Is this just as good a method as a flush to use in changing the fluid?
Is there any info on the total amount of fluid in the system?
Is 100 % Dexron III okay to use in the power steering system? I don't see any specific Lexus power steering fluid referred to in any information I have read.
So far in about four weeks of individual sessions of siphoning and replacing I have removed and replaced about a quart and a half of fluid. I realize that along with the old fluid I am removing and replacing some of the new fluid I just added the week before. I am using Dexron III as the replacement fluid and the fluid in the resevoir is gradually turning the color of the new Dexron fluid.
Is this just as good a method as a flush to use in changing the fluid?
Is there any info on the total amount of fluid in the system?
Is 100 % Dexron III okay to use in the power steering system? I don't see any specific Lexus power steering fluid referred to in any information I have read.
#20
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All,
Not sure if this is recommended, but I flushed my P/S system out this weekend, and did it a different way altogether. When I traced the hose down to the P/S pump, the bolt looked like one of those pesky slightly rusted ones that would have required a lot of expletives and even more strength to get off. I opted for a different route.
What I did was just disconnect the return hose (the top most hose on the reservior) and simply had my wife start the car and I caught all of the used fluid in an empty oil container. I caught a little less than a quart and by then the P/S pump was coughing and whining about, and so in my paranoia, I quickly told her to stop the car, because I got most of the fluid out anyway.
Then I just filled up the reservior a few times while the car was running until it got to the cold max line, and I was done. It seemed a lot easier to do and a lot less steps than what was described here, and please don't misunderstand this post, I am not discrediting TunedRX300's procedure. I just thought I would post this for everyones information.
I am curious to anyones comments on what I did. OK or NOT ok??
JBL
Not sure if this is recommended, but I flushed my P/S system out this weekend, and did it a different way altogether. When I traced the hose down to the P/S pump, the bolt looked like one of those pesky slightly rusted ones that would have required a lot of expletives and even more strength to get off. I opted for a different route.
What I did was just disconnect the return hose (the top most hose on the reservior) and simply had my wife start the car and I caught all of the used fluid in an empty oil container. I caught a little less than a quart and by then the P/S pump was coughing and whining about, and so in my paranoia, I quickly told her to stop the car, because I got most of the fluid out anyway.
Then I just filled up the reservior a few times while the car was running until it got to the cold max line, and I was done. It seemed a lot easier to do and a lot less steps than what was described here, and please don't misunderstand this post, I am not discrediting TunedRX300's procedure. I just thought I would post this for everyones information.
I am curious to anyones comments on what I did. OK or NOT ok??
JBL
#21
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This method was described on this forum about 6 years ago, or a close variant. The technique plugged up the input hole, connected the hose to a longer hose to a collection container, and had the person (with hands now free) filling while the engine ran. I've done it, but not recently.
#22
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I finally got around to doing a couple drain/fills for the power steering fluid. I just used an oil evacuator and Mobil 1 for the fluid. Done it twice now and the fluid already looks very clean. Took about 5 minutes total and there isn't one drop to clean up. I did not bother to jack the front end up, but I did run the steering back and forth a few times just to make sure there was no air in the system. Should have done this one a long time ago.
Edit, now that I have put some miles on the car it looks pretty dirty again. Going to have to do it several times it get it cleaned up. I'm just too lazy to pull the hose and pump it out.
Edit, now that I have put some miles on the car it looks pretty dirty again. Going to have to do it several times it get it cleaned up. I'm just too lazy to pull the hose and pump it out.
Last edited by carguy07; 05-21-10 at 09:01 AM.
#26
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#27
Lexus Test Driver
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I'm attaching a photo of the lower power steering hose. If I understand the directions, I loosen this bolt then undo the hose clamp? This photo is taken from the right side, behind the front wheel, looking up toward the power steering pump and the engine compartment. I think the directions will make sense to me if I can get a visual. Like some of the others, I was unable to see most of the photos. I'm still not quite sure where to unfasten and where to insert the hose into a reservoir bottle. This bolt is a 12mm rather than a 10mm, so maybe I'm looking at the wrong one. Thanks for the help!
Last edited by trhs75; 08-28-10 at 04:56 PM. Reason: Clarity
#28
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I just did the PS flush this AM. I used the instructions here (thanks, OP). I used Amsoil Synthetic ATF, 1 quart.
I want to add a couple of photos and suggestions of my own for those who still might have any questions about the procedure.
First, here's the rig I made, not much of a rig, just a clear tube attached to the return hose and clipped to the old oil bottle.
![](http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/bagsbie/Lexus%20RX330%20transfer%20case%20and%20rear%20diff/IMG_0595.jpg)
Here's the return line bracket that you want to unbolt to have more flexibility on the hose:
![](http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/bagsbie/Lexus%20RX330%20transfer%20case%20and%20rear%20diff/IMG_0597.jpg)
and finally, when having a helper steer left and right, I held a finger on the return inlet of the reservoir to create a vacuum so that no air is sucked into the system. It helped when I was filling the PS system with new fluid to shorten the time it took. Also, I purposely put a little more new fluid in, so that when it bubbled up I used a turkey baster to suck the air/fluid mixture off the top.
I want to add a couple of photos and suggestions of my own for those who still might have any questions about the procedure.
First, here's the rig I made, not much of a rig, just a clear tube attached to the return hose and clipped to the old oil bottle.
![](http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/bagsbie/Lexus%20RX330%20transfer%20case%20and%20rear%20diff/IMG_0595.jpg)
Here's the return line bracket that you want to unbolt to have more flexibility on the hose:
![](http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/bagsbie/Lexus%20RX330%20transfer%20case%20and%20rear%20diff/IMG_0597.jpg)
and finally, when having a helper steer left and right, I held a finger on the return inlet of the reservoir to create a vacuum so that no air is sucked into the system. It helped when I was filling the PS system with new fluid to shorten the time it took. Also, I purposely put a little more new fluid in, so that when it bubbled up I used a turkey baster to suck the air/fluid mixture off the top.
![](http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/bagsbie/Lexus%20RX330%20transfer%20case%20and%20rear%20diff/IMG_0596.jpg)