Notices
Maintenance & Car Care Tune-ups and shake-downs...

Power Steering Fluid & Transmission Fluid

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-04-2009, 05:42 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
7thgear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 813
Default Power Steering Fluid & Transmission Fluid

hey guys,

i went to get my oil change a few days ago (normally i would do it at home, but it's been snowing and really cold lately so i figured i just take it to a shop and have them do it just this time.) well at the same time, they told me my power steering fluid should be a pink color but it's not. it's a brown color and they recommend that i change it. is that true? my car has 45k miles on it. do i really need a flush at this time or are they trying to cheat me out of some money? and isn't the power steering fluid suppose to be blue?

and when is the recommended time change for transmission fluid? they said i need to change that too....??? i just changed it when i was at 20k miles.
7thgear is offline  
Old 01-04-2009, 05:49 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member

SL Member
 
Metro273's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 4,735
Default

P/S fluid is red in color, not blue!

What they are trying to sell you is just preventative maintenance for your car.

It's like taking vitamins, eating healthy or taking a shower, you don't have to do it but you should do it to prevent any future problems...
Metro273 is offline  
Old 01-15-2009, 01:31 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
 
05TXFM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Houston,TX
Posts: 185
Default

Toyota power steering fluid is not red or blue, its like a light yellow almost the color of brake fluid.
The power steering fluid of the tcs does tend to get dirty quicker than most car.
05TXFM is offline  
Old 01-15-2009, 01:40 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member

SL Member
 
Metro273's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 4,735
Default

I did an oil change on a used car tC we sold at my dealership and I swear that the P/S fluid was blue?
Metro273 is offline  
Old 01-15-2009, 01:51 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
XD40tC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: El Paso, TX
Posts: 2,845
Default

I know Pennzoil PS fluid is blue. It all depends on who makes it but yeah it shouldnt be brown or have a burnt smell to it otherwise it needs to be flushed. As far as the tranny I think thats a little early especially if its been done at 20k already.
XD40tC is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 04:12 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
FlintMicatC05's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 313
Default

I have never had my tranny flushed and I have 80k plus on my 05 tc...think I should do something about it....
FlintMicatC05 is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 11:49 PM
  #7  
jct
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
jct's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,963
Default

don't flush the tranny it'll help ruin your tranny many miles down the road just

drain and replace the fuilds
jct is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 11:59 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
1989menace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: G-Burg, Maryland
Posts: 1,089
Default

Originally Posted by FlintMicatC05
I have never had my tranny flushed and I have 80k plus on my 05 tc...think I should do something about it....
yes! i changed mine at 15k to synthetic royal purple. i was getting my tranny upgraded as well tho thats why. however the mechanic told me thet my tranny fluid can use some replacing anyway cuz it was really dirty so i did it
1989menace is offline  
Old 06-19-2009, 06:23 AM
  #9  
Junior Member
 
bluenlams's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 4
Default

Say, how much is the cost for power steering flush at the dealership? I'm at 61k for an 06' and never had the p/s changed.
bluenlams is offline  
Old 07-19-2009, 04:08 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
 
Bulgdoom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Delray Beach, Florida
Posts: 28
Default

Originally Posted by jct
don't flush the tranny it'll help ruin your tranny many miles down the road just

drain and replace the fuilds
Why would it ruin the tranny? and what is the difference between a flush and a drain and replace? I thought it was the same.

For the power steering would this be the same? a flush vs a drain and replace?
Bulgdoom is offline  
Old 07-19-2009, 04:48 AM
  #11  
jct
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
jct's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,963
Default

flush will just move contaminants from one point to another and its a waste of money thats the shops just want your money on services that you don't need
jct is offline  
Old 07-19-2009, 04:53 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
IV ACE
 
bB384's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: North Hollywood, So. Cal.
Posts: 600
Default

Originally Posted by jct
flush will just move contaminants from one point to another and its a waste of money thats the shops just want your money on services that you don't need
...but if you take it to a reputable shop that does honest work they will use the machene that properly flushes it out of the system and will remove the contaniments out of the system. If anyone else tells you otherwise they are just simply paranoid and lack the proper education on how to properly service a transmission.
bB384 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
icestorm
Scion tC 1G Owners Lounge
2
06-25-2015 05:44 PM
allaboutdabox
Scion xB 2nd-Gen Drivetrain & Power
1
03-17-2015 07:22 PM
ghasper
Maintenance & Car Care
8
02-22-2006 12:18 AM



Quick Reply: Power Steering Fluid & Transmission Fluid



All times are GMT. The time now is 08:00 PM.