Toyota Siennas manufactured before 2011 use power steering fluid, which needs to be changed every two years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first). Taking your car to an automotive repair shop for this service could cost you more than $100, but you can do it yourself for less than $10.

Like many other modern vehicles, all Toyota Siennas built before 2011 have a hydraulic power steering system. These systems use a pump and pressurized fluid to help you turn your steering wheel. If that fluid becomes polluted with dirt or dust or the level drops too low, you may experience difficulty steering and hear a strange groaning sound.

Time to change your Toyota Sienna power steering fluid?

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What type of power steering fluid does Toyota Sienna use?

The primary type of fluid that Toyota recommends is Dexron II or Dexron III Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).

However, Toyota vehicles aren’t too picky about the type of power steering fluid they take. And if you can’t get your hands on Dexron II or Dexron III, you can use one of several alternatives, including:

Prestone Power Steering Fluid + Stop Leak

($9.69 for 32 oz.)

Idemitsu Type TLS Automatic Transmission Fluid

($11.79 for one qt.)

Peak Original Equipment Technology Full Synthetic Asian Power Steering Fluid

($16.49 for 12 oz.)

Prestone MAX American Vehicle Power Steering Fluid + Stop Leak

($12.99 for 12 oz.)

Prestone MAX Asian Vehicle Power Steering Fluid + Stop Leak

($12.99 for 12 oz.)

Idemitsu Lubricants Power Steering Fluid

($5.51 for 12 oz.)

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How to change Toyota Sienna power steering fluid

You can save a lot of money by changing your own power steering fluid, especially considering any Sienna with a hydraulic power steering system is out of warranty.

Fortunately, it’s a fairly simple job that you can do in your own driveway or garage. The only tools you need are:

A suction device to remove the old fluid—a syringe or turkey baster will work

New fluid that meets your car’s requirements

A bottle for the dirty fluid you remove

A pair of pliers to remove the hose clamps

A rubber cap or a rag to plug the return line fitting on the reservoir

A funnel to add new fluid

Towels for the mess

A jack (this is optional)

Step 1: Use the jack to lift the front of the vehicle an inch or two off the ground. This will help you turn the wheels during a later step, but you can skip it if you don’t have a jack.

Step 2: Open the car’s hood and find the power steering fluid reservoir. It will be on the vehicle’s passenger side above the wheel and looks like a short bottle with a black cap. Remove the old fluid from the reservoir using your suction device.

Step 3: Locate the two hoses attached to the reservoir and use your pliers to remove the clamps on the thinnest hose. Use your rubber cap or rag to plug the open hole in the reservoir and put the end of the hose in the bottle. The remaining dirty fluid will drain here.

Step 4: Add clean, new fluid to the reservoir with the funnel. Turn the car on and move the steering wheel back and forth, from “lock to lock”—as far as it will go in either direction. This will cause the remaining old fluid to drain from the return hose.

Step 5: Keep turning the wheel and adding fresh fluid until you begin to see the clean fluid draining from the return hose. After you see the new fluid draining, you can reconnect the hose to the reservoir and top it up to the “fill” line.

When you finish these steps, allow your car to run for a few minutes in the driveway to check for leaks. If nothing is leaking, take your vehicle for a short test drive to ensure that the steering feels smooth and there are no unusual sounds.

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Steering rack/gearbox replacement

What is the power steering fluid change interval for a Toyota Sienna?

Your power steering fluid should be changed every two years or 50,000 miles. Although you shouldn’t have any problems between changes, that doesn’t mean something can’t go wrong.

Your power steering fluid could be polluted with dirt, or you might have a leak if you notice any of the following symptoms:

A difficult-to-turn steering wheel

A moaning sound when turning the wheel

Wobbly or loose steering

Grimy build-up or leaking fluid around the reservoir, hoses, or under your car

Dark or chunky fluid in the reservoir

Clean power steering fluid should be a deep red color—similar to wine. You should check your power steering fluid reservoir occasionally to ensure the fluid is in good condition, especially if you notice any problems with the car’s steering.

MORE:

How long is a Toyota Sienna?

How to save on Toyota Sienna Insurance

Keeping up on regular maintenance—like power steering fluid changes—is an important step toward caring for your car. But there’s more to owning a vehicle than the fluids that go into it. And one of the best ways to protect your car is to purchase a quality insurance plan.

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