I went to Pepboys to buy some power steering fluid to top it off and read in the manual that it uses "Dexron III". I looked for any bottle that said "Dexron III" on the label and couldn't find any so I asked the guy and he said this would be okay for the max (Prestone power steering fluid) says it's okay for "most imports" on the back.

Then when I was pouring it in, the fluid that was already in the reservoir looked black and this prestone stuff was clear. What's up??

 

Use Dexron III . There is a good write up on PS fluid change on www.motorvate.ca

 

Dexron III is ATF (transmission fluid). Get that other stuff outta your car (as someone else said - check www.motorvate.ca) - it's as easy as sucking it out with a turkey baster, then replace what you took out with ATF.

By the way, go back to Pepboys and beat the guy you talked to about the head with the turkey baster.

 

Well I only poured a little in - enough to bring it from min to max. Is it that crucial to get it all out right now?

Also why is there a dipstick for "automatic transmission fluid" and we're putting ATF in the reservoir called "power steering fluid"? Are they one in the same?

Thank you !

 

The auto trans and power steering are 2 different systems, but they use the same fluid. I had regular power steering fluid in my car and it worked fine during the summer, but in the winter the steering wheel would be jerky until the fluid warmed up (I'm guessing it was freezing up a little or something).

Just buy some ATF and use the motorvate method a couple of times. I did it every other week for 3 times and the steering wheel doesn't become jerky anymore It only takes a few minutes so go do it

 

The little bit you poured in may or may not be a problem, but since your car is now pushing 6 years old, why not just replace the fluid anyway. ATF is relatively cheap, and the process is quick and easy.

 

JaTaN, I bought my car from FL and he said he's been using regular power steering fluid. Well I live in IA and I do notice jerking on cold morning starts. I was wondering where that came from.

I'll try replacing the fluid next weekend when it warms up to upper 30's. One more question - is it necessary to do the 2nd part (disconnecting the hose) or can I just try to suck as much fluid out as possible and refill?

 

I didn't disconnect the hose. Just refill it and do it again after a week and then do it again after another week. This way most of the fluid will be replaced and the jerky will go away or go down (it might show up once or twice).

I'm going to keep doing this when the weather gets better (I'll probably do it every other week) so when the next winter comes, the fluid will be atleast 90% ATF

 

so I just bought and put in STP Power Steering Fluid per the Motorvate method...it's this stuff here:



are you saying that's not the right stuff to use? is it bad for my car? i picked this stuff becuase it said "POWER STEERING FLUID", go figure....let me know, thanks

 

Power steering fluid and ATF are pretty similar, so the system will operate on either one.

Nissan designed the system in the Max to use a Dexron type ATF as this is the better application, as some members are noticing for various reasons. If it were my car, I would drain the system and replace the fluid with the right stuff.