'I Buy Them Like Clockwork': Toyota Driver Takes His Own Prestone Power Steering Fluid To His Mechanic. There’s Just One Problem

An auto parts salesman and mechanic recently sparked a conversation after correcting a Toyota driver who was attempting to buy Prestone power steering fluid. Here’s what drivers need to know.

TikTok creator Buck (@buckneket) posted a video with his power steering fluid advice on Nov. 5. In the video, he explains, “I had a customer come in and gave me a bottle of this and said he just needs some power steering fluid.”

That’s a simple enough task, but the customer produced a bottle that made Buck do a double-take. “[He] brought it up to the counter,” Buck says. “I said, ‘What kind of car do you have?’ He said, ‘I have a Toyota Avalon.’ I said, ‘Well, you can put that back.’ He said, ‘What do you mean? It says ‘power steering fluid.’”

Was the Toyota Driver Attempting to Buy the Wrong Power Steering Fluid?

Buck says there’s more to power steering fluid than just picking up a random bottle. “Toyota Avalons take transmission fluid in the power steering,” he says. “They take Mercon 3. Fords take Mercon 5 in the power steering. When you get a Honda, you have to make sure it says ‘Honda power steering fluid.’”

Buck isn’t just lecturing his customers; he really wants to help them preserve their vehicles. “The reason I’m making this video is because power steering pumps are going out, hoses, and everything else,” he says. “It’s because people don’t know what to put in their power steering when they’re losing power steering fluid. And don’t think it’s cheaper to keep buying power steering fluid than fixing the leak.”

Here are the economics, according to Buck. “You keep buying this? $15.99. That leak might be on the low pressure side, so the hose is only $2 a foot,” he says. “Get your power steering evaluated to figure out where the leak is, and if it’s too expensive to fix it right then—then yeah, we’ve got power steering fluids. But make sure you’re putting the right fluid in your power steering.”

In the comments section, viewers reacted to Buck’s power steering fluid PSA. Many said they appreciate the warning.

“Great information, sir,” said one viewer. “Thanks for the knowledge.”

A second viewer said, “I buy them like clockwork. The struggle is real, plus I have an oil leak. I be praying every day that I get in my car for work.”

“I just did that with antifreeze,” said another viewer. “They had a different type of antifreeze. When did it start going according to the vehicle?”

The Different Types of Power Steering Fluid

The fluid that lubricates your power steering system not only keeps the vehicle running smoothly but also helps prevent accidents and wear and tear. And Buck is absolutely correct that it’s not a good idea to mix brands or put in one that is not optimized for your vehicle.

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That’s because there are mineral-based, synthetic, and semi-synthetic types of power steering fluid, and your specific vehicle make and model will determine which one you use. It might not cause catastrophic failure immediately, but it could definitely cause issues down the line—just as Buck noted. So before you buy power steering fluid, make sure you’re getting the right kind.

Motor1 contacted Buck via TikTok comment and direct message. We also contacted Toyota via email for comment. We’ll update this if either responds.

 

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