How to Check and Add Power Steering Oil

Except for the smallest cars, the rest of the cars have a hydraulic steering system that helps the driver to steer easily. The power steering system consists of several components: the rack and pinion are connected to the front wheel, a piston inside the rack and pinion, which is moved up by pressurized oil from the power steering pump. , and an oil cylinder is located above the pump. (Without enough oil, steering becomes more difficult and pumps, racks and gears are also prone to failure due to lack of lubricating oil.) Therefore, it is important to check the power steering fluid level regularly and supply more when necessary.

Table of Contents

Steps

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Find the reservoir cylinder. If you have trouble turning the steering wheel or the steering wheel makes a rattling noise when you steer, your power steering fluid may be low. Power steering fluid can be found in the cylinder reservoir next to the power steering pulley and they are clearly displayed. Cylinders can be made of plastic or metal.

If you can’t find the cylinder, see the manual to find the location. While the power steering reservoir is usually located in the same location in most cars, newer vehicles may be located in a different location for economic or space reasons.

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Check the power steering oil level. If the reservoir cylinder is made of translucent plastic, you can see the oil level inside the cylinder. If the reservoir cylinder is made of metal or if the plastic isn’t clear enough you’ll have to check the oil level with a dipstick, usually attached to the hood.

In some vehicles, the power steering fluid level can only be checked properly after the engine has been running for a short time, and you will occasionally have to turn the steering wheel in multiple directions a few times while the vehicle is at rest. no-load state.
In other vehicles, the scale on the dipstick or cylinder is both “high”, after the engine is running, and a “low” level after the engine has been turned off for a while. In other cars too, there may be “Min” and “Maximum” lines of operable oil level. Be sure to compare the power steering fluid level with the standard level.

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Check the oil dipstick to see where the power steering fluid level is. If you are using the dipstick to check the power steering fluid level, first wipe off excess oil from the dipstick when you take it out of the cylinder, then plug it back down and take it out.

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Check power steering fluid color. Good power steering fluid should be clean, amber or pinkish in color.

If the power steering fluid is brown or black, the oil has become dirty from the hose, seal or O-ring rubber connections. In this case, the vehicle should be taken to a mechanic to have it checked if it needs to be changed. replace any part of the power steering system with the oil or not.
Power steering fluid may look darker than it actually is. If in doubt, check the power steering oil stain on a cloth or paper towel as you wipe the dipstick. If the stain has a normal oil color, your oil is fine.

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Add power steering fluid to the required level. If your vehicle already has a scale on the cylinder, you can add oil until you reach the full “hot” or “cold” level; If you check the oil level with the dipstick, add oil slowly to avoid overfilling the reservoir.

Be sure to use only a power steering fluid that is recommended for your vehicle, as it will have the right viscosity (thickness) for your vehicle’s power steering system.
If you don’t have power steering fluid on hand and are in an emergency, you can also use automatic transmission fluid instead. Automatic transmission fluid and power steering fluid are similar except for color: Transmission fluid is red or pink while power steering fluid is usually not. (If you want to know, the automatic transmission oil leaks out very quickly, hence the pinkish red color.)

Be careful not to “excessively” pour oil into the power steering unit. It is better to pour less than to overfill. Because power steering oil expands when heated and takes effect. If you fill the cap and try to drive, the increased pressure will cause problems and incur expensive repairs.

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Replace cylinder cap. Depending on the manufacturer, you may have to push or screw the cap into place. Be sure to close the lid tightly before you close the hood.

Advice

Power steering fluid should be checked regularly. If you notice that the cylinder level has dropped significantly, or have to add oil frequently, there may be a leak in the power steering system. If you hear noise while steering, it means the power steering pump is seriously low on oil.

Warning

Power steering fluid should be replaced after an interval according to the vehicle’s manual. Heat from the engine and surroundings degrades performance over time and causes wear or tear of powertrain components. Changing the oil will be much cheaper than replacing the power steering pump or or the rack and pinion.

Things you need

Wipes or paper towels
Hopper
Power steering fluid

Steps

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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