- DIY Level of Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours
- Materials & Tools:
- Pliers
- Draining pan
- bird baster (preferably not the one you use for cooking)
- substitute fluid
In This Article...
What Is Power Steering Fluid?
Similar to your brakes, power steering normally uses hydraulics to make it simpler for you to steer your vehicle. This system contains a fluid that needs to be periodically replaced. Additionally, this is an excellent opportunity to look for any leaks or worn hoses and make any necessary repairs.
Electric power steering is being used in place of hydraulic in more and more new cars. This eliminates the need for fluid changes and replaces hydraulics with an electric motor.
Is It Safe to Drive with Old Power Steering Fluid?
You don’t need to replace your power steering fluid frequently. However, over time, leaks can develop in your steering system, enabling fluid to escape and contaminating the remaining fluid. This puts additional wear and strain on the steering system and increases the risk that your pump or other components will break down.
By performing a quick and inexpensive power steering fluid change on your own, you may add further protection against potential problems. Additionally, it offers you a chance to look for leaks and replace any other parts that require it. If you don’t feel confident handling this task yourself, taking it to a shop won’t cost a fortune either.
When to Change Power Steering Fluid
Generally, every two years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, you should flush your power steering fluid. To find out what is suggested for your specific make and model, be sure to check your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule or the free FIXD app.
What Are Common Symptoms Indicating You Need a Power Steering Flush?
- Brown or black fluid
- the power steering pump makes groaning noises, especially while rotating the steering wheel
- more challenging to turn the steering wheel
Keep in Mind
Power steering fluid comes in a variety of varieties depending on the vehicle. Some people even utilize the fluid from automatic transmissions as power steering fluid. Use the fluid recommended for your specific car, so make sure you do.
Always follow the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule and perform this service in accordance with the make and model recommendations.
Step 2: Drain the power steering reservoir
Locate the reservoir for your power steering fluid. This is frequently fastened to the actual power steering pump. To extract as much liquid as you can, open the cap and use a turkey baster as a big eyedropper.
Step 3: Disconnect the return line and drain the system
Locate the return line for the power steering fluid. Two wires that connect to the power steering pump are located underneath the car. With a pair of pliers, you may remove the clamps from the return line.
Substitute the return line for the drain pan. Pull the hose off, then release the clamp. Both ends will leak fluid, which probably creates a small messe. You will need to empty out less here depending on how much fluid you removed from the reservoir in Step 2.
Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and right numerous times while the hose is still unconnected. More stale fluid will be pumped out of the system as a result. Once the fluid stops pouring out, continue doing this.
Step 4: Flush the system with fresh fluid
Fill the reservoir roughly halfway with new fluid while the return line hose is still unconnected.
Run the engine to drive the fluid through your steering system and drain the bottom, removing any debris or leftovers of contaminated fluid from the system. To completely drain the power steering fluid, turn the steering wheel all the way left and right numerous times.
While you do this, the reservoir will begin to deplete. Keep an eye on it and fill the reservoir with enough liquid to prevent drying out.
The system is clean when the liquid leaving is the same hue as the fluid entering. Cut the engine off.
Step 6: Top off the fluid
entire capacity of the power steering reservoir “complete score. Run the engine for roughly 10 seconds after putting the cap on. Turn it off, take off the lid, and add more fluid until the “complete score.
Step 7: Check for leaks
Start the car’s engine and let it run while checking below to see if any fluid is dripping. Pay particular attention to where the hose was detached so that the system may be flushed and drained. However, don’t mistake fluid that leaked while the line was disconnected for a fresh leak.
Once more, fully turn the steering wheel to the right and left to force fresh fluid through the entire system. The reservoir’s fluid level should be checked frequently, and topped off as necessary, to keep it full.
Step 8: Lower the car and take a test drive
Remove the drain pan from beneath the car, if you haven’t done so earlier. Place the car back on the ground after removing the jack stands. This time, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and right to make sure it still turns easily with the tires on the ground. Take a test drive to evaluate how it feels on the road if everything feels in order. You’re done if everything goes according to plan.
Check the power steering fluid level by opening the hood if the steering doesn’t seem quite correct. There may have been some air bubbles in your system that burped themselves out while you were driving. You should have your car inspected by a specialist for a more thorough diagnostic if the fluid is full and you are still experiencing issues.
How frequently should Toyota power steering fluid be changed?
Changing the power steering fluid in your Toyota at least twice every two years or every 50,000 miles is commonly advised. When to change the power steering fluid can be found in the owner’s handbook.
Uses power steering fluid Toyota Camry?
The quest for the ideal Power Steering Fluid products you’ve been seeking for is ended, which will make your Toyota Camry pleased. For your car, Advance Auto Parts provides 8 different types of power steering fluid available for delivery or in-store pickup.
What occurs if the power steering fluid is not changed?
You could be urged urgently to have your power-steering pump cleansed and filled with new fluid when you bring your car in for normal maintenance since the old fluid has gone dark. Remember that over time, engine oil and transmission fluid can darken, so a deeper shade of red does not necessarily indicate that the power-steering fluid is contaminated. Examine your owner’s manual or maintenance schedule to discover what is recommended before paying someone to flush your pump. It most likely won’t specify how frequently you should flush the pump or change the fluid.
To ensure that the power-steering system isn’t leaking and that the reservoir contains the right amount of fluid, you should check it every month. O-rings, seals, and other internal power steering parts might degrade over time and start leaking. A leak of this nature might seriously harm the pump as well as the rest of the system. When cornering, your power steering may whine or you may find it harder to turn the steering wheel, which could be an indication that the reservoir is low on fluid.
Many automobiles have reservoirs made of transparent plastic, making it unnecessary to unscrew the top to check the level. To find the reservoir in the engine compartment, refer to your owner’s manual. For further information on the necessary power-steering fluid, consult the manual. Instead of a generic fluid that may be purchased at parts stores, the manufacturer might specify a particular kind. If you do need to add more fluid, be careful not to overfill it because this could potentially affect your power steering.
The Bottom Line: Do You Need to Change Your Car’s Power Steering Fluid?
Lack of sleep Are you concerned about the power steering fluid in your car because of the way it looks or how old it is? Unless the maker of your car indicates otherwise, you probably won’t need to update it. However, it won’t harm you to perform a fluid change if that makes you feel better. Without draining all the fluid and flushing the system, you could refresh the fluid, but it may be more difficult than you feel confident handling (or paying for).
Instead, locate a turkey baster that will fit inside the reservoir and empty as much of the used fluid as you can before properly refilling it with new fluid. Even though you won’t be able to replace all of the old fluid, if you repeat this process several times, you should be able to.
Can I mix fresh and old power steering fluid?
You must operate the system for a bit after mixing old and fresh power steering fluid. The new, fresh fluid you just added will dilute the older fluid you are now adding to your power steering reservoir.
In order to ensure you are getting the proper mixture, I advise using a pump to fill each reservoir independently. You should next check to see if there are any leaks.
How frequently should power steering fluid be changed?
Power steering fluid should be replaced every 75,000 to 100,000 miles, however many models can last even longer.
What is the price of a power steering flush?
The price of your power steering flush will vary depending on the make and model of your automobile as well as whether you take it to a shop or do it yourself, just like a coolant flush. A regular power steering flush will cost you between $90 and $125, including labor. The correct fluid, which typically costs around $10, is all you need to complete the flush on your own. However, locating the ideal fluid comes with its own challenges.
What Kind of Power Steering Fluid Does My Car Need?
Finding the correct fluid for your power steering system may not always be as easy as reviewing the owner’s manual if you’re conducting the flush at home to save money. If you already have your owner’s manual, disregard this section. Buckle up if you can’t find the information online or in your owner’s handbook.
- Make sure your automobile genuinely has a hydraulic power steering system before determining which power steering fluid it needs. You most likely do if your car was produced in the 1980s, 1990s, or early 2000s. But being certain may be worthwhile. Because earlier automobiles had smaller tires, late model cars frequently used a fully manual power steering system. On the other end of the scale, more automakers are switching their new model vehicles over to electric power assist steering systems. By removing the hydraulic pump’s parasitic drag from the motor, this helps increase fuel efficiency.
- Now that everything is resolved, looking under the hood for the power steering fluid reservoir is the best approach to determine what type of steering your car has. In order for the pump to extract power steering fluid, every hydraulic power steering system has a reservoir that stores the liquid. Typically made of transparent, black, or white plastic, the reservoir has an identification cap. Find your power steering pump first, then follow the low pressure (bigger rubber) line from the pump up to the reservoir if you can’t find it.
Power Steering Fluid or Automatic Transmission Fluid?
The fact that certain power steering systems need power steering fluid and others have been built to use automatic transmission fluidof which there are more than a dozen optionsmakes things more difficult. We advise you to check our power steering fluid application chart to see if your car is listed if you have already searched in your vehicle’s owner’s handbook and on the reservoir cap for information about the type of fluid to use and are still at a loss. In the event that everything else fails, you might try contacting your neighborhood dealership to see if they can point you in the correct way.
Consider the primary cause of the low fluid level when you fill off your power steering system with the appropriate kind of fluid. A fluid leak is nearly always to blame for a low power steering fluid level. Consider adding BlueDevil Power Steering Stop leak to your top-off fluid rather than wasting time and money trying to find the leak. All types of power steering fluid are compatible with BlueDevil Power Steering Stop Leak, which will stop the leak in your system and save you from having to keep adding fluid.
Why Is Finding the Right Fluid Important?
Your power steering system’s longevity and silent operation depend on the type of power steering fluid you choose. The power steering pump pressurizes the power steering fluid, and it is this pressure that helps the driver turn the car’s wheels. But the only purpose of your power steering fluid is to provide your wheel more turning power. Additionally lubricating the system and guarding against corrosion of both the rubber seals and the metal parts is your power steering fluid. Premature wear may result from fluid that is either too thin or too thick to offer adequate lubrication. Additionally, the incorrect fluid can not have the necessary corrosion-prevention chemicals, causing premature wear and leaks.
Is a flush of the power steering fluid required?
When you discover that your vehicle needs a power steering flush, you might be tempted to put it off. So, is it really required to change the power steering fluid? The short answer is yesregular power steering flushes are crucial to safeguarding your car and ensuring your safety while driving. Let’s look more closely:
- Observing Symptoms: For the safety of you, your car, and other road users, a power steering fluid flush is vitally important and should be scheduled as soon as possible if you see any of the symptoms mentioned above.
- If you need a routine power steering fluid flush but have not yet observed any symptoms, what should you do? This service is still required to stop the emergence of risky or bothersome symptoms. Additionally, it can aid with power steering system protection. For instance, your power steering pump may start to degrade without enough fluid, turning a straightforward maintenance clean into an expensive repair. Although a trip to the mechanic is required, it is not as urgent as when a motorist experiences symptoms. In these situations, book your servicing as soon as possible or arrange for a mechanic to visit you!