Blog / Power steering fluid

Fluids & Filters · 3 min read

Power Steering Fluid: Signs It's Running Low

Not every car has this system at all, since electric power steering has largely replaced hydraulic systems on newer models, but for cars that do have it, low fluid is worth taking seriously rather than just topping up repeatedly.

How to know if your car even has hydraulic power steering

If there's a dedicated power steering fluid reservoir in the engine bay, usually with its own cap marked accordingly, your car uses a hydraulic system. Many newer cars use electric power steering instead, with no fluid involved at all, in which case none of this applies.

Signs the fluid is running low

• A whining or groaning noise when turning the steering wheel, especially at low speeds or while parking
• Steering that feels noticeably heavier than usual
• Visible fluid stains under the front of the car
• The steering wheel juddering slightly during turns

Why low fluid usually means a leak, not normal use

Unlike engine oil, power steering fluid isn't consumed through normal operation the way oil can be through minor burning. A power steering system that's genuinely low on fluid almost always has a leak somewhere in the system, commonly from a hose, seal, or the pump itself, and simply topping it up repeatedly without finding the leak just delays a problem that will keep coming back.

Why it's worth fixing rather than ignoring

Running the power steering pump with low fluid can cause it to overheat and fail, turning a relatively inexpensive fluid and seal repair into a full pump replacement.