How to check and change power steering fluid on a car

(Baonghean.vn) - When steering, if you feel the steering wheel becomes heavier or makes unusual noises, it may be because the car is lacking power steering fluid. Adding power steering fluid at the right time will help the steering wheel run smoothly and increase its lifespan.

Except for small cars, all car manufacturers now have hydraulic power steering systems to help drivers steer easily. The power steering system consists of a rack and pinion connected to the front wheels, a piston inside the rack and pinion, which moves up with pressurized oil from the power steering pump to help steer, and an oil cylinder located above the pump.

Without enough fluid, steering becomes more difficult and the pump, rack and pinion gears are more likely to fail due to lack of lubrication. Therefore, it is important to check the power steering fluid level regularly and top up when necessary.

Below are steps on how to check and change power steering fluid in your car.

Find the cylinder tank

If you have difficulty turning the steering wheel or if the steering wheel makes a grinding noise when you turn it, you may have low power steering fluid. Power steering fluid can be found in the cylinder reservoir next to the power steering pulley and is clearly visible. The cylinder is made of plastic or metal.

If you can't find the cylinder, check your owner's manual for its location. While the power steering reservoir is usually located in the same location on most cars, newer cars may have it in a different location for reasons of economy or space.

Check power steering fluid level

If the reservoir cylinder is made of clear plastic, you can see the oil level inside the cylinder; if the reservoir cylinder is made of metal or opaque plastic you will have to check the oil level with a dipstick, usually attached to the cap.

On some vehicles, the power steering fluid level can only be checked accurately after the engine has been running for a short time, and sometimes you have to turn the steering wheel in different directions a few times while the vehicle is idling.

On other vehicles, the scale on the dipstick or cylinder will read “high” after the engine has been running, and “low” after the engine has been off for a while. Some vehicles have “minimum” and “maximum” markings for the fluid level that can be operated. Be sure to compare the power steering fluid level to the standard level.

Check the dipstick for power steering fluid level

If you are using a dipstick to check the power steering fluid level, first wipe off any excess fluid from the dipstick as you remove it from the cylinder, then reinsert it and remove it.

Check power steering fluid color

Good power steering fluid should be clean and amber or light pink in color. If the power steering fluid is brown or black, it is contaminated with rubber seals on the hoses, seals, or O-rings. In this case, take your vehicle to a mechanic to check if any parts in the power steering system need to be replaced along with the fluid.

Power steering fluid may appear darker than it actually is. If you are in doubt, look at the color of the power steering fluid on a cloth or paper towel when you wipe the dipstick. If the wipe is a normal oil color, your fluid is fine.

Add power steering fluid to required level

Once you have completed the inspection, the next step is to add power steering fluid to the vehicle. If the vehicle has a scale on the cylinder, you can add fluid to a standard bar code specified on each vehicle.

It is advisable to only use a power steering fluid recommended for your vehicle, using an unsuitable fluid can be harmful to the vehicle.

Do not overfill the power steering fluid, it is best to underfill as the fluid expands as it heats and takes effect. If you fill it to the top and try to drive, the increased pressure will cause problems and expensive repairs.

How often to change oil

Many people think that just adding enough oil when the oil is low is enough. However, steering wheel oil also degrades and changes during use and must be replaced.

Maintenance experts say that steering fluid should be changed every 60,000 to 70,000 miles.

Common failures of hydraulic power steering

For safety reasons, the steering system can still take over the steering function even if the power steering fails. However, turning the steering wheel the way you want is not easy.

- Heavy steering:This phenomenon makes you feel uncomfortable when you have to spend effort to steer your car and it is also unsafe when you move on the road, especially when traffic is heavy during rush hour.

When the car has the above phenomenon, the first thing to consider is to check the oil and power steering pump. The car's power steering oil may be lower than the low level or the power steering pump may be damaged, leading to this. This may be due to the power steering pump's worn impeller, open oil line to the steering rack, or scratches on the pump surface, or heavy steering.

- Slow steering:This phenomenon is often accompanied by heavy steering due to the vehicle's power steering pump not working properly. This can be due to reduced pressure and oil flow through the pump, causing the steering rack to move slowly when turning the steering wheel. A leak in the steering rack's sealing ring, allowing oil to leak through the side chamber, also causes slow steering return.

There are also other causes such as: the steering gear or steering rod is dry, worn, increasing friction when we turn the steering wheel.

- Loose power steering pump drive belt:Open the hood and check the belt surface. When there are many cracks on the belt body about 3 mm apart, the belt needs to be replaced.

The belt slips on the pulley side, the engine is running but the pump rotates at a low speed, the differential pressure is not maintained, which also causes heavy steering. This phenomenon is often accompanied by a screeching sound because the belt slips when steering, and the contact surface of the belt with the pulley is smooth and shiny.

The fix is ​​simply to re-tension the belt.

- Oil distribution valve failure:Check the oil distribution valve by turning the steering wheel all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. For this test, the tire pressure should be set according to the manufacturer's recommendations. If the valve is working properly, you should hear a slight noise when the wheel is completely pulled to one side.

If you can't hear it, the valve may be stuck or there may be some other problem. Don't keep the steering wheel at full tilt for long periods of time, as high oil pressure can damage the system. This problem requires an experienced driver to fix.

Dirty steering and suspension links also affect the operation of the power steering. Therefore, they need to be repaired promptly for the entire system to work well./.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)