{"id":41814,"date":"2021-07-15T04:58:33","date_gmt":"2021-07-15T11:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=41814"},"modified":"2025-04-04T23:00:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T06:00:13","slug":"low-power-steering-fluid-symptoms-causes-plus-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/low-power-steering-fluid-symptoms-causes-plus-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Power Steering Fluid: Symptoms, Causes, Plus FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column41814_627948-5c{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column41814_627948-5c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column41814_627948-5c inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-378175  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-43a155\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading41814_1721ba-b8\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your vehicle could be running low on power steering fluid if you&rsquo;re having trouble turning the steering wheel and you can hear whining or groaning noises when turning the wheel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can check the power steering fluid level from the reservoir near the power steering pump. You can either add more fluid or replace the old fluid if it&rsquo;s too dark.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Low power steering fluid levels are indicative of leaks. These leaks can be found in the power steering pump, steering gear, steering lines, or seals and o-rings within the system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Before power steering was introduced on production vehicles in the 1950s, drivers had to rely almost entirely on their muscles to turn the car&rsquo;s front wheels back and forth. Fortunately, these days, all vehicles have power steering. The technology makes the steering wheel easier to turn by augmenting the force the driver exerts on the vehicle&rsquo;s mechanical steering gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most vehicles have either electric power steering (EPS) or hydraulic power steering. Hydraulic systems use pressurized fluid as the medium that acts on the steering gear to provide steering assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, leaks can develop in a hydraulic power steering system, leading to a low fluid level. When the fluid level becomes significantly low, you&rsquo;ll likely notice one or more troublesome symptoms that you&rsquo;ll want to address right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs of Low Power Steering Fluid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you think your car might be low on power steering fluid? If you notice one or more of the following symptoms, you might be right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"irp-widget\">\n\n    <div class=\"irp-widget-inner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/some-reasons-why-you-may-hear-squeaking-noises-while-turning-the-steering-wheel\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"dofollow\" class=\"irp-whole\" style=\"text-decoration: none\">\n            <div style=\"padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em\">\n                <span class=\"ctaText\">See also<\/span>&nbsp;\n                <span class=\"postTitle\">Some Reasons Why You May Hear Squeaking Noises While Turning the Steering Wheel<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"checking power steering fluid\" class=\"wp-image-41816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/checking-power-steering-fluid.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One of the most obvious signs of low power steering fluid is a low fluid level in the reservoir.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Low Level in the Reservoir<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most obvious signs of low power steering fluid is a low fluid level in the reservoir. You can easily check the fluid level yourself, as we&rsquo;ll discuss later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Whining or Groaning Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the power steering fluid level is significantly low, air will get sucked into the power steering pump, resulting in a whining or groaning noise that coincides with engine speed. You may also notice that the noise becomes louder when you turn the steering wheel back and forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Difficulty Turning the Steering Wheel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When air gets into the power steering system due to a low fluid level, you may notice that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/steering-wheel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"steering wheel\">steering wheel<\/a> is more difficult to turn. Without a functional power steering system, you have to rely on your arm muscles to turn the car&rsquo;s front wheels back and forth via the steering wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Check Power Steering Fluid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car uses power steering fluid (those with electric power steering do not), it&rsquo;s usually fairly easy to check the level and condition of the fluid. Although the steps for checking power steering fluid will vary by vehicle, generally, the process involves the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/why-you-should-always-consult-a-repair-manual\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Consult your owner&rsquo;s manual\">Consult your owner&rsquo;s manual<\/a> to determine the exact procedure for checking the power steering fluid on your vehicle.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Locate the power steering reservoir. Usually, the reservoir is mounted to (or located near) the power steering pump at the front of the engine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the engine is off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Note the power steering fluid level. On some reservoirs, you must remove the cap to access the fluid level dipstick. In other instances, the reservoir will have markings on the side to indicate the level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add power steering fluid if the level is low. If the fluid is dark brown or has a burnt smell to it, you (or your mechanic) will want to perform a power steering fluid service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can watch these videos to get an idea on how to check your fluid levels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Check the Fluid levels 2009-2014 Ford F150 &#128738;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yeu72hrxTsI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Check the Fluid levels 2009-2018 Dodge RAM 1500 &#128738;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uvmXc96KA4I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is My Power Steering Fluid Low?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A low power steering fluid level indicates there&rsquo;s a leak somewhere in the system. Common leak sources include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/power-steering-pump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"power steering pump\">power steering pump<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The steering gear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The power steering lines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The seals and o-rings within the system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"refilling power steering fluid\" class=\"wp-image-41817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refilling-power-steering-fluid.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Usually, the power steering reservoir is mounted to (or located near) the power steering pump at the front of the engine. Make sure the engine is off before checking it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Should Power Steering Fluid Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some vehicle manufactures recommend a periodic power steering fluid service while others do not. Regardless, it&rsquo;s a good idea to replace your car&rsquo;s power steering fluid occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, the fluid can become contaminated, and its corrosion inhibitors can break down.<br>As a general rule of thumb, most experts recommend replacing power steering fluid <strong>every five years or 50,000 miles<\/strong>, whichever comes first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power Steering Fluid FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1653630326600\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is it normal to lose power steering fluid?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, it&rsquo;s not normal for your car to lose power steering fluid. A low fluid level means there&rsquo;s a leak somewhere in the power steering system that you need to address.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1653630335013\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What kind of power steering fluid do I need?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Some vehicles require dedicated power steering fluid, while others use transmission fluid in their steering system. Consult your owner&rsquo;s manual to determine the correct type of power steering fluid for your application.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1653630336383\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is it bad to drive with low power steering fluid?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Driving with low power steering fluid is a bad idea. A fluid level that&rsquo;s significantly low can result in a lack of lubrication to the power steering pump and steering gear, potentially causing those costly components to fail. If the power steering fluid is low, you&rsquo;ll want to address the issue as soon as possible.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"ai-summary-widget\">\n\n        <div class=\"ai-summary-grid\">\n\n            <div>\n                <div class=\"ai-avatar\">\n                    <figure>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/q_auto,dpr_auto,f_auto\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/ai-summary\/ai-bot\" alt=\"AI robot\">\n                    <\/figure>\n                    <span>ELI5<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                <p>Power steering fluid helps you turn the steering wheel easily. Some cars need special power steering fluid, while others use transmission fluid&mdash;check your car&rsquo;s manual to be sure. Driving with low fluid is bad because if the fluid gets too low, steering could become hard and expensive parts might break. If you notice low fluid, don&rsquo;t wait&mdash;get it checked right away!<\/p>    \n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"ai-summary-tooltip\">   \n            <p>Not everyone is an auto repair expert. <strong>ELI5 (&ldquo;Explain Like I&rsquo;m Five&rdquo;)<\/strong> provides layperson-friendly explanations of complex automotive concepts, systems, &amp; parts, so you can fully understand their importance. Great for casual car owners and DIY beginners! Powered by AI.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get New Power Steering Fluid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Until you can top off your power steering fluid, you&rsquo;re better off leaving your car in the garage. Because low levels of power steering fluid can damage your power steering system, you&rsquo;re at greater risk of getting into an accident. Your power steering can suddenly fail, and you&rsquo;re likely to lose control of your vehicle. For your own safety, it&rsquo;s best to refill your power steering fluid as soon as possible. Luckily, getting power steering fluid is fast and easy with CarParts.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At CarParts.com, you&rsquo;ll find a wide selection of high-quality power steering fluids, sourced from only the most trusted manufacturers in the industry. Not only is our website easy to navigate, our checkout is also convenient and secure. We&rsquo;re 100% committed to giving you a worry-free shopping experience from start to finish. That&rsquo;s why we also offer a 60-day returns policy, where you can return your order within 60 days of purchase just in case you aren&rsquo;t completely satisfied with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&rsquo;t wait until your power steering system completely fails before topping off your power steering fluid. Check out our catalog of high-quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/power-steering-fluid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"power steering fluids\">power steering fluids<\/a> at CarParts.com and shop today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Before power steering was introduced on production vehicles in the 1950s, drivers had to rely almost entirely on their muscles&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/low-power-steering-fluid-symptoms-causes-plus-faq\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":41815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3755],"tags":[3073],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-41814","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-suspension","9":"tag-power-steering-fluid","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Low Power Steering Fluid: Symptoms, Causes, Plus FAQ - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the most common signs of low power steering fluid in this quick guide plus other FAQs. Read on for more info.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/low-power-steering-fluid-symptoms-causes-plus-faq\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Low Power Steering Fluid: Symptoms, Causes, Plus FAQ - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn the most common signs of low power steering fluid in this quick guide plus other FAQs. 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