About > Blog > Check Power Steering FluidIf you notice a growling or high pitched whining sound whenever you turn the steering wheel, you may find that the power steering fluid in your car is running a bit low. In the maintenance of your car, it is a good idea to regularly check your fluids to ensure the health of your car. Schedule a Service AppointmentHow Often Should You Check the Power Steering Fluid?Unfortunately, most people never think about the power steering fluid level until they experience a problem or they start to hear an unusual noise. By this time, damage, which can often be severe, may already have occurred to the power steering pump of the rack and pinion. By checking the power steering fluid level on a regular basis, you can easily avoid these problems.You should check your power steering fluid level, transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid levels every time you change the oil. At Proctor Honda our factory trained technicians take care of this, every time you bring your vehicle to us for service. This will give you the chance to see if these fluid levels are going down and to look for any signs of a leak. Bear in mind that some loss of fluid level is normal as they can evaporate over time.How Do I Check My Power Steering Fluid Level?The process of checking your power steering fluid level is relatively easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Start by parking your Honda on a flat surface and turning the engine off. To get the most accurate results you need to check the fluid level when the engine is cold. This is because like any other hydraulic fluid, power steering fluid tends to expand when hot, which will give you an inaccurate result.Locating the power steering fluid reservoir in the engine compartment is a matter of looking for a container that is clearly marked "Power Steering Fluid". The outside of the reservoir typically has a number of levels marked on the outside and is see through so you can verify the level.The level of the fluid should be somewhere between the "Low" mark and the "Full" mark. You can buy Honda approved power steering fluid in our Parts Department. As long as the level is above the low mark, you should be ok. If not, slowly add fluid to the reservoir to bring the level back up to just below the full mark. What if the Fluid Is Full and I Hear a Noise?If you hear a growling noise or the steering seems harder than normal to operate, it might be time to bring your Honda into the Service Department at Proctor Honda to have the power steering system flushed and fresh new fluid installed. In fact, if you look at the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, you will find this is part of the recommended service at specified intervals. There are four reasons to have your system flushed.Noisy power steeringHard to turn or sticky feeling when turning the steering wheelContaminated power steering fluid, typically black or brown in colorRecommended service interval reachedHaving this service performed can keep your power steering system from leaking or becoming damaged. Over the course of time the power steering fluid can become contaminated with dirt, oil, and debris from the pump, hoses, and the rack and pinion. All of these can cause damage to the internal parts and seals within the system and lead to expensive repairs.You can easily avoid these problems by checking the level and condition of your power steering fluid. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, please bring your Honda to our service department where one of our factory trained technicians will happily do the job for you.See More Blog PostsCheck Honda Service SpecialsProctor Honda2373 West Tennessee StreetTallahassee, FL 32304
