Power Steering Fluid Leak

• Overflow
• Power Steering Pump
• Power Steering Fluid
• Fittings and Hoses

If you happen to find an unexpected leak of your power steering fluid, you might want to do something about it, and soon. Failing to do so will affect the maneuverability of your automobile, and can cause a lot of problems while driving. In order to avoid any mishaps due to this, it is imperative for you to locate and fix the cause of the leak.

A majority of the population will have absolutely no clue about where the aforementioned leak can be found, as they are not very familiar with the various car parts.

If you do not carry out your power steering fluid changes on your own, in all likelihood, you are not aware of the location of the chamber. If that is the case, you wouldn't want to waste your time trying to locate it and experiment. Simply visit a mechanic who knows his way around, and he will stop the leakage in no time.

As far as vehicles are concerned, we often try to conjure up remedies for problems that don't even exist. The minute we see some drops of oil on the ground, we assume the worst, and fear that the entire engine is about to collapse.

In most cases, the leakage is simply caused by overflowing. This is not to reprimand the intelligence and auto-related endeavors of car lovers out there, but sometimes we do tend to overlook the simplest of solutions.

Take out your car manual and check the adequate level of fluid that is required. When the fluid is cold, its level appears lower. But when it heats up the level rises, so maybe you or your mechanic accidentally overfilled the reservoir, and that is causing the leakage to occur.

As a solution you can just fill up the chamber with fluid till the desired level, or remove some fluid if it has exceeded the recommended level, and keep an eye out for leakage in the future.

Now, if you're absolutely certain that your power steering fluid is leaking, you might want to fix it right away. The worst thing that can happen to you is that, your power steering pump itself might turn out to be defective.

Power Steering Pump is the device where the hydraulic boost is generated. This, in turn, is channeled to the steering gear, which is the mechanism that makes your front wheels move.Thus, this pump enables you to turn the steering wheel smoothly. If the pump is defective, you might not notice it when the car is moving, as moving tires need minimal steering.

But when it is time for you to park your vehicle, you will need to be prepared for a tremendous upper body workout and the noise that will accompany this mammoth task could range from a mere annoyance to a loud screech.

A fluid leakage could be the cause behind this faulty pump. Consult a mechanic to get this problem fixed. He will assess the damage and recommend specific actions to be taken.

Many a time, it so happens that the leakage is caused by adulterated power steering fluid. If the fluid is not of the required quality, it may damage your pump and spoil the entire mechanism.

You must be wary about where you purchase this fluid from, and must ensure that you buy the best possible fluid available in the market.

The fluid is like nutrition to your car, so you definitely don't want to compromise on the quality here. If you notice anything strange about the fluid color, report the offense immediately and return the fluid to the dealer you bought it from.

If you are still unable to locate the source of the fluid leakage, open the hood of your car and run your finger along the fittings and hoses that are connected to the power steering pump. If there is a hole in one of these pipes that is causing the leakage, you should be able to find it.

Also inspect the rubber boots that are found in the area between the ends of the steering gear mechanism and the assembly, and the arms which link the wheels to the assembly.

Any wet spots that you find along the length of these parts could point to a fluid leakage at that particular spot. You can even use a car jack and raise the car to have a better look under the assembly in order to detect the source of the leakage.

There are many instances where such a leakage of power steering fluid goes unnoticed, so you need to monitor your car on a regular basis. If there is a recurring problem of oil leakage, you need to visit a mechanic and get a thorough car checkup done. If left untreated, this problem could cause a lot of trouble for your car in the future.

Proper and timely maintenance, along with little checks every now and then will keep your car running smoothly and efficiently for longer.