How Much Power Steering Fluid Do I Need?

Power steering fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid that helps build pressure in your drive system. 

What Is Power Steering Fluid?

In older vehicles, turning the car wheel could be quite a physical challenge — particularly while stationary — as the driver had to heave the large mechanisms that allowed for turning using their own strength. Power steering was developed to take away the strain of turning. 

As you turn the wheel, the force you exert on it builds pressure in the hydraulic fluid system, which transfers more energy with less effort, making it much easier to control your vehicle with a light touch. Hydraulic systems are often used in other mechanical objects, like aeroplanes, making it easy for pilots to manoeuvre huge machines.  

Topping up Power Steering Fluid

There are a number of telltale signs that your power steering fluid needs topping up. Your steering may be firmer and more difficult to handle than usual. There may be a squeaking or squealing noise when you turn, or you may feel some unusual vibrations in your wheel as you drive. 

You can check the current levels of power steering fluid by accessing the reservoir under the bonnet. If low, it’s time to top up! You can easily do this yourself — this guide will go into further detail as to how. 

It’s important to note that a power steering top up is very different from replacing power steering fluid, otherwise known as “flushing”. Flushing requires the power steering fluid to be drained from the vehicle. The entire system washed out, then the new fluid is added. For those with mechanical knowledge and experience, it is possible to flush a system at home. However, it’s not an easy task and should not be carried out unless the individual performing the power steering flush knows exactly what they are doing. 

Some manufacturers will recommend you have your power steering flushed replaced (not topped up) every 60,000 miles or so. If you’ve come up to this milestone, make sure you follow the correct procedure and do not simply adding more fluid to the old. If you’re not comfortable flushing your power steering, get it done as part of your next service. 

How Much Power Steering Fluid Does My Car Need?

There is no set volume of fluid for power steering systems; each car model will have its own unique requirements. However, the identification of fluid volume can be a little tricker than you might expect. 

Many cars will have either a transparent fluid container or a dipstick. Either way, you can see your min and max volume. The difficulty here is that cold fluid has a lesser volume than warm fluid. So, once the engine has been running, the liquid will expand. 

If you were to fill your car to near max with cold fluid, it would likely spill over when warm. The best option for min/max power steering tanks is to fill above the min mark, turn the engine on (after closing the cap) and monitor how far the fluid rises after the car has warmed up. You can then add more fluid incrementally until reaching an acceptable level between min and max. 

On some vehicles, there will be a hot/cold marking, which is incredibly helpful. You simply need to fill up to the cold marking. 

Another important detail when adding and changing power steering fluid is that you should always idle your car, then turn your steering wheel full lock to both the left and right. This will ensure that all the new fluid is pumped the entire way around the power steering system. If you don’t follow this step, you may find you haven’t put in enough fluid. This step is particularly important if you are changing your power steering fluid, rather than simply topping up. 

As for how much you’ll need to buy, a one-litre bottle will be sufficient for topping up, while you’ll want about two litres for a flush. 

Where Is the Power Steering Fluid Reservoir? 

The power steering reservoir is identifiable by its filler cap, marked with the symbol of a steering wheel. This symbol may be an obvious steering wheel or a circle with two curved lines on either side. Typically, the symbol will be found on a black screw cap, with the symbol itself printed in yellow.

What If I Don’t Put in Enough Power Steering Fluid?

An insufficient amount of power steering fluid in your vehicle can lead to damage to the power steering pump. Without enough liquid, there will be an increase in friction, which increases heat damage and wear and tear. Over time, this can destroy your power steering unit, requiring expensive repairs. The cost of a power steering pump alone can be around £150-£500. Add on the extras for any damage to seals and hydraulic pipes — and the cost of labour — and you can be looking at a final bill of well over £1000.

What Happens If I Overfill My Power Steering? 

Overfilling your power steering system will not cause any direct damage to the steering system, but it can have other consequences for your car. As the power steering fluid heats up with use, it will expand. Excess fluid in the system will simply rise and leak out of the filler cap. 

This means it will get into your engine bay.

The best-case scenario here is that it creates an almighty mess. Worse scenarios include the fluid getting into your belts, which can result in them slipping and getting damaged; even destroyed. The worst thing that can happen is the fluid gets into hot elements of the engine like the exhaust manifold, causing a fire. 

How Do I Know Which Power Steering Fluid to Buy?

There are two ways to find out which kind of power steering fluid your car will need: 

1. The easiest and quickest way is through your owner’s manual, which will contain information about the exact type of power steering fluid you need. If you cannot find this information or cannot find your owner’s manual, there is another way. 
2. You can check under the hood for the power steering filler cap. This will also have the information about which power steering fluid you’ll need.

Another option for finding the kind of power steering fluid you need is to use the YMF Car Parts online parts checker. Enter your registration and you’ll be able to filter through all the different parts and supplies that are a match for your vehicle. 

Where to Buy Power Steering Fluid

YMF Car Parts supplies a range of steering fluids for all kinds of vehicles. Simply enter your registration and we’ll let you know if we have what you need in stock! Order quickly and easily from trusted automotive retailers — we’re industry-leading suppliers for car owners and commercial garages and mechanics. We offer free delivery on all orders over £30, or you can click and collect from one of our six local pick-up centres! 

Important Information about Your Power Steering Fluid

Power steering fluid is an essential element of many modern cars. Incorrect management of power steering fluid can lead to serious consequences. It can damage your vehicle, including the power steering pump and brakes, resulting in the need for major repairs ranging into the hundreds, even low thousands of pounds.  

If you are not confident you’re doing the job properly, then it’s recommended that you leave it to a professional. It may be more expensive than buying the power steering fluid yourself, but if this isn’t a job you’re comfortable in performing, it’s not worth the risk. 

Another critical consideration is thinking about why your power steering fluid is low. Over time, small amounts can leak through general wear and tear, but if it's a repeated issue, this is likely a sign of serious failure of seals and bonds inside the power steering unit that need to be replaced. 

Whatever car repairs and maintenance you’re carrying out  — from topping up or replacing power steering fluid to a bit of car detailing — YMF Car Parts stocks everything you need. With over 50 years experience, excellent customer service, free deliveries over £30, and our live chat feature (available from 8 am to 5 pm), there’s nowhere better to shop for your car products.