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There are a number of different signs that your power steering system is developing issues. Most people have heard a key sound that becomes present when your power steering system has developed an issue, and that is a moaning sound under coming from under the hood when the steering wheel is turned side to side. That noise is the most telling sign of a power steering system that is failing. The reason for the noise is normally due to air being in the system and the hydraulic power steering pump cavitating, causing a mixture of both air and fluid to be pushed through the power steering system.
There are a number of different signs you need to change the power steering fluid in your vehicle. Just like any fluid in your vehicle, the power steering fluid has a lifespan. With all vehicle fluid lifespans, you should always start by checking for OEM recommendations. These recommendations can often be found in the vehicle's owner's manual.
Knowing when it’s time to change your power steering fluid is key to maintaining both performance and reducing the likelihood of a premature part failure. Like all fluids in your vehicle, power steering fluid has a life span. OEM’s will often not indicate the power steering fluid’s lifespan. This is in order to reduce the cost of ownership; however, often times the OEM will only warranty power steering system parts for very limited time and mileage. So, in order to maximize the life of your power steering components, it is recommended to change power steering fluid based on a couple of different factors.
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The color of the fluid is usually the best giveaway as to its condition. Normally, power steering fluid has a dark red color. Some power steering fluids are clear, so this trick won't always work, but for the fluids that are red, the color is not natural and is added by the manufacturer. Since the color is not natural, it will have a tendency to break down over time. It will also separate where the dye will sink to the bottom of the fluid. So, if the color of the fluid is different from when you purchased it, that is a clear indication that the fluid is no longer good and should be disposed of.
If determining whether or not the fluid is still good through color is impossible, you can also go off a base of two years from date of purchase. Power steering fluid - like anything - will break down over time. When purchasing the fluid, if there is no expiration date on it, it is difficult to determine how long it has been sitting on the store shelf in addition to how long it might be sitting on your work bench shelf. By utilizing a baseline of two years from date of purchase, you can be fairly confident the fluid is still usable. That does not mean you should still not inspect for any separation or changes to the viscosity or color. When determining whether your fluid is good solely based on age, it is important to pay attention to any other changes in the fluid. Should you notice any changes, it is best to just discard the fluid.
We hope you now have a better understanding of how long your power steering fluid will last once opened. We like to consider ourselves the experts when it comes power steering coolers. If you have any power steering cooler questions, please connect with our technicians in our Ask the Experts forum.
Power Steering Q & A > How Hard? > How Long Does Power Steering Fluid Last Once Opened?
How Long Does Power Steering Fluid Last Once Opened
Power steering fluid like all things has a shelf life. That shelf life will be determined by a couple of factors like temperature and humidity. Most of the time a bottle will have an expiration date posted. In the off chance that the expiration date is not visible, you can determine if the fluid is still usable a couple of different ways.
