If your steering has started feeling heavier than usual or you've noticed a whine when you turn the wheel, ageing power steering fluid is often the cause. Fortunately, it's a straightforward job for a local garage to sort.
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Power steering fluid is the hydraulic fluid that lets you turn the wheel with so little effort. It carries pressure from the power steering pump through to the steering rack, which is what takes the strain out of parking and other low speed manoeuvres.
Over time, that fluid picks up heat, moisture and wear particles from the system and it gradually loses its ability to do that job as well as it should.
As a general rule, it's worth having the fluid looked at whenever you're in for a service, and definitely if you're noticing any of the warning signs listed below.
However, there isn't one fixed mileage or age that applies to every car. It genuinely depends on your make and model, so your owner's handbook is the best place to check what your manufacturer recommends.
Not quite, and it's worth knowing the difference before you book anything.
A top-up simply adds fluid to bring the reservoir back to the right level, which is fine if it's only slightly low and still looks clean. A fluid change goes further, draining out the old fluid and replacing it with fresh power steering fluid. A flush is the most thorough option: it circulates new fluid all the way through the pump, hoses and steering rack to clear out fluid that's contaminated or has never been changed, rather than just what sits in the reservoir.
A full flush also involves bleeding air out of the system afterwards, since any air trapped in the hydraulic lines can leave the steering feeling spongy or inconsistent. It's a job that calls for the right equipment and a bit of know-how to do properly and cleanly, which is exactly the kind of task most drivers are happy to leave to a garage rather than tackle themselves.
As a general rule of thumb, a power steering fluid change should cost between £39 to £80, on average, and depending on your car's make and model.
You should treat that purely as a rough indication rather than what you'd pay through us, since your actual cost will depend on your vehicle make and model where you live in the UK and the garage you choose.
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A power steering system rarely fails without warning. These are the signs worth acting on before a simple fluid change turns into something bigger:
Stiff or heavy steering, particularly at low speed or when parking
A whining or groaning noise when turning, especially at full lock
Power steering fluid that looks dark, dirty or low in the reservoir
A squeal on start-up that fades as you drive
None of these on their own means something serious is wrong, but they're all reasons to get your fluid checked sooner rather than later. Steering is also assessed as part of every MOT test under the DVSA's MOT inspection manual, so keeping on top of it matters more than just day-to-day comfort behind the wheel.
If what you're dealing with sounds more like a fluid leak or a more serious repair, for example a loss of power assist or a mechanical noise that doesn't ease off, compare power steering repairs quotes instead.
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