Power steering fluid is one of the most important fluids in your car. It helps move the steering wheel and change gears, so you can drive safely.
A power steering fluid leak can be an alarming sight. It’s hard to tell at first glance if the fluid is leaking, but it’s easy to find when you know where to look. So, what color is power steering fluid when it leaks?
A newly installed power steering fluid is red when it leaks but an old power steering fluid is brown or black when it leaks.
What Color is Power Steering Fluid When it Leaks?
When the power steering fluid leaks, it usually has a light amber color. This coloration may be a result of the presence of additives in the fluid that allow for better lubrication and cooling, or it could be because you’ve used too much oil.
Power steering fluid makes sure that all the hoses that run through, the pistons, the power steering pump, and all the valves are functioning properly.
If your power steering fluid is leaking from somewhere other than your power steering pump, you’ll want to check all hoses and seals for damage or cracks before replacing them with new ones.
Also power steering fluid leak color can be red, brown, or black depending on whether it’s new or has been in use for a long time.
How Do You Know if Your Power Steering Fluid is Leaking?
While you’re driving, if you start noticing that the steering wheel starts letting out strange noises while you’re trying to turn the wheel of your car to the left or right, that’s the first indication that the power steering fluid is leaking.
Also, when the power steering system begins to leak, you will find fluid on the floor of wherever your car is parked, the leak will be located underneath the engine of your car.
When you notice that your power steering fluid is leaking, you might need to take a look at your power steering fluid. You can do this by checking several things:
You might notice that the power steering pump also makes some noise while you turn on the ignition of your car.
This is because the power steering fluid that’s supposed to lubricate the power steering is not up to the required amount. After all, it’s leaking. You might also notice that the warning light on the dashboard will come on.
The steering wheel will also become stiff when the power steering fluid is leaking because this fluid is supposed to make the steering wheel turn seamlessly when the steering wheel is moved in any direction.
The reservoir of the power steering fluid should be the first place you’ll check. Look for leaks around the cap and lid of the tank. If there are any, make sure that they are replaced immediately.
The hoses connecting the power steering fluid to your car’s pump or steering gearbox are another place that you need to check when you notice a leak and you want to be sure if it’s the power steering fluid.
Make sure they’re not damaged and that any holes in them have been sealed up properly with duct tape or similar material so as not to allow air into your system when filling up again later on down the road.
What Causes Power Steering Fluid to Leak?
Power steering fluid leaks can be caused by several things;
The most common cause is a power steering pump that is leaking, when the seal that covers the power steering pump’s shaft is broken or worn out, it causes the power steering fluid to leak.
The power steering pump can also accidentally break by itself when the joint gasket gets very old or whenever it’s too loose. The fluid can leak from there over time.
There are two hoses in the power steering system, the return hose, and the pressure hose. Anyone of these hoses can crack when the seal gets loose or worn out. Whenever this happens you notice that your power steering hose is dripping.
Power steering fluid leaks can also be caused by worn-out gaskets in the pump, as well as other components that require regular maintenance to keep them working properly like the water pump.
When the power steering reservoir has been overfilled, the excess pressure that will be in the reservoir can cause the seal in the rack to blow up.
This is why the reservoir should not be filled beyond the line that has been marked as its maximum capacity. The power steering fluid can also leak when the shaft of the power steering rack gets bad.
Are All Power Steering Fluid Pink?
When you see pink fluid leaking from your power steering system, it can be a bit of a surprise.
Normally, most power steering manufacturers use red fluid and it’s this color of fluid that is used to fill the system and keep everything working smoothly in the power steering system.
However, some power steering fluid manufacturers have started making pink the new normal color of their power steering fluid instead of the commonly used red color.
This is because the pink fluid reduces the friction between the components within the transmission such as the clutch and the gear. This in turn reduces driveline wear.
What Color is Dirty Power Steering Fluid?
The power steering wheel is usually red or pink when it’s new as reiterated earlier, but when it gets dirty, the pink or red color would have turned into brown.
Sometimes, dirty power steering fluid doesn’t come as brown, it could be black colored and this doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is wrong with your car’s engine or the power steering.
It could be a result of how long you have used the power steering fluid that caused the difference in color.
Is Power Steering Fluid Supposed to be Brown?
Power steering fluid is usually red or pink in some cases and the only reason that your power steering fluid should be brown is that it has been used.
Used power steering oil that can be either black or brown and this is a sign that the power steering fluid needs to be changed.
What to Do if Power Steering Fluid is Leaking?
Once you notice that the power steering fluid of your car is leaking, there are a few things you can do but ultimately, you should drive down to a repair shop for a complete checkup.
First, you can try to change the power steering fluid, completely flush out the old one and replace it with a new one.
Another thing you should do is try to replace all the worn-out parts from the power steering and also tighten every loose nut.
Also, if you notice any holes in any part of the power steering, you should get a power steering stop leak product to fill up the holes and prevent any further leakage.
Conclusion
You should be able to tell if your power steering fluid is leaking by looking at it. If you can see pink fluid on the bottom of your vehicle’s reservoir, then it’s time to call a mechanic.