What Is the Purpose of Power Steering Fluid?

     Power steering fluid is an integral component of a vehicle's power steering pump          operation. Power steering fluid is housed in the power steering pump reservoir, and      it  performs a variety of functions.

 

Lubricate Power Steering Pump

• One of the main purposes of power steering fluid is to lubricate the power steering pump unit, the housing reservoir that stores a vehicle's power steering fluid. It also serves to pressurize power steering fluid and propel it through the entire power steering system.

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Lubricate Power Steering Gear Unit

• Along with lubricating a vehicle's power steering pump unit, power steering fluid performs another vital power steering system function: lubricating the power steering gear unit. The power steering gear unit is the part of a power steering system that meshes with the vehicle steering rod mechanism that ultimately moves a vehicle's front tires.

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Provide Hydraulic Pressure

• Power steering fluid, after being pressurized and pumped by the power steering pump, flows throughout a vehicle's power steering system, providing the hydraulic, or fluid, pressure necessary to operate the mechanical components of a power steering system.

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Reduce Power Steering System Friction

• Power steering fluid serves to lubricate and oil the mechanical parts of a power steering system. Like any other mechanical system with numerous meshing parts, a power steering system has many linking parts that work together and ultimately cause friction. Power steering fluid helps to minimize this friction, which in turn lessens power steering system wear.

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Reduce Power Steering System Temperature

• Along with lubricating a power steering system, power steering fluid serves to reduce the operating temperatures of the power steering gear unit and power steering pump, two of the more critical, heat-producing parts of a power steering system.