Does power steering fluid need the odd top up ?

Outkast_IRE

Coming up on nearly a year since last service and i see the power steering fluid is only a small bit above the minimum line when engine is off .

Its a 01 ford focus , i have never needed to top this up before and the level hasnt moved from there really in the last week , is it normal to need the odd top up for this fluid ?

And i suppose a Ford dealer is prob the best to buy some of it to top up ?

It's a closed system, shouldn't need topping up, quite likely leaking somewhere.

Outkast_IRE

how would anyone rate a product like this, as i said its very likely the leak is small as the level of the resevoir is incredibly slow in falling.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_201091_langId_-1_categoryId_212351#dtab

corktina

some models you check with the fluid hot and the engine running

Outkast_IRE

corktina wrote: »

some models you check with the fluid hot and the engine running

Afraid not , on the resevoir on the car is marked MAX, MIN and cold level , the cold level sitting in the middle between max and min.

When cold its a small bit above min line . Might get some fluid from dealer tommorow and get the leak stop stuff from halfords and see what happens.

Matt Simis

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

how would anyone rate a product like this, as i said its very likely the leak is small as the level of the resevoir is incredibly slow in falling.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_201091_langId_-1_categoryId_212351#dtab

Make sure its suitable for your Power Steering system. IMO there isnt really a "power steering fluid" standard. Some use CHF7 or 11s (not mixable), some CHF202 (mixable with 11s), some ATF (of which there are dozens of types), some use what is called Power Steering Fluid etc.

Most of these are not mixable and you f_ck up your system if you do mix them.

colm_mcm

Focus of that generation had problems with leaking racks, or pumps, can't remember, either way get it checked,

Outkast_IRE

Matt Simis wrote: »

Make sure its suitable for your Power Steering system. IMO there isnt really a "power steering fluid" standard. Some use CHF7 or 11s (not mixable), some CHF202 (mixable with 11s), some ATF (of which there are dozens of types), some use what is called Power Steering Fluid etc.

Most of these are not mixable and you f_ck up your system if you do mix them.

well it says its suitable for all Ford sepcifications , so id say im safe enough .

corktina

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Afraid not , on the resevoir on the car is marked MAX, MIN and cold level , the cold level sitting in the middle between max and min.

When cold its a small bit above min line . Might get some fluid from dealer tommorow and get the leak stop stuff from halfords and see what happens.

so its just a little down from the cold mark then....what level does it show when hot?

Outkast_IRE

corktina wrote: »

so its just a little down from the cold mark then....what level does it show when hot?

Havent checked what the level is at when hot , but i know from keeping an eye on fluid level thats its defo always at the COLD line , now its just above MIN line , thats bout 3/4 of a inch level drop.

Outkast_IRE

Actually doing more research results are mixed at best, the car is coming up to its due service date , and its time for a timing belt replacement so would i be right in thinking checking out the power steering would be handy to be done at same time ??

Also would i be safe topping up for a week or something?

Outkast_IRE

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

............

Also would i be safe topping up for a week or something?

Most definitely top it up to the required level anyway

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

Most definitely top it up to the required level anyway

Will do some investigation during the week and trace the hoses and check as many joints etc as i can , it will be interesting to see how long it stays topped up as if its a leak its a really bloody slow one , as far as i can tell the level is still at the same point as it was 6 hours ago.

Outkast_IRE

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

...........Will do some investigation during the week and trace the hoses and check as many joints etc as i can , it will be interesting to see how long it stays topped up as if its a leak its a really bloody slow one , as far as i can tell the level is still at the same point as it was 6 hours ago.

6 hours of sitting on the drive or 6 hours of driving?
It might only leak when the fluid is being pumped around.

mickdw

I'd only use leak stop if its leaking a lot as a last resort. It swells seals and might not do the system any good

OldmanMondeo

You know that the fluid should be replace every so often. I found out the hard way, go fluid changed too late, either the rack or pump was damaged.

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

6 hours of sitting on the drive or 6 hours of driving?
It might only leak when the fluid is being pumped around.

In the drive will be driving it later and will check in the morning for any change, i suppose ford dealers is the handiest to get the fluid ?

Outkast_IRE

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

........... i suppose ford dealers is the handiest to get the fluid ?

If a factors was closer to you than a ford dealers I'd go to a factors tbh.

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

If a factors was closer to you than a ford dealers I'd go to a factors tbh.

ok i got the details from the book , it says to only get, Ford automatic transmission fluid to spec WSA-M2C 195A

Id imagine its a common enough product with the amount of Focus on the road.