How Long Can You Drive Without Power Steering Fluid? [ Answered ]

Power steering fluid is the liquid that allows the drivers to turn the car steering with one hand, and it is entirely based on hydraulics principles. Once the fluid of power steering is emptied, you will face difficulties turning your vehicle’s steering with the required force. If you continue driving the car with an emptied steering liquid, you will face worse situations on the road and face problems in driving the vehicle. Therefore, always look to fill the steering fluid whenever you face issues in rotating your car steering smoothly.

Driving your car for an extended span without the power steering liquid can create severe problems for the car. Majorly, it can damage the vehicle’s pump. However, nothing can prevent you from driving your vehicle with the power steering fluid leak. Once the level of the liquid lowers, the pump gets damaged. It creates increased heat and friction within the vehicle that can quickly damage the car, and it might also be expensive. You might require some extra torque to steer your wheel without the power steering liquid since you will experience resistance in your hand.

How long can you drive without a power steering fluid?

The primary cause of low power steering liquid in your car should be the age of the vehicle and its extended use. As your vehicle reaches higher mileage and becomes old, the fluid inside the power steering pump begins to dry up very quickly. Consequently, it also empties the lubricating liquid of your vehicle. Ultimately, the pump vanes start producing heat due to the absence of the lubrication fluid, and the car finally breaks down. Moreover, if the car’s pump locks down, it might also damage the drive belt of your vehicle’s power steering. The rack seal and the shaft of your vehicle might also suffer an injury due to the absence of power steering fluid in your vehicle. Even if you wish to drive your car without power steering fluid, there will be no issue. All is that you will require some extra force to turn your car steering. If the pump gets damaged, repairing them might be costly. So, if you feel that the power steering fluid of your car is drying up, take your car to the mechanic and assess the problem soon.

What happens if you drive without a power steering fluid?

There might be several problems in your car if you try to drive your vehicle without power steering fluid.

1. A small leak in your car will get bigger

The power steering liquid inside your car is not made in a way to leak. It means that if you see the fluid leaking in your car, it might be the beginning of any significant problem in your car. A small power steering liquid leak is not a big problem. But if the issue is not solved quickly, it might worsen over time. If the leak gets more prominent over time, your car will lose the fluid very quickly, and the pump will dry up very soon.

2. It might affect the driving quality of your vehicle

While most old cars do not possess power steering, that does not mean that you will drive your power steering assisted car without the fluid. When the fluid of your power steering car begins to leak, you will feel problems rotating the steering wheel, and it will feel harder. The problem is aggravated when you drive your vehicle at a low speed, and you will feel the pain while taking a slight turn.

3. Cause damage to the power steering pump of your vehicle

While the absence of power steering fluid in your car will not keep you stranded on the road, the power steering pump dries up quickly if the level falls quickly. It might lead to a pricey repair of your vehicle due to your car’s generation of heat and friction. If you wish to drive your car without power steering fluid, you should avoid taking sharp right and left turns on the road. Or else, get your vehicle assessed very quickly to solve the problems so that you face no hassle in the future.

Is power steering fluid necessary?

Power steering fluid is essential for your car as it keeps your trucks and cars running. As the name suggests, the liquid allows you to turn the steering smoothly without facing any problems on the road. The vehicle’s power steering fluid also keeps the valves, pistons, hoses, and the pump working at the optimum levels. Things will get distorted and start falling apart quickly without the fluid inside your vehicle. The fluid also keeps the energy flow running within the vehicle. It might not be a forefront while sending your car for maintenance, but the fluid is essential to keep your car running correctly. You will find symptoms like your vehicle causing Noise or different sounds, and you struggle to steer your car. Whenever you see such signs, take your car for maintenance within a short time.

Signs of a bad power steering pump

The power steering pump of your vehicle needs to apply accurate pressure on the wheels so that it turns smoothly. However, some signs might indicate that the power steering pump of your car is getting damaged at a quick rate.

1. Foul Noise while turning the steering wheel

When you hear a foul noise while turning your vehicle’s steering, it might mean that there is some problem occurring within the car’s power steering system. You might have a low-level liquid or damage to the power steering pump. If the fluid is negatively long for a long phase, the power steering system might get damaged.

2. Slow and stiff responding to your car steering

Whenever you try to rotate the steering and see that the wheel is not responding correctly, it might mean that the power steering pump of your car is failing. A stiff steering wheel might be a significant symptom of your power steering pump failing.

3. A squealing noise while starting the engine

When a faulty power steering system is present in your car, it might create a squealing noise while starting the vehicle, and it might happen for some minutes after starting the car.

4. Symbols of red-brown puddles below the car

If you see a red-brown puddle below the car, you can realize that the power steering pump is cracked and leaking.

In any of these situations, you might take your car to the mechanic for assessment. All the points mentioned above are signs of a faulty steering pump.

What to do when the power steering fluid is leaking?

There might be several options to fix power steering fluid leaks.

1. Clean or flush the power steering

Dirt or debris might be a significant cause of the power steering pump leaks. Therefore, flushing the power steering fluid is the best option to get all the debris and dirt removed with ease. It might take a few minutes to hours to make this process a success, and it might also help you when you need an immediate solution with your power steering fluid.

2. Replace the worn-out parts

If you find worn out or loose parts like the hoses, the best option is to tighten or lose the nuts based on the situation. You should also replace the parts that are non-functional in your car. You should also choose to replace the old hoses with the newer ones. You should also decide to replace the power steering fluid circuit in such a case.

3. Put the power steering leak stop

If you find any holes around the power steering box, you might have to put a stop leak in that area to prevent the leaks. Contacting a professional mechanic to perform this process is better if you are not habituated.

What is the cost of fixing a power steering leak?

It costs a few bucks to get your power steering leak fixed. The average price of getting a power steering leak fixed is 100 to 220 dollars. The entire cost needs manual labor. However, as stated, the cost might also vary based on the location and the type of work required in the vehicle. However, since the problem is very uncommon, it is difficult to compare the expenditure of fixing a power steering leak to the cost of any other issues in the car.

Final Words

The leak in the power steering fluid of your car is a significant problem that should not make you deserted on the road. The outcome of such a problem might go unnoticed, but it can be hectic in the long run. Therefore, it is best to rectify the issue before any chaos occurs.

The power steering liquid leak can be fixed quickly if you know how to do so. You should not consider such a problem for granted. The best option is to tackle the problem once addressed instead of waiting to get the situation escalated. Always keep in mind that it is always cheaper to bring an issue fixed at the initial stages.