# P/S Fluid

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 10, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700 "2009-06-10T20:18:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700/1 "2009-06-10T20:18:58Z")

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Does power steering fluid ever actually need to be changed? Yes I know, the owner’s manual maintenance schedule does not have it listed.  
  
  
  
 It is a hydraulic fluid just like transmission fluid right? So isn’t it just as susceptible to breakdown / contamination?  
  
  
  
 Just curious.  
  
  
  
 jmw

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700/2 "2009-06-10T20:32:08Z")

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Exactly!

Tester

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700/3 "2009-06-10T20:33:48Z")

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It has less stress imposed on it than transmission fluid, therefore lasts longer.

Yes, I would change it every 60,000-70,000- miles or so or when any work is done on my steering system. It’s important to check the level regularly, since many systems develop small leaks that may go unnoticed.

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700/4 "2009-06-10T21:40:18Z")

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I don’t think it gets as hot as fluid in the transmission. Note that at least some auto manufacturers specify the same fluid as used in the transmissions

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/p-s-fluid/31700/5 "2009-06-10T21:54:10Z")

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Every 100,000 miles, maybe, but it’s under far less stress/heat than the transmission fluid.