The car drives fine. I noticed someone's power steering reservoir was empty, the drive way was up slope so need to check again the dipstick said it was towards under the low level.
I rarely hear people in general buying brake or power steering fluid. If they do, they tend to buy only engine oil and they top up the radiator with water. Some people also don't pay for a service but just for a WOF so the mechanic might not bother to check the fluids.
Provided the 2nd hand car at the caryard or as it was imported the fluids was topped up. If a person bought a car and used it for 5 or 10yrs and didn't check those fluids how much would it consume?
The only unit requiring fluid in a vehicle that should be "consuming" fluid is maybe the engine itself, in all other cases the apparent consumption is happening because of a leak, even if this is happening only very slowly, however the brake fluid level will go down slowly as the brake linings wear. The power steer and brake fluid IS required to be checked during a WoF and supposed to be failed if it is too low, any brake fluid leaks at all are instant failure, as are any significant leaks from the steering hydraulics. What constitutes a significant leak in a power steer system is a matter of interpretation, the system should only ever require minimal topping up during services, but there has to be a leak for it to be going down.
dublo,
Aug 6, 5:38am
But fluids don't last forever: advice I received was to change power steering fluid every 10 years, same for diff and gearbox oils, auto transmission fluids when it says in the book, brake fluid and coolants every 2-3 years, and of course engine oil and filter annually or 10000 kms whichever come first.
kazbanz,
Aug 7, 6:51am
Other than engine oil a vehicle shouldn't consume any fluids. But after 10 years the brake fluid should have been changed, Radiator fluid most likely would have been changed to do the water pump or radiator. tranz fluid should have been changed.
tony9,
Aug 7, 9:48am
In many cars, if the power steering fluid is cold it will be towards the low level.
rayonline_tm,
Nov 1, 12:43pm
That might had been the case. :) After a drive back checked it on a flat section it was maybe 1mm under the low level. Added a splash of fluid.
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