Power steering

2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
150,000 MILES • V6 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
PEEKJAMES4@GMAIL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Whenever I start my vehicle in cold weather, the power steering squeals and takes a long time to be able to steer. The power steering reservoir is full. What is happening and how can it be fixed?
Jan 2, 2018 at 4:33 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
STEVE W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 15,113 POSTS
That is because the power steering fluid gets thick like a grease when it gets very cold. That fluid does not move very well until it heats up. Your car uses PSF-3 which is a conventional oil. The newer fluid they use is PSF-4 which is a synthetic. But in order to use the -4 in your car (which is actually a TSB to correct stiff cold weather steering) you need to drain/remove as much of the -3 as possible and then you can refill with the -4. Oh and you can usually buy the OEM PSF-4 cheaper at a Kia dealer.
Jan 2, 2018 at 5:18 PM