How to Check the Power Steering Fluid in a Chevy Silverado
by Jule PamplinChevy Silverado owners who experience steering difficulties may discover that the culprit is a less than ideal level of power steering fluid. A power steering system that does not have an adequate level of power steering fluid will be revealed by one of a couple of symptoms: A knocking sound from the power steering pump is one indicator that the power steering system is not adequately supplied with fluid; but the most noticeable symptom of a fluid deficiency is the difficulty in steering the vehicle at slower speeds.
Step 1
Lift the hood of the Chevy Silverado. The hood release switch is located in the foot-well, just below the dashboard, in the driver's side of the cabin.
Step 2
Start the engine. Allow the truck to idle for five minutes. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and then to the left.
Step 3
Remove the power steering fluid cap, located on the right side of the engine, just behind the serpentine belt.
Step 4
Clean the dip-stick attached to the lid with a towel. Replace the cap onto the power steering fluid reservoir.
Step 5
Remove the cap and read the level on the dip-stick. Two lines will be marked on the dip-stick; the lower line is for a reading for when the engine is cold (meaning it has not been running for more than 20 minutes within the last four hours). The line closer to the cap lid is the "hot" line. The fluid line should be at or above the "hot/full" line on the dip-stick.
Step 6
Fill the Silverado power steering fluid reservoir if the dip-stick shows that the fluid level is lower than the "hot/full" line. Close the hood.
References
Tips
- Chevrolet recommends checking the power steering fluid every other time you have your engine oil changed. If you hear a "squeal" when turning the wheel, this may be an indication of a worn serpentine belt slipping on the power steering pump pulley wheel.
Things You'll Need
- Clean towel
- GM power steering fluid
Writer Bio
Jule Pamplin has been a copywriter for more than seven years. As a financial sales consultant, Pamplin produced sales copy for two of the largest banks in the United States. He attended Carnegie-Mellon University, winning a meritorious scholarship for the Careers in Applied Science and Technology program, and later served in the 1st Tank Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps.
