Power steering fluid is the unsung hero of the steering system of your car. Think about it – with only one hand, you can steer a vehicle weighing 3,000 pounds in circles or, depending on how good of a driver you are, into that last available parallel parking space you found.

This maneuverability is brought to you courtesy of the hydraulics of your power steering system. In that system, pressurized power steering fluid gets squeezed and pumped around, moving levels and all sorts of things the average car owner doesn’t care to understand in order to move the actual wheels of the car.

As with any sealed system, the power steering system has – well – seals. And gaskets. And eventually, these begin to wear down. Bits of detritus begin to contaminate the power steering fluid, so that the pump has to work harder to pump the trash-bearing power steering fluid. Eventually, the pump wears out and has to be replaced and then you’re looking at the big bucks.

Checking your power steering fluid regularly can help you two ways. First, you can make sure there’s enough power steering fluid in the system to keep things working well. Second, you can make sure the power steering fluid is clean and that the system as a whole doesn’t need some preventative maintenance.

To find out where your power steering fluid reservoir is, consult your owner’s manual. Don’t have a manual? Check your car manufacturer’s website – they probably have the information you need online. Once you know where to find the reservoir, see if the manual recommends checking the engine cold, hot or both.

To check the fluid level, locate the reservoir on your car. If the reservoir is clear, there will be fill level lines on the reservoir itself. See how the fluid level measures up. If the reservoir isn’t clear, look for a dipstick under the cap. This next bit goes just like checking your oil. Remove the cap and dipstick and then wipe the dipstick on a clean rag or paper towel. Reinsert the dipstick. Remove it after a moment and read the level.

Power steering fluid shouldn’t be cloudy and it shouldn’t have bits of black stuff in it. If it does, it’s probably time to have the steering system checked more thoroughly. If the fluid looks fine but the level is a little low, purchase the type of power steering fluid recommended by your car manufacturer and add it – you may also need a funnel to avoid spilling the fluid.

However, there are some power steering systems that are “sealed” – should only be checked by a mechanic. If you have one of these types of cars, your owner’s manual will let you know.

If you notice that your car makes a noise when you turn the steering wheel sharply, it’s probably a good idea to ask a mechanic to look at your car’s steering system. As with most car systems, problems caught early are usually much less expensive to repair than problems caught later.