As the name implies, power steering fluid is the hydraulic fluid instrumental in the steering system to create a hydraulic link between the steering wheel and the front wheels.
This simply means that it decreases the amount of effort required to turn the wheels. The fluid also helps to lubricate the moving parts within the steering system and suppresses foaming, and prevents corrosion in the power steering gear and steering pump.
From the above paragraph, one can understand the importance of power steering fluids to our cars. But is power steering fluid flammable? Can power steering fluid catch fire?
Well, power steering fluid is not flammable. While it will burn if it gets hot enough, it is generally not classified as a flammable liquid because it has a flashpoint about 400°F.
Let’s dive into the basic properties of the power steering fluid and its level of flammability.
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Is Power Steering Fluid Flammable?
Some time back, a certain car manufacturer recalled cars back due to possible leaks. This, however, led to questions like, is power steering fluid flammable? Many car enthusiasts and drivers were thus interested in the answer to this question.
Under the right circumstances and temperature, the power steering fluid can be flammable. But generally, the power steering fluid is not a considered flammable oil.
This assertion is, however, debatable. Many persons believe that the transmission fluid is more of combustible liquid instead of flammable and thus can easily catch fire.
Conclusively, the primary factor in determining the flammability of fluid is if its flashpoint is lower than its boiling point.
The power steering fluid flashpoint is at 300-500-degrees Fahrenheit is lower than its boiling point, which is around 600-700-degrees Fahrenheit. This simply means the power steering fluid is not a flammable liquid, even though it can catch fire.
When compared to other oils in your like gasoline, which is highly flammable, we realized that the least of your worries shouldn’t be on the flammability of your power steering oil. This doesn’t in any way translates to being careless about power steering fluid.
What Does Power Steering Fluid Do?
The fluid is instrumental to the working of the car’s steering. Below is an outline of how the oil is applied and used:
- Creates a link between the steering wheel: as a hydraulic link, it decreases the amount of effort required to turn the wheels.
- It lubricates the moving parts within the steering system: just like most fluids that reduce friction, the power steering oil is no different.
- it helps the vehicle work optimally by suppressing foaming and preventing corrosion in the power steering gear and steering pump.
What Are the Chances of Power Steering Fluid Catching Fire?
Other essential oils in your car, such as gasoline, will catch fire before your power steering oil. This simply means that the oil is not highly flammable since its flashing point (300-500-degrees Fahrenheit) is lower than its boiling point, around 600-700-degrees Fahrenheit.
What Happens When Power Steering Oil Evaporate?
Like most oils, power steering oil can evaporate, which thus answers the question, can power steering fluid evaporate?
This births another question, what happens when the oil evaporates? At its highest flashpoint – that is around 500-degrees Fahrenheit, the oil can light automatically.
This can only occur when the environment is too hot, which means that it is pretty rare for the power steering fluid to be the first cause of a fire. Instead, it can be a secondary cause because the environment is too hot.
For safety precautions, it is recommended that power steering oil leaks should be fixed immediately! You don’t want a fire hazard, especially if the oil comes to contact with hot car parts.
What To Do When the Oil Evaporates and Catches Fire
Remember that we said that the power steering fluid is not exactly a flammable oil. However, when it reaches its highest flashing point and comes in contact with the car’s hot parts, it might exacerbate any fire hazard.
In such circumstances, you do not want the quench the fire by spraying or producing mists as this can worsen the situation! Power steering fluid fires should be quenched with foam, dry chemicals, water fog, or carbon dioxide.
Safe Ways to Handle Power Steering Fluid
While the chances of power steering fluid catching fire is relatively low, it is recommended that you handle the fluid with care to prevent any type of accident.
Below are some safety measures to employ when handling power steering fluids.
- Remember that when the oil reaches its highest flashing point and comes in contact with hot surfaces, it can easily catch fire. Thus, keep it away from fire sources.
- Label it correctly to avoid mistaken use.
- Dispose of it properly by finding disposal sites that handle the waste of the fluid
- Keep it away from children and pets.
- Clean up a spill immediately using a good laundry detergent
- Fix power steering oil leaks immediately. Some of the signs of power steering fluid leak include low fluid level, squeaky noise, and difficulty turning the steering wheel.
Conclusion
While the power steering fluid might not be so popular, its importance in power steering cannot be ignored. It must be acknowledged the fluid is an excellent invention in automotive technology as it has made car steering a simple task.
We hope this post provided a satisfactory answer to the question is power steering fluid flammable? Now you know that while the oil is not considered a flammable one, but take care must be taken to handle it safely.
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