Chapter 9 Vehicle Maintenance, Fluid Service, and Recycling 145 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Tech Tip A common and troublesome mistake is accidentally overfilling the power steering system. If you add too much power steering fluid and fill the reser- voir to the very top, the extra fluid will spray out all over the engine compartment. Remember that liquids cannot be compressed. If you overfill the reservoir, use a clean squeeze bulb to suck out the extra fluid. Checking Brake Fluid The amount of brake fluid in a master cylinder should be inspected at least twice a year. Look at Figure 9-14. The master cylinder is normally mounted on the firewall (body section between the engine and the passenger compartment). When the master cylin- der reservoir is clear plastic, simply compare the fluid level to the markings on the reservoir. The fluid should be between the ADD and FULL marks. With some master cylinders, you must remove the reservoir cover to check the fluid. Generally, the fluid should be about 1/4″ (about 6 mm) down from the top of the reservoir. Add the recommended type of brake fluid as needed. Caution Never let anything (oil, grease, dirt) contaminate the brake fluid. Oil and grease, for example, will attack the rubber parts in the brake system. Major repairs would be needed and the vehicle could lose brak- ing ability. Checking Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Some manual transmission clutches do not use mechanical linkage rods or cables. Instead, they use A B Cold engine Dipstick Warm engine Power steering pump Subaru Figure 9-13. Note how to check the power steering fluid level. A—Compare fluid level markings on the side of the reservoir. B—On some vehicles, the power steering pump has a cap with a dipstick. Check the fluid with the engine off. Compare the fluid level to markings on the dipstick. Normally, you need to add only a fraction of a quart, not a whole quart. Correct fluid level Reservoir Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 9-14. Check the brake fluid level at the master cylinder reservoir. The master cylinder is mounted on the firewall, in front of the driver. The maximum fluid level is often indicated on the side of the reservoir. If not, fluid should be slightly below the top of the reservoir.