What does dirty power steering fluid mean?

Power steering fluid becoming dirty typically indicates a loss of original performance due to oxidation, impurity accumulation, or contamination. This is manifested by a colour change from clear amber to dark brown or even black, potentially accompanied by particle deposits. Such degradation reduces lubrication effectiveness, accelerates seal hardening and hose aging, leading to steering system issues like abnormal noise, stiff operation, or sluggish response. Causes include prolonged non-replacement (recommended every 50,000 km or as specified in the manual), moisture/air ingress (causing foaming), accidental mixing with other fluids (e.g., brake fluid), or contamination from internal metal wear particles. Regular inspection of fluid level and coloration effectively prevents costly damage to the power steering pump (repairs from ~RM1200) or rack assembly (RM2500+), while maintaining driving safety.