Although flushing the system is the most complete way to change power steering fluid, there is a much less involved method to remove most of the old fluid and replace it with new fluid.

Up until pretty recently most German cars used hydraulic fluid and not conventional power steering fluid for the steering rack, along with a hydraulic brake boosting system.

But that doesn't mean water is good for power steering - it's not. Certainly not as good as power-steering fluid. So your best course of action would be to flush the system. It's not hard to do.

A First, make sure the power steering system isn't low on fluid. In many cases, a whining noise from the power steering pump is because of a low fluid level allowing air to be mixed in. This ...