Power steering whine can be pretty embarrassing

Whining is a very unattractive feature, in people and cars. In cars, it's often heard when turning. In people, it's often heard when they don't get what they want. Honestly though, cars are easier to fix.

For most cars, the source of the sound comes from air in the power steering pump. The air can come from fluid level being too low. This is usually a good indication that there is a leak. The other comes from fluid cavatation around the pump shaft inside the pump. Cavatation just means it makes bubbles. Which it shouldn't. All fluids on an automobile are designed to resist 'shearing'. Shearing is what happens as an object passes through a liquid. In the case of water, think boat propeller. Lots of bubbles and foam come from the prop 'shearing' the water.

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