What is the primary reason for aerated fluid in a power steering system?

Aerated fluid in a power steering system is primarily problematic because it can cause the power steering pump to be noisy. When air gets mixed with the hydraulic fluid, it creates bubbles, which disrupts the fluid’s ability to transmit pressure effectively. This can lead to a variety of symptoms in the power steering system, including irregular steering response and increased operational noise due to the cavitation effect created by the bubbles.

This noise not only indicates that the system is not functioning optimally but can also lead to further issues, such as increased wear on the power steering pump and reduced effectiveness of the steering assist. Therefore, the presence of aerated fluid is a clear signal that there is a problem within the system that needs to be addressed to maintain proper function and longevity of the power steering components.