With a conventional power steering pump, we’re all used to the idea that if we fill the reservoir all the way to the top, we might get some overflow, especially once the fluid gets hot. It can quickly become a slippery mess that gets all over the front of your engine.

But Concept One Pulley Systems warns that not filling its fluid reservoir to the top could lead to a noisy pump and more troubles along the way. Concept One has put together the video above to explain the proper procedure for adding fluid to one of its pump reservoirs, and shows that just bleeding the system isn’t enough.

One of the problems is that when you fill the reservoir the first time and bleed the system, fluid still needs to fill the other components completely, and the level may drop. This was brought about by a few calls reporting that the steering pump was making noise (as heard in the video).

What Concept One suggests is to drive the car and let it cool overnight. Then start the engine, and with it running remove the cap and the fluid level will drop. Add fluid until it reaches the bottom of the threads, and then replace the cap. You can check it again when it’s cool and be sure that the reservoir is full.

Unlike some of our other reservoirs, Concept One’s Kevin Redd suggest to keep the reservoir full, and to fill it with the engine running so that you can be sure that the fluid level stays full, and he says that will eliminate the noisy pump. So it’s really just a matter of topping off the reservoir, but while the engine is running.

You can follow the entire Tech Tip series from Concept One on its YouTube channel, and find out more about front drive systems for popular Ford and GM engine applications at the Concept One website.