What is this dipstick on the top of the engine bay?
 

I was changing my air filter and saw a dipstick at the top of the engine bay, on the side towards the front of the car. It’s a short dipstick and it had nothing on it. What is it? I’ll post pictures if necessary.

Your power steering? I'm trying to picture it. That's all I've got.

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Yes that’s it! Thanks

PS systems always seem to leak on these cars. And it's not like you can just pop the hood (bonnet) to check the levels every day or week!

First time I checked mine? Dry as a bone!

Priuses often have a dipstick behind the steering wheel...:D

I guess if I ever drive a Prius, there will be 2 dipsticks behind the wheel! :D:D

Be sure to use the proper PS fluid, not just any garden variety fluid. It requires synthetic fluid. Pentosin chf 11s is recommended and surprisingly can be found in some parts stores.

Boxsters and Caymans have a reputation for having PS issues on the track. My contention is people don't check their fluid level and blame track time for the failures. I check my level before every DE and have never had a problem, including 20-turn COTA.

Related question: When you check the levels on these, does one twist the dipstick down tight, then unscrew and read it? Or should you just push it firmly in place (without screwing it down) and then pull up and read?

Screw it down, but realistically there's very little difference in the readings between the two methods. It doesn't need to be that accurate anyway.

I would think screwed down tight would give the best reading,.but just add a little at a time untill stick reads full ..Frank

It's hydraulic fluid, needs to be checked hot. I don't remember, but the stick may have a hot and cold line. It's not a bunch different. An OZ or two.

Yeah, it's got a "hot" and "cold" scale on it, front and back.
And the high end and low end aren't very far apart, kind of implying to me that getting it filled accurately must be at least somewhat important. But I agree with you piper, I can't imagine why it would be that critical..