Power Steering Fluid Leak
 

Last week as part of my 100k maintenance I changed the PS reservoir and fluid. I did not have a leak prior to this. When I opened up the old reservoir I notice the fluid was quite low.

After replacing the res I filled it with fluid, and after that I noticed a leak. After parking the car there is always a small puddle of fluid. I figured I must have put a hose on wrong, so I took it all apart again and found no leaks at the hose connections to the reservoir. The alternator shows no fluid on it and the res is clean.

Now that the fluid is low again in the res the leak seems to have gone away. The PS seems OK, but something must be wrong. Any ideas?

Is at the rack? Do I have to remove the stiffener plate to find out?

Did you bleed the system properly? Maybe some air bubbles are trapped causing it to bubble and spit out through the reservoir? They are notorious for weeping at the best of times.

The other thing to check is the two hoses underneath the reservoir. I know you said you checked, but the stock clips are known to become ineffective as the rubber hardens - try replaceing with screw clamps and tighten up hard.

Finally, if it's still leaking - diagnose it by starting at the highest point, make sure everything is clean and then drive it - check for any wetness - and then work your way down. Unfortunately by putting new, thinner fluid in, it might be finding it easier to push past a seal.....

Is the hose perished?

The hose was not in bad shape, and I did replace the clamps with screw clamps.

However I did not bleed the system, but I don 't see any fluid up top at the reservoir. I will figure out how to bleed the system and refill the reservoir and see what happens.

I did all that and still have the leak. It must be coming from the rack. Can a fluid change cause a leak? Not looking forward to that job.

Short story, a fluid change can result in leakage, yes. Racks can, and do, develop leaks over time. The hydraulic system in them is operating under decent pressures, and the seals will wear out. Happens to all hydraulic systems. As much as we would like to think otherwise, steering racks are not a "lifetime part".

Just be aware that when the fluid is cold it will appear lower, when it's warm it rises and if overfilled will push past the reservoir cap.

You need to isolate the top half first. If you've cleaned down the top half of the system so it's absoloutely dry to touch - and it is not wet after a drive but the fluid is appearing below - then you can start to eliminate the easy to fix areas.

It seems strange to develop a leak through just replacing the fluid, but can you be certain it wasn't there before? Obviously you replaced the reservoir for a reason.....was the leak confined to there previously?

I only replaced the Res as part of preventative maint. The fluid level was low, but no apparent leak. The top of the system is clean. Not a drop on the alternator. Most of fluid leak is on the drivers side when looking under the car. It is dripping off the frame there.

These seals that go bad. Are they easily replaced? Or do you need a rebuilt unit?

I wish I never had changed fluid. I was planning on doing the transmission fluid and filter next, but this has given me pause. Tranny is fine, maybe I shouldn't mess with it.

Lol - I hate those 'I shoulda just left it alone' moments when working on cars.

Like Ant said, fluid changes can often expose leaks. It can shift build up, dry seals and as I mentioned - the newer, thinner fluid can start to push through the tiniest of areas that maybe the older thicker fluid couldn't.

I'm not familiar with that end of the system so probably can't help much more other than to tell you to keep cleaning/driving/repeat until you locate the leak. At least you can start researching the remedy once you've diagnosed the fault area.

I might try some of that sealing fluid first.

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