rcr05261

Hi everyone,

For starters, I own a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 with 41k miles on it.

I am creating this thread because I found a orange colored fluid that was sprayed under my hood. The fluid was sprayed in a perfect straight line (left to right) above the Power steering pump/the serpentine belt. I checked the power steering fluid level to find that it was low.

Why is the fluid orange and why is it spraying in a straight line? Does the pump have to be replaced or are their fluids mixing....?

I briefly looked at the pressure line, and it does not appear to be broken or cracked, is it possible that it is leaking onto the pulley which then causes it to spray up when the car is started?

Thanks for reading, any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

You should post some pictures here.

If you have someone get on the gas while you look under the hood, you should see what is going on.

dailydriver

Does your Poncho have the in the upper radiator hose, coolant to p.s. fluid factory cooler??

Empatho

iTrader: (16)

+1 that's most likely your problem right there.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

I'd be surprised if its a leak in the cooler. The P/S fluid in that device is low pressure and the OP is describing a high pressure leak or low pressure fluid being flung by something rotating.

Now... if the cooler was leaking through the side and spraying on to the pulley, maybe that could be a cause. It would certainly be interesting.

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

I would be thinking coolant. He says its orange. How else would it be orange...rust? OP you will have to dig deeper into this mess to find out LOL

rcr05261

After I dug a little deeper into other threads, I ended up changing out the factory power steering cooler with an aftermarket cooler, since the swap, I have found no spraying underneath my hood and my P/S fluid is the light yellow that it is supposed to be.

So you were right and I thank you for your input!

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Yellow P/S fluid?

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

if your using actual power steering fluid and NOT ATF fluid then yes some of them are a golden yellowish color, not to dissimilar from fresh oil.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Never seen the yellow before - is it fancy special stuff? Everything I've ever seen (DOT3) has been reddish.

dailydriver

Royal Purple Max EZ is well, purple.

Pentosin CHF 11S is a blueish green.

The AC Delco and Valvoline Max Life are clear.

Red Line and Amsoil are red like Dex 3 ATF.