Is this normal for power steering fluid? Pic inside.
07-13-2011, 10:24 PM
#1
Is this normal for power steering fluid? Pic inside. My car is a 99 SS with a power steering cooler. My fluid level is always high and is constanty seeping around the cap. I've flushed my coolant and it wasn't contaminated with ps fluid. I'm confused. Is this normal? Why is my fluid always seeping around the cap, as you can see from the picture. I just cleaned up the ps pump a week ago. Any help is always appreciated. Thanks guys.
07-14-2011, 12:10 AM
#7
I replaced the reservoir cap and it still seeps. I even deleted the factory power steering cooler and replaced it with an aftermarket one and it still seeps through. However, my fluid did not have that color. It was just dark, I guess from being old fluid. I drained the old fluid and added new power steering fluid and its the normal clear color now. Definately look into why your fluid is that color. It looks like the factory cooler might be mixing coolant and power steering fluid.
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07-14-2011, 01:12 PM
#14
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On my old 97 I did an LS1 swap into, we did not use a power steering cooler, and the power steering fluid was always nasty as hell like that. Power steering pump also whined a lot. Turns out a seal was bad, we just replaced the pump anyway, and problem solved.
I'd at least try and flush it out first
I'd at least try and flush it out first
07-14-2011, 07:20 PM
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I replaced the reservoir cap and it still seeps. I even deleted the factory power steering cooler and replaced it with an aftermarket one and it still seeps through. However, my fluid did not have that color. It was just dark, I guess from being old fluid. I drained the old fluid and added new power steering fluid and its the normal clear color now. Definately look into why your fluid is that color. It looks like the factory cooler might be mixing coolant and power steering fluid.
To the OP, that's a definite mix with something. I would venture to say water or coolant. I don't believe overheating will cause it to look like that
07-14-2011, 10:39 PM
#17
First, get rid of the damned PS cooler, and run an external.
Second, flush the **** out of your system.
1) Put the front of your car on jackstands, so the front wheels are off the ground
2) Disconnect the line going into the botom of the reservoir; driver side
3) Immidiately cap the tit coming from the ps reservoir, that you just disconnected the line from
4) hang a pair of vice grips or something with weight onto the end of the disconnected line; point it into something to catch all the **** you're about to flush out
5) Get wife off the computer from her shopping spree and tell her to come lend a hand. Offer latex gloves, if need be
6) (Position Optional, you or her) Get in and start the car. DON'T turn wheel, yet
**Very important here that you DO NOT let the reservoir run dry**
7) Have whoever is in the seat start to slowly turn the wheel left to right, lock to lock. As this is happening, PS fluid will be PISSING out of that disconnected hose. (Hope you remembered the bit of weight on the end of the line)
As the fluid is coming out of the hose be pouring new fluid in and keeping the reservoir full.
**Have you A FEW bottles of fluid already opened and ready to go. Trust me, you can't keep up with the flow while trying to not only open the bottle, but take off that damned piece of foil / seal on them**
8) When you see the fluid coming back clean, or until you are satisfied, have whoever stop rurning the wheel. Grab the disconnected line, remove vacuum cap from fitting on bottom of reservoir, and put it back on. Hopefully you remembered the little crimp ring....
9)Top off as needed, until full.
You have successfully flushed you PS system. **High Five Self**
If you chose to leave your factory cooler on, all this has been done for naught. It WILL fail, if it hasn't already. Mine was leaking into my PS fluid, and I didn't even notice a drop in coolant level, and I had no PS fluid in my coolant. It was just going one way.
"Power Steering Cooler Sucess" is a great thread.
Hope this helps.
Second, flush the **** out of your system.
1) Put the front of your car on jackstands, so the front wheels are off the ground
2) Disconnect the line going into the botom of the reservoir; driver side
3) Immidiately cap the tit coming from the ps reservoir, that you just disconnected the line from
4) hang a pair of vice grips or something with weight onto the end of the disconnected line; point it into something to catch all the **** you're about to flush out
5) Get wife off the computer from her shopping spree and tell her to come lend a hand. Offer latex gloves, if need be
6) (Position Optional, you or her) Get in and start the car. DON'T turn wheel, yet
**Very important here that you DO NOT let the reservoir run dry**
7) Have whoever is in the seat start to slowly turn the wheel left to right, lock to lock. As this is happening, PS fluid will be PISSING out of that disconnected hose. (Hope you remembered the bit of weight on the end of the line)
As the fluid is coming out of the hose be pouring new fluid in and keeping the reservoir full.
**Have you A FEW bottles of fluid already opened and ready to go. Trust me, you can't keep up with the flow while trying to not only open the bottle, but take off that damned piece of foil / seal on them**
8) When you see the fluid coming back clean, or until you are satisfied, have whoever stop rurning the wheel. Grab the disconnected line, remove vacuum cap from fitting on bottom of reservoir, and put it back on. Hopefully you remembered the little crimp ring....
9)Top off as needed, until full.
You have successfully flushed you PS system. **High Five Self**
If you chose to leave your factory cooler on, all this has been done for naught. It WILL fail, if it hasn't already. Mine was leaking into my PS fluid, and I didn't even notice a drop in coolant level, and I had no PS fluid in my coolant. It was just going one way.
"Power Steering Cooler Sucess" is a great thread.
Hope this helps.
07-14-2011, 10:52 PM
#18
First, get rid of the damned PS cooler, and run an external.
Second, flush the **** out of your system.
1) Put the front of your car on jackstands, so the front wheels are off the ground
2) Disconnect the line going into the botom of the reservoir; driver side
3) Immidiately cap the tit coming from the ps reservoir, that you just disconnected the line from
4) hang a pair of vice grips or something with weight onto the end of the disconnected line; point it into something to catch all the **** you're about to flush out
5) Get wife off the computer from her shopping spree and tell her to come lend a hand. Offer latex gloves, if need be
6) (Position Optional, you or her) Get in and start the car. DON'T turn wheel, yet
**Very important here that you DO NOT let the reservoir run dry**
7) Have whoever is in the seat start to slowly turn the wheel left to right, lock to lock. As this is happening, PS fluid will be PISSING out of that disconnected hose. (Hope you remembered the bit of weight on the end of the line)
As the fluid is coming out of the hose be pouring new fluid in and keeping the reservoir full.
**Have you A FEW bottles of fluid already opened and ready to go. Trust me, you can't keep up with the flow while trying to not only open the bottle, but take off that damned piece of foil / seal on them**
8) When you see the fluid coming back clean, or until you are satisfied, have whoever stop rurning the wheel. Grab the disconnected line, remove vacuum cap from fitting on bottom of reservoir, and put it back on. Hopefully you remembered the little crimp ring....
9)Top off as needed, until full.
You have successfully flushed you PS system. **High Five Self**
If you chose to leave your factory cooler on, all this has been done for naught. It WILL fail, if it hasn't already. Mine was leaking into my PS fluid, and I didn't even notice a drop in coolant level, and I had no PS fluid in my coolant. It was just going one way.
"Power Steering Cooler Sucess" is a great thread.
Hope this helps.
Second, flush the **** out of your system.
1) Put the front of your car on jackstands, so the front wheels are off the ground
2) Disconnect the line going into the botom of the reservoir; driver side
3) Immidiately cap the tit coming from the ps reservoir, that you just disconnected the line from
4) hang a pair of vice grips or something with weight onto the end of the disconnected line; point it into something to catch all the **** you're about to flush out
5) Get wife off the computer from her shopping spree and tell her to come lend a hand. Offer latex gloves, if need be
6) (Position Optional, you or her) Get in and start the car. DON'T turn wheel, yet
**Very important here that you DO NOT let the reservoir run dry**
7) Have whoever is in the seat start to slowly turn the wheel left to right, lock to lock. As this is happening, PS fluid will be PISSING out of that disconnected hose. (Hope you remembered the bit of weight on the end of the line)
As the fluid is coming out of the hose be pouring new fluid in and keeping the reservoir full.
**Have you A FEW bottles of fluid already opened and ready to go. Trust me, you can't keep up with the flow while trying to not only open the bottle, but take off that damned piece of foil / seal on them**
8) When you see the fluid coming back clean, or until you are satisfied, have whoever stop rurning the wheel. Grab the disconnected line, remove vacuum cap from fitting on bottom of reservoir, and put it back on. Hopefully you remembered the little crimp ring....
9)Top off as needed, until full.
You have successfully flushed you PS system. **High Five Self**
If you chose to leave your factory cooler on, all this has been done for naught. It WILL fail, if it hasn't already. Mine was leaking into my PS fluid, and I didn't even notice a drop in coolant level, and I had no PS fluid in my coolant. It was just going one way.
"Power Steering Cooler Sucess" is a great thread.
Hope this helps.
This is great, thanks. A question though. What kind of cooler do I get? I want one that will utilize the factory hoses if at all possible. Also, can I just get a radiator house for a car without the ps cooler to replace the one there now, for cosmetic reasons?
07-15-2011, 12:22 AM
#19
That's exactly what I did.
Advance Auto / Autozone: Hose, PS cooler delete: E71981 (same part # from both stores. It's a Dayco hose for cars w/o power steering)
Autozone, for the fluid cooler, Part # 911009
Pics can be found HERE.
This is a good thread, and will help you TREMENDOUSLY. Read it.
Advance Auto / Autozone: Hose, PS cooler delete: E71981 (same part # from both stores. It's a Dayco hose for cars w/o power steering)
Autozone, for the fluid cooler, Part # 911009
Pics can be found HERE.
This is a good thread, and will help you TREMENDOUSLY. Read it.
07-15-2011, 12:38 AM
#20
That's exactly what I did.
Advance Auto / Autozone: Hose, PS cooler delete: E71981 (same part # from both stores. It's a Dayco hose for cars w/o power steering)
Autozone, for the fluid cooler, Part # 911009
Pics can be found HERE.
This is a good thread, and will help you TREMENDOUSLY. Read it.
Advance Auto / Autozone: Hose, PS cooler delete: E71981 (same part # from both stores. It's a Dayco hose for cars w/o power steering)
Autozone, for the fluid cooler, Part # 911009
Pics can be found HERE.
This is a good thread, and will help you TREMENDOUSLY. Read it.