General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Power Stearing Fluid Problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 04:52 PM
  #1  
8675309's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Default Power Stearing Fluid Problems

Well for some reason my car is losing power steering fluid. I dont know where it goes because it doesn't leak. Anyways when I open up the reservoir it is a light chocolaty brown color. And it seems to be hot and a little steamy so i guess the fluid could be burning. The pump only whines when it gets low but then when I refill it the whining goes away. But whats causing this? Do I need a new power steering pump maybe?
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 05:20 PM
  #2  
waldershrek's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: NY
Default

Seems it's mixing with your coolant. You must have a power steering cooler?
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 05:46 PM
  #3  
8675309's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Default

no not that I know of. Every once in a while though I will find a drop of coolant on the ground.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 06:08 PM
  #4  
waldershrek's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: NY
Default

Well that fluid would only turn chocolaty brown if it's mixing with water or coolant. So either you have a power steering cooler and it's leaking in with the coolant or maybe your cap isn't on tight and you got water in there when cleaning the engine bay. That wouldn't explain where your fluid is going though. The leak would.

Check your coolant, is it oily or discolored? Check in the radiator and the overflow jug.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 06:11 PM
  #5  
8675309's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Default

Yeah I checked the coolant and it is oily and discolored. What could I do to fix it? And how bad it is to keep it like it is.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 09:01 PM
  #6  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by 8675309
Yeah I checked the coolant and it is oily and discolored. What could I do to fix it? And how bad it is to keep it like it is.
Do you have a PS fluid cooler or not?

Do you know where it is?

Its the metal 10-inch long piece that is incorporated into the upper radiator hose. Its right in front of the PS fluid reservoir.

Go look.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 09:49 PM
  #7  
wssix99's Avatar
Save the manuals!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,967
Likes: 389
From: Chicago, IL
Default

You need to replace the PS cooler and then power flush your coolant system to get all the crud out. (If you have mung on your coolant dipstick, you may have to replace that also. - ITs near impossible to get the crud off of that thing.)
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 10:19 PM
  #8  
8675309's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Default

I do have a power steering cooler. So I guess I'm going to try to replace that and then flush the coolant and see where I am. Do I need to do this immediately, or would it be alright if I waited like a month to do it?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 10:22 PM
  #9  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by 8675309
I do have a power steering cooler. So I guess I'm going to try to replace that and then flush the coolant and see where I am. Do I need to do this immediately, or would it be alright if I waited like a month to do it?
Its no problem at all to drive around like that, mine was leaking for 6 months into my coolant.

You should just get an aftermarket cooler and install it yourself. Mine waas about $40 for everything and like 20 minutes to install it. Much better and no more PS fluid can get into my coolant again.

Or just buy the rubber hose that goes from the radiator to the water pump and connect the two PS lines and run without the cooler. Its not needed.
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2009 | 03:20 PM
  #10  
7901 WS6's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
Default

My car has this issue, I thought it may been leaking in the Rack and Pinion somewhere like the dust boots, but this makes more sense
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2009 | 04:31 PM
  #11  
8675309's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Default

is their any tricks to installing it? or just slip it on?
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #12  
sscamaro22's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Default

same problem...where can I get the aftermarket cooler?
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2009 | 12:03 PM
  #13  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by sscamaro22
same problem...where can I get the aftermarket cooler?
I wrote this in another thread.

Take that horrible design for a PS cooler off and run a straight rubber hose. Then go to Advance Auto and buy a tranny cooler and put it on.

$40-$45 dollars for the cooler, rubber hose, clamps, 3 foot of 3/8" heater hose, 2 bottles of PS fluid. Plus about 30 minutes to do it.

ALSO....the coolers that came from the factory are not REALLY coolers. They are PS fluid HEATERS. If you put your hand on the factory cooler after the engine is at operating temp, you will get a third degree burn. If I put my hand on my aftermarket cooler that you see in the pictures after a hard core drive through the city after my engine was already hot, I can keep my hand on it no porblem, its just warm. The factory coolers are HEATERS, they do not work. Hot as hell 200+ degree coolant heating that thing up makes the PS fluid hotter.

Do this:






FOR AIR FLOW OVER THE COOLER while moving, cut that strip out of the air dam:

Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:30 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE