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

Nasty power steering fluid

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 08:10 PM
  #1  
st-customs's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Default Nasty power steering fluid

So i bought a 2000 SS about three weeks ago. sometimes the PS fluid is low (leak). sometimes it sounds like its low(moans). sometimes its impossible to turn the wheels while stopped without revving the engine(still moans). the fluid always looks milky, always. every time i check it, brown and milky. well today i flushed it out until new fluid came out of the return hose. it felt fine afterward, took it for a drive and it was hard to turn at idle again. when i got home i checked the fluid and it was nasty and milky again.

any thoughts?
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2010 | 08:17 PM
  #2  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by st-customs
So i bought a 2000 SS about three weeks ago. sometimes the PS fluid is low (leak). sometimes it sounds like its low(moans). sometimes its impossible to turn the wheels while stopped without revving the engine(still moans). the fluid always looks milky, always. every time i check it, brown and milky. well today i flushed it out until new fluid came out of the return hose. it felt fine afterward, took it for a drive and it was hard to turn at idle again. when i got home i checked the fluid and it was nasty and milky again.

any thoughts?
Do you have a factory power steering fluid cooler. Its the metal pipe spliced into the upper rubber radiator hose. If you do have it its probably leaking and you're getting coolant in the PS fluid. Also, check to see if you have any little black droplets floating around in your coolant.



.

Last edited by LS6427; Feb 18, 2010 at 08:24 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 07:10 AM
  #3  
st-customs's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Default

i do have the factory ps cooler, but i dont have any black droplets in my coolant.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 08:01 AM
  #4  
fleetmgr's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, OK
Default

The milky stuff is emulsified oil and water. There's only one way for it to get there.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 09:29 AM
  #5  
st-customs's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Default

checked it this morning and its was fine. now that i think about its fine until it warms up.

Last edited by st-customs; Feb 21, 2010 at 10:11 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 10:00 AM
  #6  
RA032926's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
Default

you need to take that dumbass power steering cooler completely off and then flush your system and see where you stand... i think ls6427 had a good write-up of how to do this
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:09 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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