Fluid Leak, Any Advice?

fielderLS3 · 06-03-2011, 04:47 PM

Hey everyone, I'm looking to see if anyone can provide any input on what is causing a bad power steering fluid leak, and what I may have to do about it. (And no, it is not the 5.0).

Yesterday, I want to check the oil and power steering fluid level (as I have a different slow, preexisting leak) on by 2002 Alero. I usually park it on a hill, so to have a level surface, I rolled it into the driveway. At this point, I noticed a lot of power steering fluid had poured out underneath it, but was not dripping out at the time I looked. I moved it back a few feet, and gave the steering wheel a slight tug (less than 1/8 of a turn of the wheel). Another puddle immediately came pouring out again.

I should note that up until this point, I hadn't started the engine (since the point was to check the oil). I just turning the ignition on, put it in neutral, and rolled into the driveway off the hill. At that point, I immediately started it up to get it out of the driveway. I took it for a short drive, slightly more than a mile, and parks it back on the street on the hill. Before I shut it off, I turned the wheels back and forth several times. There is only a small spot under it after that, which may have just been residual fluid coming out.

Could turning the steering wheel without the car running have caused this? I've done this many times before, but have never lost fluid. The power steering fluid level was fine when I checked it, and I've never noticed any spots under the car before this. When I looked underneath, there seemed to be a lot of greasy grime around the end of the CV boot near the end of the steering rack.

My first thought was that a seal is going bad, and that I've had a very slow leak for a while, and turning the wheel without the pump running just forced some fluid out of the bad seal. However, even if that is the case, this seems like a problem that will only get worse, not better with time. What do you all think? Am I looking at having to put a lot of work and money into tearing the steering system apart now or in the near future? Thanks for any help.

derklug · 06-03-2011, 11:32 PM

You guessed it, turning the wheel with the engine off will cause fluid to leak out of the resevoir cap.

06-03-2011, 04:47 PM	#1
fielderLS3 Drives: 2016 Mazda6, 2011 Mustang 5.0 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Portage, Wisconsin Posts: 4,049	Fluid Leak, Any Advice? Hey everyone, I'm looking to see if anyone can provide any input on what is causing a bad power steering fluid leak, and what I may have to do about it. (And no, it is not the 5.0). Yesterday, I want to check the oil and power steering fluid level (as I have a different slow, preexisting leak) on by 2002 Alero. I usually park it on a hill, so to have a level surface, I rolled it into the driveway. At this point, I noticed a lot of power steering fluid had poured out underneath it, but was not dripping out at the time I looked. I moved it back a few feet, and gave the steering wheel a slight tug (less than 1/8 of a turn of the wheel). Another puddle immediately came pouring out again. I should note that up until this point, I hadn't started the engine (since the point was to check the oil). I just turning the ignition on, put it in neutral, and rolled into the driveway off the hill. At that point, I immediately started it up to get it out of the driveway. I took it for a short drive, slightly more than a mile, and parks it back on the street on the hill. Before I shut it off, I turned the wheels back and forth several times. There is only a small spot under it after that, which may have just been residual fluid coming out. Could turning the steering wheel without the car running have caused this? I've done this many times before, but have never lost fluid. The power steering fluid level was fine when I checked it, and I've never noticed any spots under the car before this. When I looked underneath, there seemed to be a lot of greasy grime around the end of the CV boot near the end of the steering rack. My first thought was that a seal is going bad, and that I've had a very slow leak for a while, and turning the wheel without the pump running just forced some fluid out of the bad seal. However, even if that is the case, this seems like a problem that will only get worse, not better with time. What do you all think? Am I looking at having to put a lot of work and money into tearing the steering system apart now or in the near future? Thanks for any help. __________________ 2022 1SS 1LE (Arrived 4/29/22) "The car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive." . 2022 1SS 1LE (Coming Soon)

06-03-2011, 11:32 PM	#2
derklug Drives: 12 Boss 302 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 1,369	You guessed it, turning the wheel with the engine off will cause fluid to leak out of the resevoir cap. __________________ The biggest mistakes in life come when you know exactly what you are doing.

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