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        General >> Problems >> Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
        
(Message started by: harry.m1byt on Dec 29^th, 2006, 11:07am)

Title: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by harry.m1byt on Dec 29^th, 2006, 11:07am

I reported that it had a slight oil leak and I've kept a close watch on the levels. The power steering fluid is the only one which has gone down noticeably, since I bought it - from max down to an inch from the bottom of the reservoir - so that must be where its coming from.

No leaks on the rack - the only trace of oil is below the reservoir and probably the pipe at the back where it is held on by a jubilee type clip as near as I can see. Is it the pipe which is inclined to split causing this?

Despite this loss of fluid, which I happened to pin down in the MOT station, it flew through its MOT - so that's it for another 13 months. The tester even remarked upon how good the cars condition was.

Title: Re: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by scorpio_man on Dec 29^th, 2006, 11:15am

hi harry

this a common one. most times it's just a tighten of the clip fixes it or you need to replace the hose.

hth

Title: Re: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by jonnycab on Dec 29^th, 2006, 3:14pm

Or.....unless the fluid is leaking into the steering gaiters.

If this is the case, then you won't see a leak until the gaiters split open.

Best way to check is give 'em a squeeze.....if they're full of fluid then you should feel it :)

Just a thought ;)

Title: Re: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by harry.m1byt on Dec 29^th, 2006, 3:33pm

on 12/29/06 at 15:14:23, jonnycab wrote:

Or.....unless the fluid is leaking into the steering gaiters.

No, there is a definate leak dripping onto the garage floor. The fluid is red the same as the power steering whereas the auto gearbox oil is a pale yellow fluid. It is dripping onto the under pan first and being blown about which made it difficult to work out where the leak was.

The rear most pipe from the reservoir is moist with oil, but not as moist as I would expect for the amount of oil being lost - it does become more soaked the further down the pipe I look.

The colour wasn't obvious at first, there just wasn't enough of it to be sure. The rubber gaitors feel dry inside when squeezed and I have checked the jubilee clips which are tight.

Title: Re: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by solarpanel on Dec 29^th, 2006, 7:31pm

the pipe goes hard over time i have just looked at mine found it to be leaking at both ends, used ptfe tape and that did the job not lost any fluid.

Title: Re: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by harry.m1byt on Dec 29^th, 2006, 9:19pm

As an initial check I've tightened up the jubilee clips a little, topped it up and tied a bit of toilet tissue around the relevant pipe work. The later will soak up any more leaking fluid and help quickly identify the problems.

Title: Re: Power Steering leak?/ Passed MOT
Post by harry.m1byt on Dec 31^st, 2006, 9:12pm

Thats it then....

It was a slight weep from the back hose of the reservoir, fixed by an half turn on the already pretty tight jubilee clip. no need for any more newspaper to catch the drips on the garage floor.

The location of the leak was not very obvious - disguised by the fresh flow of fluid, which trickled very slowly down the rear pipe keeping that clean, but collecting lots of muck further down.

The last (hopefully for a while) of this cars little catalogue of problems.