Power steering fluid empty but no apparent leak ?

czechone · 06-08-2007, 09:05 PM

I have an AU3 XR8 and just yesterday the steering started making moaning/whining sounds after i turned a corner. After a short trip back home i checked the Power Steering Fluid and it was basically empty or close enough to being so.

I have now filled the reservoir to the top level and checked for leaks and could not find any apparent leakage (aside from a little bit of oil/fluid type material on the side of the air filter box "next to/in line with" where top of the Power Steering fluid reservoir is - but it's hardly a big amount).

The steering is nice and quiet now and seemingly back to normal but i'll give it a few days or more and see how it goes before i acknowledge that the problem is gone.

My question is - as i have not checked the fluid levels for some time i am wondering is it just a case that the fluid had gradually run out (somewhere?) over time or could it be leaking into some other hidden place where i would not be able to see the lost fluid with the naked eye ? Is it "normal" for it to be down to virtually empty or is it a sign of a problem ??? I've searched other similar topics in here but haven't quite found the answer. Thanks.

mik · 06-08-2007, 09:27 PM

mine was seeping out of the steering rack, you need to put it on a hoist or ramps to have a good look.

b2tf · 06-08-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechone

I have an AU3 XR8 and just yesterday the steering started making moaning/whining sounds after i turned a corner. After a short trip back home i checked the Power Steering Fluid and it was basically empty or close enough to being so.

I have now filled the reservoir to the top level and checked for leaks and could not find any apparent leakage (aside from a little bit of oil/fluid type material on the side of the air filter box "next to/in line with" where top of the Power Steering fluid reservoir is - but it's hardly a big amount).

The steering is nice and quiet now and seemingly back to normal but i'll give it a few days or more and see how it goes before i acknowledge that the problem is gone.

My question is - as i have not checked the fluid levels for some time i am wondering is it just a case that the fluid had gradually run out (somewhere?) over time or could it be leaking into some other hidden place where i would not be able to see the lost fluid with the naked eye ? Is it "normal" for it to be down to virtually empty or is it a sign of a problem ??? I've searched other similar topics in here but haven't quite found the answer. Thanks.

Ive had the same thing happen, all fluid gone but no obvious leaks.Im keeping an eye on it and so far the fluid level hasnt moved.

samftr · 06-08-2007, 09:54 PM

I blew the stinking power steering pressure switch the other day, and well that makes a quick mess of everything.
most likely the rack squeezing fluid out through the boots. could be the pump too.
let us know what the problem is.

czechone · 06-08-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samftr

let us know what the problem is.

Ummmmm .... was hoping you guys would be able to tell me the problem haha !

Have no access to a hoist and the bodykit renders the ramps useless but i guess i'll have to jack the car up and look underneath if/when the fluid level drops again. There's definitely no traces of leaks looking from above and nothing on the garage floor or where i park at work.

The steering rack/boots being mentioned - they're all visible by looking up from under the car ?

Still would like to know whether it's normal/possible that the fluid level can just drop to low/near empty over time ?

MRJUCY · 06-08-2007, 10:02 PM

A few have developed a leak where the high pressure power steering line joins the reservoir so check around the nut for any fluid.

EX-Y494 · 06-08-2007, 10:14 PM

This is what I do is for checking for leaks. Is start the car up and turn the stearing to full lock then look under the car.

au2sw · 07-08-2007, 06:18 AM

go to your local car wash armed with a couple cans of degreaser. give the entire engine bnay a good soaking top to bottom getting as much as you can from underneath. then blast all hell out of it with the high pressure wash untill your engine bay nearly sparkles

then at the end of every day/drive pop the bonnet and have a good look around for any signs of leaks. steering rack boots can be seen through the wheel arch by turning the wheels to full lock. if they are wet around the ends, you have a leaking seal in the rack. i currently have a leak at the high pressure connetion to the pump. usually replacing the "O" ring would fix that, but i think mine has gone beyond that so i may need to replace the end. but not all of the HP fittings are simple "O" rings. some have a nylon seal...these arent easy to replace and if your going to do it your self, order a few and then return the ones you dont use. good luck with it, hope you find the leak...if there is one.

AU2PWR · 07-08-2007, 07:16 AM

Check the O Rings

Sledgehammer · 07-08-2007, 07:27 AM

You may find that it leaking into the boots, it will get worse progressively now its started, i'd say its a rack as first thought. Needs to be checked and replaced in near future, keep an eye on the fluid levels in meantime.

StealthAu · 07-08-2007, 07:40 AM

If you can't see any leaks, take the boots of the rack.

czechone · 07-08-2007, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the help so far guys - i have a few things to look out for and check now ... one question (as i've never dealt with power steering issues before and this whole setup is new to me) - the high pressure pipe and nut being mentioned - that's the metal pipe into the pump right ?

StealthAu · 07-08-2007, 10:45 AM

Yes, check both those hoses, back of the pump, if theres no visable leaks check the boots

czechone · 07-08-2007, 06:59 PM

Update :

Checked the boots and the one on the passenger side appears to have some seepage ... i mean fluid isn't exactly pouring it but it does look rather wet and greasy on the underside of it. The one on the drivers side doesn't look particularly wet/oily at all. As far as i can see that's the only evidence of leaking/seepage - all hoses and connection points that i have seen look dry and clean.

Although i've been reading an old topic on here and a couple people were saying that it's not unusual for the boots to look greasy over time ?

However the fluid level hasn't really gone down since i filled it on Sunday and it drives quietly, although the steering seems slightly heavier than before (although it might be my imagination amplifying this as i'm constantly thinking about the steering now while driving).

Given that one of the boots is pretty oily looking does that point to anything in particular now ? Is it worthwhile putting some stop leak stuff into the fluid (as i've seen mentioned in similar topics by a couple ppl) ?

mik · 08-08-2007, 01:14 AM

if oil is leaking into boot the the rack needs to be pulled apart to fix this , usually means a c/o rack and wheel alignment.

au2sw · 08-08-2007, 06:06 AM

you may find that the steering is heavier as there maybe an air bubble in the system since the fluid got so low. easy fix for this is to jack the front of the car up (there is a crossmember under the radiator immediatly behind the splitter under the front bumper bar that has enough strenght to jack the car up with. DO NOT jack at the alloy crossmember behind the sump, this will break!) so that both front wheels are off the ground. then, with the motor running, turn lock to lock (full left then full right) hold for a second or 2, then go back the other way. do this about half a dozen times or so. taking the wieght off the wheels and steering rack makes it easier to bleed the system. it will eventually work itself out over time otherwise, but as you have noticed, the steering feels heavier and not as responsive until the air bubble is out.

Sledgehammer · 08-08-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechone

Update :

Checked the boots and the one on the passenger side appears to have some seepage ... i mean fluid isn't exactly pouring it but it does look rather wet and greasy on the underside of it. The one on the drivers side doesn't look particularly wet/oily at all. As far as i can see that's the only evidence of leaking/seepage - all hoses and connection points that i have seen look dry and clean.

Although i've been reading an old topic on here and a couple people were saying that it's not unusual for the boots to look greasy over time ?

However the fluid level hasn't really gone down since i filled it on Sunday and it drives quietly, although the steering seems slightly heavier than before (although it might be my imagination amplifying this as i'm constantly thinking about the steering now while driving).

Given that one of the boots is pretty oily looking does that point to anything in particular now ? Is it worthwhile putting some stop leak stuff into the fluid (as i've seen mentioned in similar topics by a couple ppl) ?

Sounds like a rack if you undo the boot at the inside end their shouldnt be any oil running out here. New rack $400 bucks is the fix.

czechone · 08-08-2007, 12:33 PM

Yeah im thinking it must be the rack now as well plus the pump is getting bit noisy again damn it ...

Anyway im gonna get my local mechanic to check it out ... as far as mechanics go he's really good and trustworthy ... would rather fix things myself but some things are beyond my time and patience and novice skills.

Thanks for all the advice guys ... this place is a valuable resource and im sure i'll be back later with more FORD (Fix Or Repair Daily) problems haha. Love em and hate em at the same time.

JC · 08-08-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czechone

Yeah im thinking it must be the rack now as well plus the pump is getting bit noisy again damn it ...

Anyway im gonna get my local mechanic to check it out ... as far as mechanics go he's really good and trustworthy ... would rather fix things myself but some things are beyond my time and patience and novice skills.

Thanks for all the advice guys ... this place is a valuable resource and im sure i'll be back later with more FORD (Fix Or Repair Daily) problems haha. Love em and hate em at the same time.

Good luck with it - there's nothing more frustrating than losing fluids that you can't acccount for - if they're internal to the engine, you can always guess that they're being burnt, but PS fluid is external, so if there's no puddles, I for one will be interested in the outcome.

As far as the FORD acronym goes, at least it's not Have Only Left Driveway Engine (k)Nackered.

czechone · 08-08-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

As far as the FORD acronym goes, at least it's not Have Only Left Driveway Engine (k)Nackered.

Hahah nice one ... someone else told me the Found On Rubbish Dump acronym before as well ... which is too damn harsh ! I keep buying Fords anyway and always will so u get used to things stuffing up. The joys of car ownership.