Power-steering fluid leak

Engines and Engine Systems
Post Reply
User avatar
biggles
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 506
Joined: 18 Nov 2013 05:17
Full Name: Steven
Nickname: Steve
Home Town: Durbanville
Current 4x4: GUII Patrol 4.8
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Power-steering fluid leak

Post by biggles »

I just finished a quick Tsitsikamma caravan trip and when I got home a was backing the caravan into the garage I noted smoke coming out of the left front wheel well. At the time I dismissed it as a hole in the exhaust, after driving for 7 hours I was not interested in tracing a problem... get caravan into garage, unpack and have a nap.

The next morning the power steering screamed at me so i topped up the reservoir it was full of bubbles and alomst empty (it was checked before the trip (1400km ago)). There was a small pool of fluid under where the troll overnighted.

Soooo putting 2 and 2 together I assume that powersteering ATF fluid is dripping onto something hot and the smoke was what I had seen. Backing the caravan into the garage is a complicated affair with lots of full lock turning, swearing, SWAMBO direction and mini-divorces. Obviously steering was working hard and squiring fluid everywhere.

So from afar what does the collective forum think has gone wrong? I am in Namibia until before Christmas and then wanted to take the patrol to Stilbaai. Can it be the pump? Just a loose fitting? What must I look for first?
With great Power comes Great Fuel Consumption
:layrubber:
Pearly
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: 17 Sep 2018 10:33
Full Name: Derick Pearl
Nickname: Pearly
Home Town: Cape Town
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol
Home Language: English

Re: Power-steering fluid leak

Post by Pearly »

Hi Biggles, check the pipe that runs next to the engine under engine cover, mine was touching the engine and the heat wore through the pipe
Pieter B
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 538
Joined: 29 Sep 2014 12:40
Full Name: Pieter Botha
Nickname: Pieter
Home Town: Alberton
Current 4x4: '05 Patrol 4.8 GRX
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 96 times

Re: Power-steering fluid leak

Post by Pieter B »

Give it a good clean first and then check for leaks. It should just be a pipe
User avatar
biggles
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 506
Joined: 18 Nov 2013 05:17
Full Name: Steven
Nickname: Steve
Home Town: Durbanville
Current 4x4: GUII Patrol 4.8
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Re: Power-steering fluid leak

Post by biggles »

So got under the troll and first thing I learned was give a good clean with engine cleaner and high pressure washer before working on oil leaks... :oldtimer:

One of the aluminum lines running down from the power steering reservoir had rubbed through. The rubber boot in a bracket had worked loose/ not been put back correctly and the bracket had chaffed through the aluminium line. I applied some "liquid aluminium" adhesive stuff I got at the hardware and after 12 hours curing I reassembles everything.

I recommend you get under the bonnet and check that routing of pipes and everything is in place. This is the second time I have had a pipe rub through on a patrol. While the factory positions are always good, when someone works on a vehicle the pipes do not always go back to where they should go.
With great Power comes Great Fuel Consumption
:layrubber:
User avatar
SJC
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 3189
Joined: 23 Nov 2014 14:20
Full Name: SJC
Nickname: Fanus
Home Town: Nelspruit
Current 4x4: Patrol 4.2 SGL
Home Language: Afrikaans/English
Has thanked: 195 times
Been thanked: 171 times

Re: Power-steering fluid leak

Post by SJC »

Mine is leaking on this pipe...can it be fixed? Or just replace pipe? :think:
Attachments
80A15300-CF53-4B35-8505-7A9871FE6B80.jpeg
‘96 GQ 4.2 SGL
‘01 GU 4.5 GRX
‘08 GU TD42 BAKKIE
User avatar
Peter Connan
Moderator
Posts: 6011
Joined: 10 Sep 2010 07:21
Full Name: Peter Connan
Nickname: Piet
Home Town: Kempton Park
Current 4x4: 1996 Patrol 4.5SGL
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 1067 times
Been thanked: 985 times

Re: Power-steering fluid leak

Post by Peter Connan »

Take the hose to a hydraulic hose supplier.
They can replace the rubber and the crimp fittings.
Mag ons ons kenniskry met lekkerkry aanhoukry.
Post Reply

Return to “09. Engines”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests