Power steering is going Exxon Valdez on my engine bay

[com3dorm3]

I came back from an autocross and the next day there was PS fluid on the garage floor.
This is the third spillage in the last few months.

I'm trying to figure out where the source of the leak is.
I looked at the reservoir seal connections and did not notice any apparent issue.
Is it all from the reservoir overflow tube?
Any other things I should inspect?

Messy!


Reservoir and seal look ok

[ChrisZang]

Look at all the ps hoses, they start to leak at the press fittings between the rubber and the metal. but my suspicion would be that you overkooked the ps pump.
Search for power steering pump on this forum and read all the horror stories (incl. mine)

The ps lines go on the drivers side on the underside of the car from the engine bay to the rack & pinion in front. I would almost bet that they are wet.

[thstone]

+1 to Chris. Power steering hoses. Very common.

[DFW02S]

May be time for an underdrive pulley. Spin that PS pump fast enough during the autocross and you've got oil and smoke from the weak points.
This usually happens with tracked cars but maybe you work it hard in the autocross.

[Eric G]

During my build I came across this:

I was looking at the power steering unit and realize I have a bleed tube that appears to be going nowhere and there is old fluid residue everywhere. So before I move on I start looking around the engine to see where it could go...no luck. I get back on line and search Pelican and come across a picture in the 101 projects, and low and behold there is a picture of of the exact thing I am looking for...



The Purple arrow Wayne shows the tube and stated he spent the better part of two hours looking for where this goes. Turns out, Porsche designed this tube to simply bleed all over the engine! I clean up the mess and install an extension to this tube and route it down around the engine so no fluid will be landing on the engine.

[com3dorm3]

Alright. Thks all for the input.
The engine bay was very dirty I could not tell where the source was. Well, it's cleaned now and I should be able to see the leak next time it happens.
For starters, I'm replacing the reservoir seals and will have the overflow tube so that it does not drop oil on the engine.

[JETBOXJP]

Exxon Valdez was an understatement, Wife parked the car and smoke fumes filled the garage, Blah..... Thanks to the threads, I found the next level of seals was the cause. The seal between the pump and the reservoir had failed..... Sounds Simple Huh!!!:

- 8 hours of access- (Take Pictures of everything) Soft Top, Seat and top engine access, Plenum Tube removal , Serpentine Belt Removal, Steering Pump Removal and some other crap I Didn't list... (see Pics):

- 1/2 hour of tracing the leak

- 2 hours of cleaning- Simple Green / Water / Brush ? Rolls of Paper Towels, Latex gloves,

- 2 days of hunting parts, Seals from Porsche Replace them all Trust Me

- 4 hours of of Re-assembly
The seal that failed.



Plenum Tubes.

Pump with the pulley removed.


Back of the reservior, Special procedures for removing the line with the RED Circle, see the manual, Need to push the whole piece around the tube in where the black ring in back of the red circle. PIA!!

4 days and $110.00 Was Yes a PIA :troll:but no leaks!!!