Power Steering Reservoir Hose Leaking

2021, 35k odo. I think this is a new leak. Guessing the clamp was dry and silver at one point, now it’s soaked and black. Some fluid has dribbled down the hose. Mostly appears dryish wet. The fluid level is where it should be, no obvious drop. Steering feels fine. Is this a common leak? Why does it occur? What do I need to do to resolve it? Appreciate your help.

 

My initial thought is to clean it up and replace the hose clamp to see if that stops the leak. Do I have to pull the hose to replace the clamp? What is the proper process? Guessing fluid will come out once I pull the hose.

 

I’d confirm if this is in fact a new leak. And yes to replace the clamp the hose has to come off. You could use turkey baster or something similar to remove the fluid from the reservoir then pull the hose.

 

My first thought is it's a spill, not a leak. Clean it and check back later.

 

I gave the hose and clip a thorough cleaning and it appears to have been just a seep at some point. The fluid that made it down the hose seems dry so it may be a false alarm. I will keep a close eye on it.

I topped it off a few months ago. The low and high threshold is so small. If I topped it off too high would it create too much pressure and maybe hence the seep to relieve it? What do you think?

Also can someone confirm that the high pressure clip is black and not silver? I don’t think my black clip is due to fluid but it’s strange because all the other clips in the engine bay appear silver. Is it possible that the one clip is black?

 

I've been battling this pws leak issue for a while now and just gave up. What made it worse is that I could not find anyone else with this specific issue. Basically the issue is that there is a good amount of pws fluid leaking out the bottom of the reservoir nipple (to the pw steering pump), the return line is dry. I even replaced the OEM reservoir with a aftermarket (Dorman, I believe), it made the leaking worse. It also came with the hose to the pw steering pump. So I re-installed the OEM unit and added a worm clamp b/c the OEM clamp IMO does not have enough clamping force. It still leaked after adding a 2nd worm clamp!! I had my son cycle the steering wheel while I was inspecting the reservoir and did I not notice any spraying or gushing. Meanwhile I added a oil absorbing matt to catch the fluid, but it's running down the frame rail and all over the pwt pump hose and other stuff. Eventually it collects in the skid plate. What's strange is that I do not notice drips on the ground, even had cardboard underneath the truck for a night, no sports that I could find. I tired to look for recall/serviceblt for this specific issue and I could not find anything. There was a recall for pws rack leaks due to a faulty gear thing....nothing for what I am seeing on my truck. Could this be a faulty pws pump/rack that creates too much pressure and pressurizes the reservoir, pushing the fluid through the high pressure hose at the bottom of the reservoir? I also, don't notice any whining from the pws pump or a heaving feeling steering action. The pws does not feel overly assisted, it is comfortable, but not super light. When stationary, there is a little more effort needed turning lock to lock. I am assuming that this is normal since the truck weighs a lot. I love this truck and want to keep it beyond 500k miles. However, I am OSD and like to work on my vehicles. I don't want to ignore this issue any longer. Please let know your thoughts. I am hoping that there more owners other that experienced this issue and have a fix for it. My next move is to buy a OEM reservoir with the hoses and try again...

 

Mine appears the same way. I changed my lucid last year. Not sure if i spilled or not last time. Memory isn't what it used to be in this ol'e yeller.

2010truck

 

Thanks for the info…

 

My power steering fluid was overfilled when i had it changed out about two weeks ago and was venting out all over the place, so i just used a fluid transfer and sucked some out to stop it.

 

Thanks for the feedback. But I think the fluid level was right on. With the leak going on, there is less fluid and below the hot/cold min/max lines.

 

Mine was black.

 

Thanks! Hard to make out the color though. What do you think?

 

Good to know it matches mine. Thanks!

 

Mine's definitely not black. It's same as the one on adjacent tube, but is starting to show signs of corrosion. This is on 2010 truck. Yours should be the same light metallic color. I doubt they started putting fancy anodized black clamps on later models. Haven't even seen black clamps before.

 

I got a new oem clamp to try and see if it stops the slooooow seep. Guessing I’ll need to open the old clamp, pull the hose (circled red), slide out the old clamp, and slide in the new clamp, then finally release the red tab so the new one clamps down. My main question, what can I expect or prepare for when I pull the hose, will all the ps steering from the reservoir come flowing out? Also, will fluid come out of the hose? Figure I’ll need to have a catch can and prepare for both? Will it come shooting out? Do I have to bleed the system after the clamp is replaced?



What’s the best way to unlock the new clamp? Pull the red tab with a regular pliar? Anything special about these?

 

You should suction the reservoir before pulling the hose, the top hose is the return line and it only will push fluid into the reservoir when the wheel is turned. Fluid on the bottom hose shouldn't be under any pressure so if the reservoir is empty the hose shouldn't have too much fluid in it but I'm sure some will drip out, just try to keep it pointed up. As far as the clamp just pull the tab when its on the hose and it will snap shut on the hose. You don't really need to bleed the system, any air in the system would just dump into the reservoir on return but then it couldn't get back in the feed line. It's super easy to replace all the fluid if you disconnect the feed line and put it in a bottle while having someone turn the wheel with the engine off, you'll need to have the front end raised and just keep filling the reservoir until clean fluid comes out the return line.

 

Great info, thanks! If it’s a sloooow seep should I just leave it alone and clean up as it gets dirty, top off fluid as needed? Wondering if I remove the original clamp or even readjust it if just exacerbates the area where it’s seeping? Tiny cut in hose from clamp squeezing too tight, or clamp not squeezing down enough, … who knows? I’m at 40k maybe I should just replace the new clamp when I change the ps fluid at 50k or 60k? I only drive 10k a year so that could be another year or two later though. What do you think?

 

My plan is to flush the system by disconnecting the return hose and turning the wheel back and forth until fluid becomes clean, reconnect return hose. My question. When I fill the new fluid to the marking, do I need to remove the reservoir cap during the final bleeding step or do I keep the cap on? Engine on or off while bleeding?

How many quarts do I need to have on-hand for a flush?

 

I used a brake bleeder tool to clean out the fluid and replace it. I would say you might have a pin hole in hose pulling off look it over cut off the bad spot and reinstall. Clamp failed but I would be more inclined to say hose is faulty

 

Engine off with the entire process. You can leave the cap off the entire time until you are done as well. You need to cap off the the spot on the reservoir that the return line connects to. I used a rubber cab that came with my mityvac. It takes about two quart, this is the part number 00718-ATF00.

 

Agree, either weakend clamp or pinhole. If it’s a pinhole leak, others cut off bad spot? I would be scared to cut it and end up short and unable to reconnect it to the reservoir.

 

My end was split cut and reinstalled no problem