Water in power steering fluid?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 205
Likes: 15
From: East Greenwich NJ
Water in power steering fluid?
After I heard the tell tale "whirring" noise when I turned in the '69, I knew I had a power steering issue. Once I managed to find the resevoir under the alternator, I found that the level was below the dipstick. SO, I ran over to PB and grabbed some fluid and poured some in. When I looked in with a flashlight, I saw a clear fluid and am thinking it is water. I see no red in it, despite the fresh fluid I just added.
Is this a common occurence? Any suggestions??
Is this a common occurence? Any suggestions??
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Dunno if this will help or not but I just siphoned out the P.S. Pump on my D.D. 2000 Z71 Silverado cause it was whineing and the new fluid that I put in was rather clear, and the noise and poor steering assist have been fixed, for how long ?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,dunno that either. Peace,,,Moosie 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
From: Melrose Florida
Power steering fluid is clear.
Automatic transmission fluid is red. It works well in power steering systems, and is commonly used for this purpose.
Steve
Automatic transmission fluid is red. It works well in power steering systems, and is commonly used for this purpose.
Steve
After I heard the tell tale "whirring" noise when I turned in the '69, I knew I had a power steering issue. Once I managed to find the resevoir under the alternator, I found that the level was below the dipstick. SO, I ran over to PB and grabbed some fluid and poured some in. When I looked in with a flashlight, I saw a clear fluid and am thinking it is water. I see no red in it, despite the fresh fluid I just added.
Is this a common occurence? Any suggestions??
Is this a common occurence? Any suggestions??
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Power steering fluid is clear. If you want to flush the system it is easy to do.Remove return line from back of PS pump.
Route hose into a container.
Fill pump with new fluid and start car. Keep adding new fluid in pump and car car will automatically replace old fluid with new.
Turn car off, replace hose and check level.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 205
Likes: 15
From: East Greenwich NJ
Well, that explains why the clear liquid appeared to have some thickness to it -- I figured it was just the awkward position I was in, leaning over the fender, looking back and under the alternator. Strange, though, that the Valvoline product I used is labled as power steering fluid for high mileage use.
Thanks for the help.
Shoevette
Thanks for the help.
Shoevette
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
Well, that explains why the clear liquid appeared to have some thickness to it -- I figured it was just the awkward position I was in, leaning over the fender, looking back and under the alternator. Strange, though, that the Valvoline product I used is labled as power steering fluid for high mileage use.
Thanks for the help.
Shoevette
Thanks for the help.
Shoevette
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
If you get water introduced into the power steering system you will quickly know it. The water molecules will change to steam as they pass through the pumping section of the pump and you will hear loud popping noises coming from the pump.
The fluid in the system will look milky. You will have to flush the system to remove the residual water from the system.
This isn't very common but with salvage gears, pumps, hoses, etc laying around for years, rain, condensation, is always possible. Particularly when you don't know the history of your parts.
Jim
The fluid in the system will look milky. You will have to flush the system to remove the residual water from the system.
This isn't very common but with salvage gears, pumps, hoses, etc laying around for years, rain, condensation, is always possible. Particularly when you don't know the history of your parts.
Jim
