Power steering fluid leak
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Power steering fluid leak
So when doing an oil change this evening I discovered I have a pretty significant power steering fluid leak. At first I thought it was an oil leak but thankfully it wasnt… Awhile back I found out it was leaking from the reservoir tank because a shop had filled the tank all the way to the damn top. I drained it down to the correct level which took care of that problem but this evening I noticed ps fluid all over my oil pan, leaf spring and subframe…. I looked around but couldn’t pinpoint where the leak might be. Is there a common spot for s fluid leaks? Any tips on trying to locate where the leak is coming from?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
So when doing an oil change this evening I discovered I have a pretty significant power steering fluid leak. At first I thought it was an oil leak but thankfully it wasnt… Awhile back I found out it was leaking from the reservoir tank because a shop had filled the tank all the way to the damn top. I drained it down to the correct level which took care of that problem but this evening I noticed ps fluid all over my oil pan, leaf spring and subframe…. I looked around but couldn’t pinpoint where the leak might be. Is there a common spot for s fluid leaks? Any tips on trying to locate where the leak is coming from?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
This, and year would help, since early ones had the shorter lines,while replacement became the longer line to add more flex to the line.
The routing for the new longer line,
And it if is the pressure side line that leaking, may want to just upgrade to line with cooler in it, that is used on the Z51 and up models/not much more and routes the same way..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1,167
From: Northern Wisconsin
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
What is the best way to find the leak? Is there a way to pressurize the system and look for a leak? It’s leaking pretty bad and getting all over my oil pan and the smell is pretty strong when I’m driving. I thought the leak was coming from one of the hoses but I noticed the other day when I checked it looked like maybe some fluid was coming out of the reservoir tank also so it seems like the system is getting too pressurized or something.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 168
Likes: 53
From: Mooresville, IN
What is the best way to find the leak? Is there a way to pressurize the system and look for a leak? It’s leaking pretty bad and getting all over my oil pan and the smell is pretty strong when I’m driving. I thought the leak was coming from one of the hoses but I noticed the other day when I checked it looked like maybe some fluid was coming out of the reservoir tank also so it seems like the system is getting too pressurized or something.
Last edited by Jlang1; Jul 25, 2025 at 08:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,012
Likes: 828
If you are unable to locate the source of the leakage, we may suggest bringing your Corvette to a Chevrolet dealership for a deeper investigation. Our team is only an email away at socialmedia@gm.com, should you have questions or need assistance connecting with your preferred dealership. We'll keep an eye on our inbox for any incoming messages.
thing knower
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,404
Likes: 942
From: wpb
grab some uv dye like this....
be sure to clean up everything with degreaser first, this will make your life much happy
https://a.co/d/81sMcBj
be sure to clean up everything with degreaser first, this will make your life much happy
https://a.co/d/81sMcBj
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
grab some uv dye like this....
be sure to clean up everything with degreaser first, this will make your life much happy
https://a.co/d/81sMcBj
be sure to clean up everything with degreaser first, this will make your life much happy
https://a.co/d/81sMcBj
thing knower
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,404
Likes: 942
From: wpb
So just pour that stuff in the ps reservoir? Won’t cause any problems? I appreciate the info. I’m going to degrease everything and clean it up good this evening and see if I can find anything….. my reservoir was way overfilled in the past by one of the shops it was at and I’m assuming the extra pressure busted something. All this time I thought it was burning oil that I was smelling but now I realize it was probably the ps fluid…. It recently must have got way worse cause I had never seen any on the oil pan before and on my last oil change the oil pan was covered in ps fluid…. I literally never use my AC but I had turned it on a couple days prior to the oil change and that’s when it was all over the place….Would running the AC make the leak worse?
some dyes are for specific applications, and \ or may require a flush and refill of the systems.
I've used uv dye many times for coolant, this one i provided says hydraulic systems, so it should work
be sure to research this on your own to ensure it works with your application.