Power Steering Fluid is Full With The Car Off And Empty With It On.

[udcc11]

Power steering fluid is completely full with the key off. If I start the car the pump makes noises and the fluid is barely visible at the bottom of the reservoir. Once I shut the car off the fluid is very bubbled and takes about 5 minutes to return to the full mark. If I add fluid with it running it will leak out (I can't figure out where) for a few days and return to the fill line with the car off and stop. It won't leak passed the normal fill mark with the car off. I have checked the boots for a leak in the rack and nothing drips out. I'm absolutely stumped here.

[killerkali]

Try bleeding it with the car off see if it will pull more fluid into the system? I'd also try to figure out what the leak is

[udcc11]

If I bleed the system with the car off the fluid goes up slightly. With the car on it doesn't change anything.

The leak apparently does not come out with the car off or with it sitting there running. I guess I need to sit there and turn the wheel back and forth over and over with the car on.

[blmlozz]

Sounds like air in the system to me. This fluid will expand when it has air trapped inside. I would try bleeding by turning the steering lock to lock and add fluid slowly.

[ianwpb]

I would just try to flush all of the fluid.

If you don't know the process -

Remove the fluid from the reservoir then pull the return line off and use a barbed connector to attach it to a piece of 3/8" hose that empties into a gallon jug. Plug the return line hole on the reservoir (I used one of the fingers from a rubber glove and a zip tie). Fill the reservoir and start the car and turn it off within 2 seconds. Don't let the reservoir run dry. keep doing that until you see fresh fluid coming out of the return line that is going to the gallon jug. Once the old stuff is flushed then do your bleed. Make sure the front wheels are off the ground when turning lock to lock.


FYI - CHF 11s is green, CHF 202s is blue, so use the opposite one so you can see a clear difference. They're compatible with each other.

[richmonds4]

There's a leak in the supply line between res and pump .
Usually it's the elbow hose at the pump , it sucks air in when running
And foams up the fluid. It's not pressurized so it doesn't leak .

[udcc11]

Sounds like air in the system to me. This fluid will expand when it has air trapped inside. I would try bleeding by turning the steering lock to lock and add fluid slowly.

I have tomorrow off so I'll put it up on jack stands and add fluid to the system and try to bleed it again and just leave it running for awhile and see if I can find a leak.

I would just try to flush all of the fluid.

If you don't know the process -

Remove the fluid from the reservoir then pull the return line off and use a barbed connector to attach it to a piece of 3/8" hose that empties into a gallon jug. Plug the return line hole on the reservoir (I used one of the fingers from a rubber glove and a zip tie). Fill the reservoir and start the car and turn it off within 2 seconds. Don't let the reservoir run dry. keep doing that until you see fresh fluid coming out of the return line that is going to the gallon jug. Once the old stuff is flushed then do your bleed. Make sure the front wheels are off the ground when turning lock to lock.


FYI - CHF 11s is green, CHF 202s is blue, so use the opposite one so you can see a clear difference. They're compatible with each other.

I'll have to order more fluid to flush it and get the blue CHF 202. See what happens when I try bleeding it and leaving it running.

There's a leak in the supply line between res and pump .
Usually it's the elbow hose at the pump , it sucks air in when running
And foams up the fluid. It's not pressurized so it doesn't leak .

I replaced the elbow with the pump. It did this before and after I replaced it. I'll try tighten the clamps and see what happens.

[udcc11]

FYI - CHF 11s is green, CHF 202s is blue, so use the opposite one so you can see a clear difference. They're compatible with each other.

I was reading up on this and found the 202 is the replacement for 11S. 202 is a little thicker, but still green and comes in bottle with blue writing. It's also about $5 cheaper and available at O'Reilly's.

[ianwpb]

I was reading up on this and found the 202 is the replacement for 11S. 202 is a little thicker, but still green and comes in bottle with blue writing. It's also about $5 cheaper and available at O'Reilly's.

I used it recently, I could've sworn it was blue or at least bluish. It's definitely wasn't the same as the 11s in color.

[richmonds4]

I have tomorrow off so I'll put it up on jack stands and add fluid to the system and try to bleed it again and just leave it running for awhile and see if I can find



I replaced the elbow with the pump. It did this before and after I replaced it. I'll try tighten the clamps and see what happens.

May be the one going from the res to the hard line then . Has to be on the inlet side , or it would just leak out the hole

[blmlozz]

May be the one going from the res to the hard line then . Has to be on the inlet side , or it would just leak out the hole

the lines to the cooler are notorious for leaking as well.

Have you considered the P/S may just be damaged? I've had 3 30V V6 audi vehicles so far. Every single one needed a new P/S pump.

[Leflerej]

Is your power steering acting normal? I actually just had to replace my power steering pump after trying to track down leaks within the system. That elbow off of the pump is very brittle and could be where air is getting into the system.

I ended up having the bearing go out in my pump so it just got worse and worse. However, the original symptoms were that air was getting into the system making it noisy. Air was being pulled from the front of the pump where the bearing was starting to go.

Make sure you have the front jacked off of the ground to do your bleeding. Bleed all of the system and then fire it up. If you start getting a bunch of foam and air bubbles again your drawing air in somewhere and probably a lot of it. Seems that a lot of this stuff goes at the same time for everyone car so keep an eye on the pump, and signs of leaking behind the pully and you have your answer.