Thread: Could this leak be the Steering Damper blown?

Can't see where the leak is coming from, but think about it logically.
oil won't flow against gravity .. ie. uphill.
If steering damper, then how did it get to the diff and axle dampner .. both above the steering damper.
Also, unless you drive more quickly in reverse than in forward direction, how did the oil travel forward of the steering damper too?

Likely cause would be the diff pinion seal. Not bad enough to spray backwards when moving along normally, but just enough to get sprayed about via the diff flange, and slow enough(diff oil is quite thick) to linger to the point that once at rest, it'll then travel(or ooze!) along the most normal route from the seal at the pinion and forward and down the diff pumpkin housing.

I got a Tdi D1, so different motor, but!

I also have a small leak up front. Kind'a does the same thing as seen here, but I'm sure mine is from the oil pump housing which sits directly above the diff.
What ti does tho, is:
1/ On a long drive, it sprays backwards and covers a lot of the RHS of the engine and onto the RHS of the firewall, then down onto trans and some onto the front prop shaft.
2/. every day driving around town, mainly at abotu 80k/h for a short time on the freeway, but half of that drive time pootling around town type scenario. In this case, the oil 'lingers' .. that is it doesn't get sprayed about as much as the situation above. But what happens, is that it lingers long enough and over a period of time, that it finally drips enough oil(maybe 10ml in a couple of months) and it settles on top of the front diff. Top of front diff has ribbing/gusseting which holds some of this oil. Holds it long enough that at some point it then flows around the diff.

To the initial observer, it looks like a pinion seal, and some of it travels backwards and onto the steering damper too .. but doesnt' look like an oil pump housing leak.

If I can get off my lazy behind .. I'd fix it!
Actually have the small o-ring now and next oil change will "try to remember" to do it.

Best thign to do here is a good clean with a high pressure method, use their degreaser, get under and high pressure clean as far as you can reach .. get rid of as much oil residue as possible. The watch where it initiates from.
The alternative will be that you're chasing ghosts.

From memory, a high probability of oil leaks in that general area could be: front main seal, oil cooler pipes(engine side primarily, but possibly radiator side) oil pump(could be something as insignificant as the oil pressure switch), or power steering pump.
More than likely it's a combo of some of those possible sources.

Also oils have a smell. PS fluid smells different to engine oil smells different to diff oil. Take a sample and do a sniff test?

If it’s diff oil the smell of a drop or two should make that quite apparent - I reek of the stuff at the moment as I’ve just spent the day pulling the hubs and swivel assemblies off my 101.

Ok thanks guys I will clean it up and see what happens next.

I have taken a closer look at the reco steering box that has just been put in and found that the line from the power steering pump to the steering box is leaking. It isn’t causing the above leak but needs to be replaced. It seems the line is now the weak point in the power steering. Did a new pump last year.

The other issue is that after the steering box was replaced the truck wanders and it takes more effort to keep in lane. Steering feels firm with no slop. I assume the leaking line should be replaced before diagnosing further. I also assume the mechanic adjusted the steering box correctly but who knows. Could it be a worn out box even though it has new seals.

Is there something else I should check.

Originally Posted by LRpete

Ok thanks guys I will clean it up and see what happens next.

I have taken a closer look at the reco steering box that has just been put in and found that the line from the power steering pump to the steering box is leaking. It isn’t causing the above leak but needs to be replaced. It seems the line is now the weak point in the power steering. Did a new pump last year.

.....

Another line that leaks regularly is the pwr str reservoir to pump hose. I leaks both at the reservoir end and at the pump end. Sometimes you can get away with tightening the clamps, but the hose is cheap, and easy to replace.
You'd be surprised where a leak can originate from. Is the entire underside of the sump wet with oily residue?

In my case the reservoir joint end was leaking. I thought I'd tried most remedies without success but last time I simple slackened the hose clamp, gave it a 1/4 turn to a new position & guess what? It fixed it.
I believe the clamp had dug into the hose enough through many tightening attempts to hit the hard pipe from the Reservoir & therefore wouldn't tighten enough. Now it does, well did, 'cos i got rid of her recently. Problem really solved now.

Arthur I replaced the pump, reservoir and hose between them last year so all that is new. But that said I have just tightened the clamps on that hose when I found the leak in the line from pump to box. So that hose was probably leaking as well.

Yes there is oil residue all over bottom of sump.

Originally Posted by LRpete

the truck wanders

Is it lifted, with camber adjustment done?

Could be a worn box. There is a grub screw and lock nut arrangement on the top of the steering box which allows for some wear to be taken up.

Where the oil filter is spun on. If the v8 has a similar arrangement to the Tdi300 then there may be a wax thermostat housed very near by. The o-ring under the cap perishes and leaks engine oil - the thermostat housing leak deceives you into thinking your oil filter must be loose or leaking somehow, but it is not.

Originally Posted by workingonit

Is it lifted, with camber adjustment done?

Could be a worn box. There is a grub screw and lock nut arrangement on the top of the steering box which allows for some wear to be taken up.

Where the oil filter is spun on. If the v8 has a similar arrangement to the Tdi300 then there may be a wax thermostat housed very near by. The o-ring under the cap perishes and leaks engine oil - the thermostat housing leak deceives you into thinking your oil filter must be loose or leaking somehow, but it is not.

Thanks for the thought. Yes Truck is standard height.

Hope the reconditioned box isn’t worn so much it causes a problem I paid $695 plus labour to have it fitted.

I will check for the o ring leak as you say I did think the filter may be loose. There was oil in that area but I cleaned it up.