Possible power steering fluid leak

damo_s · 28th December 2011, 02:31 PM

Hi all.

Over the last 2 or 3 days there has been an increasing amount of what seems like a greenish fluid pooling under the car.

To give you an idea of the leak, the piece of ply in the next picture was sitting under the car for 5 hours.

The second pic gives an idea as to the location of the ply under the car.

Here you can see the underneath view of the car. There is a fair bit of fluid around the place, and on edge of the plate above the steering damper (technically above but in this pic it looks below), you can see a drop of fluid.

I originally thought it was coolant or something like that, but when i popped the bonnet this is what i saw.

Naturally I have a few questions..

What are the possible causes of this leak? A pump or a hose? With the pics I have provided is there any way you can tell if it is either a pump or hose? Is the car safely drivable with this leak? Does anyone know any places which specialise in steering or would be well equipped to deal with this?

Cheers for your help

Tombie · 28th December 2011, 03:06 PM

On that side, and considering bottle appears to be down...

Lift bottle out and follow the hoses

Check PS pump

Check no hoses are rubbing on the sump / block (which is common in that corner of the engine)

Tombie · 28th December 2011, 03:07 PM

Oh yeah!!!

Quick degrease and a short drive (or even idling and turning steering wheel) should then reveal the source of the leak...

**Fluids** · 28th December 2011, 07:33 PM

Here's a pretty likley candidate ...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...e-failure.html

Been there ... done that.

Discobaker · 28th December 2011, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Fluids

Here's a pretty likley candidate ...

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...e-failure.html

Been there ... done that.

Ditto

damo_s · 29th December 2011, 09:25 AM

Thanks fellas,

pretty sure i have that exact same problem. Getting it fixed today.

The PAS level is quite low.. does this mean the car can't be driven until the level is topped up?

If so.. is there any particular fluid that is required? Or will any power steering fluid do?

**Fluids** · 1st January 2012, 09:52 AM

This might be a tad late ... but anyway ...

That hose is a supply line to the power steering pump. It's not under pressure, so the rate of leakage if your failure is the same as the link I posted, should be due to gravity .... as long as there is fluid in the reservior you'll be OK, but, it's a gamble as to how fast the rest of the fluid will dissapear.

There are threads on AULRO where some have used different fluid to that which is reccomended ... I use Penrite PAS fluid, which is an equal to what Land Rover reccomends ...

PAS FLUID - Penrite Oil

Discobaker · 1st January 2012, 10:20 AM

I also use the Penrite fluid, replaced my pas pump a few months back & gave it all a good clean out, touch wood, no issues so far.

damo_s · 4th January 2012, 01:09 AM

Hey fellas. Ended up being the pump that was leaking, Unfortunately. Had to get it replaced asap as I went away on holidays over the weekend.

Fluids: I also had the hose replaced as a precaution. Lucky enough I did, as the hose was not far away from failing. It had almost worn through the metal u-bend from what you described as rubbing against the sump. I'll try get a pic.

Cheers

Damo

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

vinnoh · 4th January 2012, 07:04 AM

Just did an engine transplant in my TD5, and noticed the same problem. Was the PAS pump hose at the metal bend, rubbing against the sump. just about worn right through. With a little bit of adjustment to the pipe on the pump, I was able to get plenty of clearance. Definately something to keep an eye on.
Vin

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