Water is power steering fluid?
02-15-2007, 01:34 PM
#1
Staging Lane
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Water in power steering fluid?
Heres the scenario: Went to start my truck for work (99 5.3 silverado) this morning. Truck starts and about 5 seconds later starts to squeel very badly. Turn truck off, pop hood, see fluid coming from power steering box. Look closer and one of the rubber lines that was clamped on to the power steering box and been forced off. Pull the cap off to find milky power steering fluid (looks like coffee with lots of milk). Tried to pull a hose off and drain the fluid turning wheel lock to lock...thought I got most of it drained. Added more fluid, started truck and 5 seconds later starts squeeling and making noise like something in the pump is not right. Any suggestions on what could be wrong? My theory is that water somehow got into the system(no idea how that would happen), when I started the truck the water and fluid mixed, water expanded? and shot the hose off. Also it had been snowing/freezing rain here all yesterday, and looks like my fluid goes into the radiator to cool it. Any help is much appreciated. Any questions just ask, thanks guys.
Last edited by Chrisl285; 02-15-2007 at 01:49 PM.
02-15-2007, 04:04 PM
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the cooler for the power steering should be in front of the radiator, in front of the a/c condenser coil. you can see it through the grille on the driver side against the edge, it's only like a 2-3 row cooler and it's stand vertical. I have no idea how water could have gotten in the system, are you sure it's not foam like it mixed with air? maybe a seal is gone and its whipping air into the oil???
02-15-2007, 04:43 PM
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Staging Lane
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Not sure its water. The oil is foaming but has turned brown (like coffe and milk) it is no longer a clear liquid. I dont know if air in the system could cause this?
02-16-2007, 09:02 AM
#5
Is it possible that the pressure relief valve for the ps pump is stuck or fubar? The p/s pump might be toast. Some moisture can develop in any of the fluid systems of the vehicle that don't get warm enough to burn it off, but it seems like it would be kinda hard to get that much water in the p/s system (although anything's possible I suppose). I have heard of the pumps wearing on these trucks...from what I've read, when they wear enough, you would be able to grab the p/s pulley and wiggle it and get alot of play.
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