Blue smoke and power steering keeps draining

2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA
159,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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SEQUOIA04
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hello,
There is blue smoking coming from my trucks exhaust when I start it and when I idle or drive after idling. My mechanic thought it was a leaking in the rack and pinion. The power steering fluid reservoir always need to be refilled. I had the rack and pinion replaced and the power steering hoses changed. But the issue persist. Do you have any suggestions?
Sep 11, 2019 at 8:14 PM
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KASEKENNY
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi,

I am not sure that a power steering fluid issue how cause blue smoke.

Blue smoke is caused by oil getting burned in the combustion chamber and I am not sure how power steering fluid would get inside the engine. More than likely you have two issues.

Here is a guide that goes into more detail about blue smoke:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/blue-smoke-from-engines-exhaust

As for the power steering issue, is the pump making noise? If you are losing fluid, then you have a leak somewhere. This is an independent system and I am surprised you don't see any fluid leaking out somewhere. Did your mechanic trace all the lines while operating the system to see if there was any fluid dripping? This system is pressurized so it may only leak while driving so it may be dripping on the road and you don't see it or get blown back further under the vehicle so you wouldn't see the signs of a leak around the power steering components.

I would suggest running the engine and have someone turn the wheel back and forth while looking for a leak. Let me know what you find. Thanks
Sep 12, 2019 at 7:25 AM
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