Power steering leak

ABLEV

MEMBER
1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
5.7L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
176,000 MILES

Power steering was leaking and had to refill every other day. Pump finally gave out and was replaced. It’s still leaking. So much that I have to fill it every time I drive it. I’ve made sure all the hoses are tight I’ve replaced the o rings but it still leaks. I filled it up before I went to work today and after work I checked the fluid level and it was about half full. I thought that might mean the leak was somewhere above that level. Drove home and it started whining like it was empty. Got home checked and it was empty. I can’t find the leak.

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,414 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros. That sounds like a large pressure leak. A common place for leaks is the power steering cooler, they can leak and spray fluid into the front of the truck where it pools in the sheet metal. I have also had them leak out of small holes in the rubber lines when the system is under higher pressure like turning the wheel wile setting still. Sometimes without leaving fluid on the line to indicate a leak, they act like a sprinkler. I would go over the lines, remove the grill so you can get at the cooler and then dust the lines all with baby powder. Fill the reservoir and start the truck. Turn the wheel left and right to the stops a couple times. Shut off the engine and look for the wet powder. Should show where the leak is pretty quick. Do not try to find it by running your hands along the lines with the engine running. The pressure is high enough that it could inject power steering fluid into your skin. That can lead to nasty problems.

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