Power steering oil leak

[Johnny C]

Last week the steering made a horrible grinding noise when I applied pressure. 9M suggested checking the oil level in the PS tank, and it was empty. So I put some slick50 PS oil in. This am. there's no oil again.

First, which grade do I need to put in? The Slick 50 was universal but twice the price of Halfords brand. I will only need some for a few weeks as it's due a service anyway (102K on the clock now)

Second, some help in identifying the problem before the service would be appreciated. There's no apparent leak from the steering rack - it would have stained the block paving in the drive and the missus would be giving me no end of earache!

There is a ver faint smell of vapourised oil from the air-vents, which makes me suspect it's dripping onto a hot engine part in the boot. I can't see anything obvious, and I can't see a leak on the above-mentioned block paving at the back of the car either, but is there somewhere I could easily check? I don't know how the pipework is done.

9M said I may need a replacement steering rack, but I would hazard a guess that a leaky pipe at the back would be cheaper to fix

 

[6271james]

My 4S made a similar sound when applying lock. Turned out a pipe had come off under the front plastic floortray. Strasse in Leeds pushed it back on, applied a cable tie of some type to help hold it in place and so far so good !!

 

[John Maddox]

The only way I would think such a large leak is not showing is that the rack rubber bellows is holding the oil as it leaks past the rack seals. Get it up at the front and check the bellows for oil. They should squash easily under hand pressure- if they don't they could be full of fluid.

Watch you don't run the pump dry of fluid - this will double the cost of the repair if it does as it is easily damaged.

 

[Johnny C]

Not sure what you mean by "Recent purchase .. PPI ??" Maurice?
I've had the car 2 years now (and put 30K on the clock).

Larger than normal service bill - LOL, what's a normal service bill - they're all large!

First law of service bills:
They're always larger than you expect, even when you expect them to be larger than you expect.

 

[Johnny C]

No, I bought the car privately.

The service is never the problem it's the repairs. All credit to Robin at 9M, I don't think he's ever brought up something I didn't know about already (and there's always plenty of them!)

My wife has a Nissan Micra. She's not had a bill for non-'wear and tear' repairs in 6 years, only service, tyres and brake pads. She had a Micra before that too for 10 years or so, and the only repair bill she had on that one was when I connected the battery up the wrong way and took out the wiring loom in the engine compartment. Hair-driers they may be, but they just don't sem to go wrong. She rarely fails to mention that when I get another repair bill

 

[John Maddox]

Just to give you an idea of costs - My OPC wanted £900 + Vat to replace the Steering Rack. I couldn't afford that so took it out myself and sent it away for reconditioning @ £195 and re-fitted it. Not too difficult but time consuming. You do also need a geometry check after but mine was due one anyway.

Been fine ever since touch wood.