My 96 4x4 leaks. The engine is covered with grime and goo. Every morning when I get up there is a little puddle right under the front pumpkin. The fluid that is on the ground has an orange tinge to it. It doesnt look or smell like oil. The only place I can find anything close to that color is in the power steering reservoir. I have always used dexron in my power steering pumps instead of actual power steering fluid. When I first got the truck the fluid was low so I filled it with dexron III. I wonder if mixing the red dexron and the old power steering fluid would make an orangish color fluid. Anyways, I tried to tighten up the pressure and return lines on the back of the power steering reservoir but no luck I cant get my monkey knuckles in there enough to do anything. Any tips on how to get those off so I can get some teflon tape in there? The same color fluid also leaks out of the bottom of the steering box right where the pitman arm is attatched. I guess what I want to know is if anyone esle has had this problem and if so how did you resolve it? Sorry for the babbling. Thanks in advance.

 

The service and owners manuals expressly warn not use ATF in the power steering system.
ATF is incompatible with rubber parts of the system and will melt them. Likely you have melted seals all over in the system.
I would change it out for power steering fluid, then trace the leaks down.

 

You need to wash it down and see where the fluid is actually coming from. I know some of the cooler lines for the tranny run in that area so it would be a good idea to spend an hour and give her a good clean so you can tell where the oil is coming from.

Good Luck

Jason

 

I cleaned the truck and got it all nice and dry. Leak looks to be coming from the same spot right at the power steering components.

 

This is what happened when my power steeing box went south. $1100 later (from a dealer P & L) all was good.

 

Why so much? Did you buy all new parts? I hope I dont have that problem any time soon.