Well i had a helper screw up pretty bad the other day and he put brake fluid in the power steering pump on my 91 2500 farm truck. now the fluid goes directly into the crank case! So my question is what all do i have to replace, i have a new power steering pump ordered. he said he only poured 4 or 5o ounces in there so im hoping that it got diluted enough that it didn't hurt the motor. Anybody run into this problem before or have any idea what it could have messed up?

 

I'm not sure what "crank case" you're speaking of. The power steering fluid is in two components only -- the power steering pump and the steering gearbox.

I'm far from an expert but I would start by flushing the entire PS system. I've done it and found it easy. Start by using jackstands to get both front wheels clear of the ground. Then disconnect the return hose from the PS pump (the non-pressure hose). Find a small plastic container (Cool Whip, TupperWare, etc.) to catch the old fluid. On my truck there is plenty of room on the cross member beside the PS pump, on top of the steering shaft to rest such a container. Place the open end of the return hose in the container, start the truck, and have your helper slowly rotate the steering wheel from lock to lock. Get under the hood and pour new PS fluid into the PS pump reservoir, emptying the plastic container each time it fills. Continue this until you have run at least three quarts of PS fluid completely through the system. Replace the return hose on the PS pump, top up the fluid, remove the jackstands, and you're done. And I wouldn't bother replacing the PS pump until it fails or leaks.

Note: If at some point you let the reservoir get empty, there'll be air in the system and you'll need to leave the truck on the jackstands and rotate the steering wheel until you've bled all the air.

Best of luck.

 

I mean that when you pour power steering fluid into the power steering pump it goes into the motor oil. it must have eaten up a seal or something.

 

Uh, as far as I know, the motor oil and your power steering are to totally different things. There is no motor oil in your power steering pump, there is no power steering fluid in your motor.

Get a turkey baster and suck out all the power steetinr pump oil, and refill. bleed as said above to get the air out of the system.

 

i understand that but what i'm saying is its getting in to the motor somehow. i can pour power steering fluid into the pump and watch it disappear, it does not leak on the ground either. check the motor oil level and its two quarts high!

 

the only way that i can think of that happening is if the powersteering fluid went through the vaccum pump and then in to the front timing cover case.....just a theory, but i don't know if thats possible....but there is always murphy's law

 

Wow, not sure how it's getting in there, but anything is possible. Guess the from shaft seal could be toast, and it's running past that and down into the timing case? But as was stated I thought that the pump was driven off the back of the vacuum pump and was not connected to the timing case. But if it's happening then it's happening.

I would definitely change my oil and filters, maybe run a cheap cheap oil and fram filters for a flush, then put in the good stuff. As for the power steering fluid, I would use a funnel and power fresh fluid into the high side of the pump, and let it drain through the return side, do this several times to make sure you go most of the fluid out of your steering box. Then after you install the new power steering pump I would flush the system a few more times, just to be sure.

 

you reckon the vaccum pump is shot too? i think it has been messed up for a while because the brakes are really hard.

 

is this the early 91 or the 91.5 with intercooler?

 

The vacuum pump is sucking it in. Replace the seal on the vacuum pump and everything should be OK.

If the brake fluid hasn't destroyed the crank seals and valve seals on the motor, that is

I'd replace the vacuum pump seal, the steering box, pump, and hoses - and the farmhand too.

Wait and see on the engine seals. They might be fine since there was a much lower percentage of brake fluid in the motor oil.

 

its an early 91 without intercooler

 

alright i got everything tore down and the vacuum pump housing is eat all up, i guess someone has already replaced the bearing. there is about a 1/2" of permatex around the gasket! does anyone know where i might find another vacuum pump housing?

 

show a pic of this would ya.I cant see how this is happening.