I've been getting what I thought was engine oil in my PS system but didn't see how it could happen. Yesterday Blackstone confirmed it. I've put on a new PS pump, rebuilt my vacuum pump and a new hydroboost trying to fix the problem of fluid getting puked from the PS resevior. Help me wrap my brain around this. The only oil line is on the vacuum pump but I don't see how it could get in my system???? Could there be an underlying problem somewhere else that would force the engine oil into PS system???? It only seems to do it when its warm out (above 70*). I'm at a loss.

 

is blackstone an oil analiys company?

The only way I can see how engine oil could get in there is IF both the vacuum seal(installed backwards maybe) and the powersteering seals are bad AND you siliconed the nose of the PS pump where it fits into the vacuum pump. siliconing the nose will eliminate the drain hole between the two pumps. besides the vacuum pump housing drains back into the timing cover, so that would have to be blocked to cause a pressure build up forcing the oil past the seals...

I dont think its possible for the two oils to mix, and if they did there would have to be a lot of things wrong so that it could. engine oil pressure is 100psi (max cold) and the PS fluid pressure is a few hundred higher than that, I cant see how lower pressure can overcome higher pressure unless the PS pump is "sucking in the fluid" via a bad seal..

What type of PS fluid are you using??

You could put u-violet dye (same used in AC systems) in the engine oil, and then check the PS fluid with a black lite to comfirm that the two fluids are mixing)


I'm at a loss, will have to think about it more...

 

You had Oil Analysis done on PS fluid?? Not sure how they could read that on a spectrometer.... but maybe??

Color and feel should be a giveaway anyway....No?
That is assuming it's possible.

RJ

 

They had me send in a virgin sample of the PS fluid and the sample fluid. I have the report but I can't figure out how to scan it and post here.

It says:

This sample of power steering fluid was contaminated with some type of engine oil. While the virgin sample has some calcium, phosphorus and zinc, this oil has all types of oil additives that are typically found in an engine oil. The vicosity of this oil measured in the SAE 20W-grade range. Note the high level of insolubles, which are oxidized solids caused by heat and use. The dominant metal in the oil was iron, from a steel part. We're not sure how engine oil can be getting into the power steering system, but maybe the dealer will have an idea.

I flushed the system about 2K miles ago when I put on the hydroboost. My brain hurts.

 

Well, Nick you are a winner!!!!!!! I'm such a moron. A couple of years ago it started to make oil in the PS system. I first replaced the PS pump cause I thought it was toast. Didn't fix it. Then I noticed the vacuum pump leaking at the seal so I pulled it out and replaced the seals and orings. Here is where I messed up. When I took it apart things just went everywhere and being the great mechanic I am, I just guessed how it went back together and installed the seal on the wrong side (I put it on the side towards the PS pump). It worked for about a year and started to make oil again. This time I just knew it was the hydroboost leaking down and pressurizing my system thus overflowing the PS pump so I dropped $200 on a new hydroboost. Still didn't fix it so I decided to put another kit in the vacuum pump and thats when I realized what I had done. Anyway, I put it back together yesterday and I accidentally pushed the seal out when I installed the PS pump so I got to redo the entire thing again today...so far so good.

I think by now I finally have a good understanding of the PS system so if anyone has any problems...I wouldn't ask me.

 

Well, you seem to still have a sense of humor which is required. The long and short of it is "feces arrives". Only the strong can shed it without incuring a distinct odor. JMHO of course.

 

Thats funny right there.