Today I started my truck after it sat for 4 days and drove a short distance to work. One of the guys said " you got an oil leak" I looked under the front of the truck and noticed oil on the ground. I started the truck and the fluid was dropping at a good rate. I then drove to the parents house about 1/4 to 1/2 mile away and the pump started to get noisy.I then looked closer and noticed it was power steering fluid. It was low on fluid for sure. I got some Mopar fluid and in the process of adding I filled it to the top, not too worried because the way the fluid was runnung out I knew in the short 4 mile drive to my mechanic I would be stopping a few times to top the tank. Well I drove it to the shop and no noise, steering fine. The mechanic looked it over, no leak. Drove it up and down the road and still no leak. I brought the truck home and checked the level of the fluid and it was almost full to the top of the tank from me overfilling it. I sucked out enough fluid with a turkey baster thing to bring the the level back to full cold.
Question. What the#*%% happened? He searched on line in his recall TSB stuff and found nothing. He has worked on cars and trucks for 30 something years and was at a loss. Any ideas if someone knows what happened. Thanks.

 

was it cold temps?

 

I had the same symptoms as you explain several years ago with my 2001.5. I discovered that the power steering pump would get noisy once the colder temperatures set in. As the fluid begins to wear, the pumps tend to accumulate condensation and wear materials. I found that the colder temperatures exacerbate the condition, which is likely what you encountered. I decided to change the fluid with synthetic power steering fluid and have not had any problems since; however, I do this on a regular basis because I would rather not replace the pump any time soon. The power steering fluid is one of the most neglected items on vehicles and usually are not replenished unless the power steering pump requires replacement.

In order to replace the fluid, I too use a turkey baster or a pump from a bottle of hand soap or shampoo. I also use Redline synthetic PS fluid, but Amsoil or Royal Purple also fit the bill. I also recommend you use the turkey baster method in the next day or so. At that time you will have changed out a high percentage of the contaminated fluid with little effort and no mess.

 

also try dumping a bottle of Lubegard power steering fluid protectant.

 

same symptoms here. i was also at a loss and took it to a shop. they flushed with regular fluid - still had the symptoms. we were now both at a loss. they investigated a little with some research and found mopar offers cold weather power steering fluid (synthetic). so they flushed again and replaced with synthetic - problem solved ever since.

i guess i am probably due for another flush/replace soon before winter sets in!

how do you properly 'flush' this system? or can we only remove/replace fluid from the top??

 

Seems like I've read in another thread there's screen on the power steering pump??? and it might get clogged up

 

The temperature was about 40 when I started it. I noticed today that it started to leak as soon as I backed out of my spot. I have changed my fluid this past February using the turkey method. I sucked all I could get and then top it off. Start the engine turn the wheel lock to lock, shut it off and repeat the steps again. I did this till the fluid was clean. What a way to spend the afternoon. I only have about 5000 miles since. I'm scared now to drive it as you keep waiting for it to do it again.

 

if it over flows the resivor, it is likely a failed acculimator in the hydroboost, Generally if you suck out the old fluid and fill with synethic PS fluid this condition will go away, if it does not you may need a HB

a hand soap pump works best as the straw can be sent to the bottom of the pump, with this I can get a full bottle out

 

typically the PS only pukes out on a cold start, not after things are warmed up and running

 

Check the return lines. That was my problem when it would puke fluid. Didn't really leak fluid while sitting but would puke it on start up especially if I turned it back off before it got warmed up. Sounded like trapped air escaping and fluid was foamy. It was like air entered the return side while sitting. Baffled me for a while but tightened return line clamps and it quit.

 

Everything was going good until today and it started to leak again. I started the engine and tried to locate the leak but same as before by the time I got in the position to look the leak stopped. I did see a drip on a hose and took the truck to my mechanic who spent some time trying to locate the leak. He finally found it, I'm not too sure the exact hose but what I got from the talk was the pressure hose from the pump has a rubber hose around the metal line. The line has a pin hole in it behind the rubber hose. Why it only leaked sometimes ( twice ) we don't know. I guess with the engine running he pulled and pushed and when he got his hand on the rubber hose the fluid flowed quite nicely. Now to locate the part and get back on the road.

 

Several possible causes come to mind:

1) The fluid level in the reservoir slowly lowers over the years without notice, due to "normal" seepage, until one day it gets low enough for the pump to gulp some air and aerate the remaining fluid.

2) The fluid is neglected until the antifoam additives become depleted, and the churning action of the pump aerates the fluid and causes bigtime foaming. I believe cold temperatures may come into play here too.

3) It has been reported that the accumulator in the hydroboost assembly can leak out its pressure charge into the fluid, essentially causing a big air bubble in the fluid that burps the fluid out the reservoir. I believe this would be more apparent as the HB unit would no longer function completely properly.

 

as I understand it, when its cold out the oil in the HB leaks past the acculimator overfilling the resivoir, causing sudden the puke of oil the HB has a chamber that is filled with pressurised oil so when the engine is off, the pressure from the acculimator pushed against the ps fluid allowing the operator one or two brake applications during a engine stall. typically if the acculimator side fails you would have no brake assist once the engine is switched off, yet as long as the engine is running there would be no indication of any HB failure. there are some simple tests that can be done to verify this function is functioning.

my experience has been flush out the old PS fluid and re-fill with fresh syn oil and the puking oil symptoms will dissappear