I have a leak from my p/s system. It only leaks when the outside temp gets down cold, (35 or under) and the truck has sat for a couple of days in the cold. If I drive it every day it does not leak, only if it sits for 3 days or so. Can't tell where the leak is coming from, looks like maybe the bottom of the pump. It is dripping from that area and even has the bottom of the injection pump wet and runs across the sway bar to drip all the way across. It does this every winter and stops when it warms back up again in the spring and summer. What gives?

 

It's more than likely your injection pump, not your power steering. The early injection pumps were notorious for leaking when temperature variations in cold climates cause exspansion and contraction. If you still have warranty you can get a new cp3 for free.

 

What he said...

Smell the leaking fluid. I'll bet it's diesel fuel leaking from the CP3. This is not uncommon and only occurs when it is cold. My 04.5 and 06 did it, but so far my 07 has not. Maybe they read the forums and put bigger O-rings in the CP3 to prevent this problem. It is covered under the Cummins 100k warranty to have it replaced if that is your problem.

 

Is it still warrantied even with my mods? Won't this void my warranty? I have about 75k on it now. I actually thought it looked like it is coming from the injection pump, but it looks like p/s fluid on the ground.

 

If its the injection pump they pretty much quit warrantying the leaking. Even the new pumps do it when it gets cold. I had one replaced for leaking in warranty and the next time it turned cold it did the same thing. As long as it is not a constant stream don't sweat it.

 

My 97 PS leaked and made noises when it got below 20*. I put synthetic PS fluid in it and it has been all better for 10 years now. The stock fluid would foam and come out from under the cap then drip down over everything until it dripped off of the pan at the front main. I thought it was the front seal until I got under the truck and found it was PS fluid. No noise or leak ever since the Amsoil automatic tranny fluid. I am sure other synthetics will work as well. My 06 will get it as soon as I get time to change it.