Power steering fluid leak

DAMNIT! So today while dusting off my car, I saw a mess of fluid on my front bumper in front of the radiator. First thing that came to my mind was oil but when I checked my oil, everything was fine. So when my dad came out, he's like it might be the power steering fluid so when we checked that, sure enough, it was low. My question is how do we find out where its leaking at? We checked around where the puddle of fluid was located but there was nothing coming from any hoses there so we couldn't spot anything. One thing that we did notice was that the steering "thing" that the steering wheel turns that goes through the firewall seems to be wet. But if the leak was there then it makes no sense to have fluid in front of the radiator up front. Any thoughts???

My other question is would any type of power steering fluid work? Last summer I added some Prestone fluid that was yellowish but today, I added some Pyroil fluid that was clear. Any difference between the two where one would harm the system vs the other? The owner's manual says to use "Dexron II" (whatever that is) but seeing that I didn't have any here, I just used what we have....any ideas on the difference and possible problems (sure hope not)? And please let me know about where I could possibly check for power steering leakage. Thanks in advance guys!

My 3000GT VR4 was leaking power steering fluid as well when I first got my car. it's a 92 so it needed a little work. but I found out it was my rack and pinion. hopefully it's not the rack and pinion in your case because it cost me about $500 for the part and $700 for the labor. I might have got ripped or a good deal, not sure yet. I think the only real way to make sure is to get under the car and have a look around.

I never use power steering fluid. I always use ATF. Thats what the Dexron is.

Are you automatic? If so then most like that fluid is coming from the tranny cooler lines going into the rad. No way power steering fluid should be able to get to the bumper area.

I never use power steering fluid. I always use ATF. Thats what the Dexron is.

Are you automatic? If so then most like that fluid is coming from the tranny cooler lines going into the rad. No way power steering fluid should be able to get to the bumper area.


No, I'm manual. And about the Dexron stuff, I was searching around last night and it's some type tranny fluid right? So they want us to put tranny fluid for the power steering fluid? :eek7: Weird...

VR4_crazy, I am SOOOOOOO hoping that it's not the rack and pinion that you were talking about. I've been saving to do some work on my car for looks and some maintenance but the last thing I want is to have to drop a buttload into the power steering system. :( Anyone else have any ideas on what it could be? Should I flush out the power steering fluid that I have in there and put in the Dexron stuff? If so, how would I go about doing that?

If it's leaking, a flush isn't going to do anything, except waste your money and new fluid....so no you shouldn't do that.

You have to find exactly where the leak is, and replace whatever is leaking...it's that simple.

There's not much to a power steering system that can leak...it'll be either the rack, the pump, resevoir, or 1 of the 2 lines. Since you have fluid at the front of the car, I would check the pump since it's driven by the drive belt.

I'll take a closer look at our system today to see what else I think it could be.

If it's leaking, a flush isn't going to do anything, except waste your money and new fluid....so no you shouldn't do that.

You have to find exactly where the leak is, and replace whatever is leaking...it's that simple.

There's not much to a power steering system that can leak...it'll be either the rack, the pump, resevoir, or 1 of the 2 lines. Since you have fluid at the front of the car, I would check the pump since it's driven by the drive belt.

I'll take a closer look at our system today to see what else I think it could be.


Well, I was gonna flush the system because I was using the wrong type of fluid. I still don't understand why we'd be using tranny fluid though...but yeah, I should find the leak first. Twizted_3KGT, where is the pump located? I saw the two lines that's connected to the canister but couldn't follow them very far as it was too tight down there. Thanks for the help.

The stuff you are pouring will say Dextron on the back of it (or Dexron II and/or Dexron III compatible)...

I believe Dexron II is just a standard so ATF will do (I personally would not use it given that transmissions have different requirements then power steering [IE: shock resistance, compression, pumpability, etc], but they do all abide by the same minimum spec)...

Personally I like to keep my car fluids different colors so i can identify what is leaking but since you don't have auto there isn't any other fluids colored red so you might as well.

So 2old, you're saying that I should just stick with the power steering fluid that I used instead of going with Dexron whatever? I actually tried finding something on the back with Dexron but couldn't last night.....any ideas on where to look for the leak? I checked during my lunch break to see if there was any leak around the front bumper area but didn't see anything I dunno. Guess I'll be heading down under my car this weekend.

You know, to tell you the truth i don't know where the leak could be... To have the leak on the front bumper in front of the radiator is a really odd spot to find power steering fluid...

If it was the pump it should have more of a splatter pattern given how far it would have needed to fly to reach there...

Usually the leak will by right beside the engine, along the steering arms or on/along the firewall. My only guess is maybe when the line was pressurized it squirted out towards the front, but you should have felt it...

I guess you could check that theory with your dad by filling the reservoir with fluid and while someone is looking for how fluid cound get from your left side of the car to the bumper turn your engine on and move the steering from lock to lock and see...

Anyways... You shouldn't have to flush the fluid...

So wait let's backtrack a minute here:

First of all, power steering fluid is what you should be using....it's kind of like how brake fluid is the same as clutch fluid. Except this is sold in different bottles...whereas DOT3 fluid comes in only brake fluid bottles.

Second, are you sure it was leaking power steering fluid? You should have had difficulty turning the wheel and there should have been a whining sound when you did if the fluid had leaked out.

If you buy something designated as "clutch fluid" you are getting ripped off. Also I have used ATF as power steering fluid as long as I can remember. My dad has as well.

I used to work with an engineer. He said he would never use "power steering fluid" because it has propertys that can break down rubber, etc. I will use ATF in the power steering system till the day it changes to electric assisted.

Different rubber breaks down with different fluids...

That's why we can't use the same mineral-based brake fluid as they do in Europe, because our rubbers (ha!) are designed for our fluid...if you swapped in their type of fluid, all your seals would break down and ur hoses.

Your car has been engineered for power steering fluid, there's nothing wrong with using it...but there's probably nothing wrong with using ATF either.

So wait let's backtrack a minute here:

First of all, power steering fluid is what you should be using....it's kind of like how brake fluid is the same as clutch fluid. Except this is sold in different bottles...whereas DOT3 fluid comes in only brake fluid bottles.

Second, are you sure it was leaking power steering fluid? You should have had difficulty turning the wheel and there should have been a whining sound when you did if the fluid had leaked out.


Sorry I haven't responded sooner....been out since it's Friday night (or Saturday morning to be exact). Anyways, no, not all the fluid leaked out. When I checked it before I added anything to it, it was VERY low, but not empty yet. I'm thinking it was power steering fluid because all my other fluids were okay. If it wasn't that, what else could it be? I could understand that it wouldn't make any sense though because how could the fluid get all the way to the front of the bumper, right? My dad was saying something about one of the lines running next to the radiator but he wasn't completely sure either since we couldn't trace the line all the way there. Anyways, hopefully we'll be able to figure something out tomorrow.....I'll let you guys know what happens if we find anything....

Your car has been engineered for power steering fluid

I disagree. If it was engineered for power steering fluid then the owners manual would not say to use Dexron. Thats just me though.

Well you are right Stealthee, it does call for Dextron II which IS ATF. I just don't know of any aftermarket power steering fluids that don't meet and exceed the requirements of Dextron II. It would only be a problem if you tried putting a different manufacturer's fluid in.

UPDATE: Sorry I didn't update this earlier.... So I couldn't locate any leaks under the car and when I re-checked all my fluids (power steering fluid, oil, clutch fluid, brake fluid), everything was still full. Only thing I didn't check was the tranny fluid but I don't think it's that because I didn't see any leaks around the area (and plus, I'm still able to shift). I also don't think it's the coolant because the fluid was brown. So yeah, I guess I'm back where I started....what could it be? I haven't seen leakage since that one day so should I keep searching or just leave it be?