Where is the power steering fluid going?

[Jeff in Louisiana]

I have been addressing all leaks under my car since I replaced the head about two months ago. I have been successful so far except for the ever present oil pan drip and now I have a power steering fluid issue.

It only started about two days ago, I noticed a spot under the car that dripped directly from the non-pressure supply hose. I tightened up the clamps on either end at least one turn which made it go away. I will order a new hose, etc. However, after pressing the brake at least ten times, the canister showed fluid lower than the upper screen. I added 12 ounces. The next day, I checked it because it was NOT leaking on the ground and I had to add 6 more ounces. I do not see where it is going. There is no evidence of the leak at the hose right now and none of the pressure hoses appear to have leaks.

Am I missing something? Oh, by the way, the power steering works fine and this is an 87 535i 5 spd.

Thanks

Jeff in Louisiana
87 535i
85 528e

[rexmo]

The booster O-ring is a common leak point, gets old, takes a set, starts bleeding in cold weather. Doesn't hit the ground until it saturates the underside of the car with ATF.

Feel the underside, forward end of the booster. If it's wet, you have the disease.

Silicone O-ring recommended for the temperature it sees.

[Jeff in Louisiana]

So, the brake bomb 'booster?' Hm, I guess this would be a good time to replace that instead of fighting with the fitting huh? You are right, it happened when the temps hit the 20's.

Ya gotta love these cars. I have spent $1,000 (head work, etc.) in the last three months and am about to spend $600 more for tires, another windshield and parts associated with this ps leak. Still, that only works out to about $150 a month for transportation compared to $1,000 per month for a new 545i and five times the insurance. Hey, that sounds pretty damn good. I think I will get a new paint job! Hm, where is the logic?

[rexmo]

The booster site between the MC and the firewall. The bomb lives under the powerflow regulator. A little leak doesn't suggest anything about the state of the bomb.

Your car is a teenager. You gotta make allowances.

[Michael]

..

[Steve Haygood]

Have also seen the booster leak into the inside of the car, underneath the carpet.
Let me know if you want a price on the booster.

[Edit by Steve Haygood on [TIME]1134440186[/TIME]]

[rexmo]

Good point, Michael.

I am a dumbass. I thought I recalled it as silicone, but looking back at the info on RF it was Viton. The chart you reference probably means Dexron, I don't think there's anything called Dextron that would be relevant to O-ring. The chart says the same thing about silicone with ATF.

Another compatibility chart I looked at listed only polyacrylate, nitrile, and flurocarbon as suitable for Dexron. Buna N and Viton look like good choices if available in a 38x3 size.

I got a couple or three Viton O-rings from someone on the board who sourced a pack of 5 from Grainger or McMaster Carr, but not in time to change mine out. I think I put butyl in.

This has me wondering about the silicone O-rings I used on the injectors and fuel pressure regulator. Looks like nitrile and viton are the suitable materials for fuel as well.


[Edit by rexmo on [TIME]1134491060[/TIME]]