Power steering leak

[Slice of Life]

When getting ready for the water and before running the engine on muffs, I notice that the power steering pump is completely empty and dry. I look in the bilge and see a bit of red colored fluid in the bilge. So I put just a little bit of fluid back into the pump and it seems to stay in. A few days later, without running the engine, the there is more fluid in the bilge and just a bit less in the pump. The leak is slow, but definitely there. I put my hand under and around the pump, and the line that comes out the pump, and it is all dry. I put my hand on the power steering pump cooler, and it's definitely wet with fluid. I can't tell what part is leaking though, it's almost like you have to pull the engine to get to the cooler it's so far down there in such a tight space.

Would a faulty or leaking cooler explain insufficient water going through the cooling system and out the exhaust? It doesn't seem like it's leaking water when run but I will check again when I run the engine. When ran last time on muffs, there was just a small line of water coming out of the exhaust relief ports instead of the larger amount of water that usually comes out.

 

[Slice of Life]

While I'm poking around the area of the cooler, is this the usual place to put a water pressure sensor in? Could the sensor be put in without making a thread into the cooler itself? I'd like to have the water pressure sensor indication as self assurance.

 

[Grub54891]

It could be just a loose fitting on the lines, clean it up real well and run it. Have a helper at the helm and carefully look with a good flashlight, mirror on a stick or a phone on a selfi stick and take pictures of the area. Be very careful you do not get in to any moving parts on the motor when looking around down there.

 

[alldodge]

It would help to know what your working on. If the cooler is old enough it could have just hose clamps hold the return lines on it. If this is the case, just cut the ends off and reinstall. If it's threaded it may take new hoses or have new ends put on. If the cooler is cracked, its another ball game.

While I'm poking around the area of the cooler, is this the usual place to put a water pressure sensor in? Could the sensor be put in without making a thread into the cooler itself? I'd like to have the water pressure sensor indication as self assurance.

To install a pressure sensor, make a Tee fitting to go inline between the pump and PS cooler. Just try to use thin wall material so as to not restrict flow going to the motor.

 

[boatman37]

i just had this issue with mine. the hose going into the cooler had a crack in it right at the fitting. very hard to see. i cut the end of the hose and put it back on. hope that is all that is wrong with yours

 

[Slice of Life]

Removed and cut an inch off of one of the hoses going to the PS cooler that seemed to have fluid coming out around it when moved a bit. Haven't noticed anymore leaks so hopefully that fixed the issue. Thanks as usual.