Jehu Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 This is the second time it did this. Once over the weekend (Sunday) while at the Dragon and now this morning. Both times it was the first crank/run of the day. After about 2-3 minutes trying to warm up the engine, I could hear the power steering system starting to make noise (I've heard this noise from before when I had a leaking line and the fluid level was low). I popped the hood and saw it bubbling out with the cap on. Sunday, I lurked around the engine bay for about 5-10 minutes topping off the power steering fluid and when I started it again, I didn't get any more fluid bubbling out and no more noise. I parked in the garage on Sunday night and it didn't do it Monday morning. I parked outside last night and it did it this morning. I am not driving it today due to noticing my leaking injector seals so I didn't try to restart to see if the power steering fluid continued bubbling. I've been running the same fluid for a couple of months now (so it's not the wrong fluid etc). Possibilities (my thoughts):1. Air in the lines2. Something somehow could be freezing (it was cold both mornings it did it) Any ideas what would cause this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyers151 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I'm pretty sure they all do it when cold. The fluid just gets thicker at lower temps and if your system is full or overfull, it'll foam up and leak out the reservoir. Mine does it all the time on cold morning start up if I don't let it sit and warm up for a little bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techboy Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 And it's probably def not air in the lines because that would have all burped out the resivour by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taquito Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 mine does the same exact thing all the time I already bled the power steering system twice and still it does it. I finally just purchased a new pump from another forum member well new to me he said it was working when he removed it so i hope this will fix my issue I will also check the lines while replacing it making sure there are no kinks anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehu Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 (edited) So the thought is that it is too thick when it's cold? Hmmm, I am using a thicker fluid to help keep it from leaking (and it has been helping). But maybe during the winter I need to go back to normal ATF? But I can't really have it doing this all the time...it makes a mess on my driveway. And it does it w/o me even touching the steering wheel. Edited November 9, 2010 by Jehu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taquito Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 why do these cars use atf instead of regular power steering fluid? Was this a factory reccomended fluid for this vehicle? From what I understand regular power steering fluid doesnt foam up the way atf does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyers151 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 The factory suggests ATF, it's just how the system was designed. Jehu, try letting the car warm up a little longer in the morning before you start out. Also, being a little low on fluid isn't going to kill anything, so don't be worried if it dribbles some out. What I'll usually do is fill it up and let it do its thing on a cold morning, then just leave it be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHARDmitsu. Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 When power steering fluid is used instead of ATF in cold zones, the PS makes a wining noise when its cold. The reason being, PS fluid thickens up when cold and the has pump work harder to pump it. ATF is more thinner and flows better when cold. If you have PS fluid in the system, I suggest you drain and replace it Dex III AFT fluid like the book says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHARDmitsu. Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 So the thought is that it is too thick when it's cold? Hmmm, I am using a thicker fluid to help keep it from leaking (and it has been helping). But maybe during the winter I need to go back to normal ATF? But I can't really have it doing this all the time...it makes a mess on my driveway. And it does it w/o me even touching the steering wheel. try that lucas PS stop leak, it helps in slowing some leaks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehu Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I haven't put in regular PS fluid. I was using normal ATF but like I mentioned, I had a leak somewhere. So I got a bottle of ATF stop leak stuff which seems thicker. It did stop the leaks best I can tell. Also, the stuff bubbles out before I move the car. Just idling to warm up. I could tell the engine was louder so I turned the wheel slightly to see if it was the PS and sure enough it was. But I didn't drive it and I only turned the wheel slightly/gently before I got out to check on it. It's got to be that it's just too thick now with the colder weather. I will probably drain that stuff out until the spring time and use normal ATF (or maybe some mixture of the two). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobalt60 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 FYI, I believe the reason our cars require ATF is because of the high amount of heat in our engine bays. Keep in mind it was one of the first turbo sports cars. I converted to manual steering BTW. So sorry, no experience with the factory power steering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DzNutz Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Foaming over when cold is because there is air getting sucked into the system. Most likely a worn seal on the gear box. When the fluid gets cold it contracts enough to "suck" air into the box or pump. Once started it aerates everything and overflows. I have considered installing a larger reservoir and keeping it bout half full so when it aerates it wont overflow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strang3majik Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 don't use power steering fluid...it'll blow the seals out of the pump and make it whine idefinitley. As far as the bubbling over...it does sound like its getting air in it somewhere. Every vehicle I've ever driven, the powersteering is non existant until the pump makes a few revolutions...so, that sounds normal. The foaming over though, must be getting air somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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