Tracking down the latest leak

[Huskymaniac]

Once the weather cooperates, I can wipe everything down and get a better look but it looks like there is fluid on the power steering rack. I'm just not sure if it is coming from the rack or something else. I can definitely smell it burning when I stop at a light. It looks like I get a couple of drops a day from the leak. Hopefully it won't get worse before I can get a better look.

[icingdeath88]

Try and see what color the fluid is. If it's p/s or atf then it will be pink and you'll have an idea of what it could be. There are trans fluid cooler lines that run above and nearby the steering rack. A trans leak is something that you definitely wouldn't want getting out of hand. Check fluids regularly until you've got it figured out.

[dcarrb]

Old Subarus mark their territory. Mine have leaked something from somewhere as long as I've had them, in spite of hose and gasket and seal replacements.

Could just be a loosened hose fitting. Then again, I had to replace a very leaky rack at somewhere around 170,000 miles (and the other is losing PS fluid now), and that doesn't seem so extraordinary for such an aged daily driver.

dcb

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

Old Subarus mark their territory. Mine have leaked something from somewhere as long as I've had them, in spite of hose and gasket and seal replacements.

Could just be a loosened hose fitting. Then again, I had to replace a very leaky rack at somewhere around 170,000 miles (and the other is losing PS fluid now), and that doesn't seem so extraordinary for such an aged daily driver.

dcb

The car has 105K on it so I would hope it isn't the rack but I'm just not sure. The leak seems to have gotten a little worse. I'm getting a nice sized spot on the driveway daily now. Like I said, my mechanic said he saw fluid on the rack but he probably isn't aware of the transmission cooler lines running directly above it being a known problem. So here is my question today, what is the easiest way to determine if it is the cooler lines versus the rack itself? Should I put dye in one or the other?

Tom,

Did you replace those cooler lines when the car was down? I know you replaced a bunch of lines but I can't remember if those were among them. If so, maybe I should just replace the clamps on them and see if it stops.

[Hocrest]

Do you know which side it is on?

The easiest way to figure which is leaking is to check the fluids.

[dannmarr]

If you can get under the car, use a flashlight. Look at the highest clean wet spot and the closest to the front of the car. Fluid will drip down and spread towards the rear while driving. This is how I found my leak. It was a hose clamp.

[Sean486]

Huskey,
I had a leak from the transmission lines above the rack. It was leaking onto the axle which was throwing all over everything in the area as it spun, including the steering rack. The area is very inaccessible, i had to bring it to SVXFiles to repair since I just could not get it from above or below. What he did was remove the wheel and axle which gave more room to get at it.

[EdWindows]

Originally Posted by dannmarr

If you can get under the car, use a flashlight. Look at the highest clean wet spot and the closest to the front of the car. Fluid will drip down and spread towards the rear while driving. This is how I found my leak. It was a hose clamp.

Even if you tighten the hose clamps down, hoses tend to not seal anymore after 20 years.
I had a small leak for awhile from my P/S lines, and then I figured out it was the hose when it gave while snow drifting and pissed ATF all over the snow.

[dannmarr]

Originally Posted by EdWindows

Even if you tighten the hose clamps down, hoses tend to not seal anymore after 20 years.
I had a small leak for awhile from my P/S lines, and then I figured out it was the hose when it gave while snow drifting and pissed ATF all over the snow.

When my rack was replaced, the mechanic didn't slip the hose all the way over the lip were the clamp sits against. It didn't leak right away, but with time it started to slip off the hard line.

[Huskymaniac]

Finally had a decent day and some time. I took off the cover under the engine so all drips would just fall freely to the ground and I could isolate exactly where it was dripping from. I took a large cardboard box, unfolded it and taped some paper towels to it so I could see the fluid color. By far, the largest leak is coming from the passenger side fitting for the transmission cooler in the radiator. I'm guessing it is the clamp as OT replaced the lines with new ones. So now I need to figure out what to do about it and how. Should I just tighten the clamp? Should I replace the clamp and, if so, do the old clamps come completely off or do I need to remove the line from the fitting? Is it possible that the current clamp compromised the line such that I need to replace the line too? If I need to pull off the line, how much fluid should I expect to need to catch?

I suppose it is possible I have other leaks too but this one is by far the worst and most likely causing the majority of the oil spots on the driveway.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

Finally had a decent day and some time. I took off the cover under the engine so all drips would just fall freely to the ground and I could isolate exactly where it was dripping from. I took a large cardboard box, unfolded it and taped some paper towels to it so I could see the fluid color. By far, the largest leak is coming from the passenger side fitting for the transmission cooler in the radiator. I'm guessing it is the clamp as OT replaced the lines with new ones. So now I need to figure out what to do about it and how. Should I just tighten the clamp? Should I replace the clamp and, if so, do the old clamps come completely off or do I need to remove the line from the fitting? Is it possible that the current clamp compromised the line such that I need to replace the line too? If I need to pull off the line, how much fluid should I expect to need to catch?

I suppose it is possible I have other leaks too but this one is by far the worst and most likely causing the majority of the oil spots on the driveway.

Take a close look at the clamp.
If the "tongue" of the clamp has buckled/kinked, it might be preventing the clamp from evenly clamping the hose.
I only use high quality hoses, so the hoses should be fine.
you should remove the old clamp so that is not a future problem.
If you do remove one end of the hose you should expect to loose a pint of ATF unless you are quick.

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

Take a close look at the clamp.
If the "tongue" of the clamp has buckled/kinked, it might be preventing the clamp from evenly clamping the hose.
I only use high quality hoses, so the hoses should be fine.
you should remove the old clamp so that is not a future problem.
If you do remove one end of the hose you should expect to loose a pint of ATF unless you are quick.

So, remove the old clamp, check the hose, leave it if it doesn't look damaged, install new clamp. Is that right?

[dannmarr]

Clamp a hose pliers on the line to prevent loss of fluid or you can use a vise grip with a rag to prevent damaging the hose. Then you can work without rushing.

[edren1]

I just replaced every hose on this vehicle, and those transmission hose above the left cat can be accessed if you take the wheel off and get a long extension and a 8mm socket. I would replace those hoses with some power steering line from autozone, that you can buy by the foot. The transmission leak from the radiator that you are talking about is probably the fitting and not the hose, after I changed my hoses that fitting was leaking.

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by edren1

I just replaced every hose on this vehicle, and those transmission hose above the left cat can be accessed if you take the wheel off and get a long extension and a 8mm socket. I would replace those hoses with some power steering line from autozone, that you can buy by the foot. The transmission leak from the radiator that you are talking about is probably the fitting and not the hose, after I changed my hoses that fitting was leaking.

Yeah, I was concerned it could be the fitting. I actually have a new radiator. Maybe it is time to put it in. I don't think I can wait much longer given how fast it is leaking.