Power steering fluid

[fabbio25]

Hello,

So i noticed a nice sized puddle of power sterring fluid on my garage floor today and cant understand why. I had this problem over the summer and it turned out to be the high pressure hose. I had a new one installed and no more leaks. Now it seems the leak came back. I live in NY and it has been really cold. Is it possible that the cold has anything to do with this.

Thanks

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Are you using power steering fluid? If so, that's not helping your cause, as you need to use ATF in the PS of a Z32.

Did you install a new Nissan hose?

[Z31toZ32]

yeah if you use actual power steering fluid in lieu of the correct ATF fluid, it will leak everywhere.

[fabbio25]

I had the hose changed by a reputable z mechanic and i believe he used the correct fluids.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Easy check, is it red?

The fluid, not the hose

[fabbio25]

yes the fluid is Red.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Check the return hose, going to the reservoir. Yours will look a little different than this, because this is an NA system, but its' the hose under the accordion pipe in this pic:



Where in relation to the engine bay is the puddle of fluid? Try placing a piece of cardboard under the car and marking the fender edge location so you can get a better idea. It's possible the clamp on the High Pressure hose is failing. Was it an OEM hose or a rebuild?

[vulcanrush]

oh shut up, you just wanted an excuse to show off your enginebay

[BigTDogg (MA)]

oh shut up, you just wanted an excuse to show off your enginebay

And if it helps in the process, double bennefit

[fabbio25]

Nice engine bay by the way. The leak appears to be coming from the same area when it was leaking in the summer. The hose was replaced with a brand new factory oem hose. I heard that sometimes when the temps drop below zero the hose's contract causing leak. Not sure how much i believe this though.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Thanks

Makes sense with the rubber shrinking, it happens to all rubber, including fuel hoses. I don't drive my car below 45 degrees or so though, so I don't have experience with this on Zs.

Just curious, if you have the Forrester, why are you driving the Z this winter?

[fabbio25]

No the Z stays in the garage for the winter. But it still gets pretty cold in there (not heated).

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Ah, so it's leaking sitting still. Interesting. If it's a new hose, and you're leaking from the fitting, there's not much you can really do, IMHO.

I don't know if you are, but I wouldn't start it again till spring time when you're ready to drive.

[marty1mc]

Your high pressure shouldn't leak due to temp. The rubber portions are crimped on the assembly and can sustain high pressure. I have not had a leak on my replacement hose, actually either of them. I replaced mine when it leaked with a used one, then swapped the used one for a Z1 reman'd. I actually like the Z1 reman'd because I can simply remove the rubber section and have that rebuilt locally.

Check your connection to the PS pump and make sure the copper crush washers aren't where the leak is occurring. I would be more suspect of where the hose connects than a quick failure of a new hose.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Check your connection to the PS pump and make sure the copper crush washers aren't where the leak is occurring. I would be more suspect of where the hose connects than a quick failure of a new hose.

Truth

[armanip]

im having the same problem, it happened to me when i went to Tallahassee, it was freezing and all the liquid came out. When I took it to nissan before the trip, they said that i need a new pinon seal and flange assembly (marked down on the paper as crank sleeve) but thats for the diff. So basically those parts are not meant for power steering right? what could be the problem? the leak is in the front.

[armanip]

i checked underneath the car to see where the leak was coming from and its from the power steering pump/pulley area. any quick fixes? or am i just gonna have to get a new one?

[BigTDogg (MA)]

i checked underneath the car to see where the leak was coming from and its from the power steering pump/pulley area. any quick fixes? or am i just gonna have to get a new one?

Same as the OP, either your HPPS is leaking, or the crush washer connection is bad.

[z32Odoom]

Wait are you really supposed to use atf fluid for power steering in our cars? That's about the weirdest thing I've heard? What's the reasoning for that?

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Wait are you really supposed to use atf fluid for power steering in our cars? That's about the weirdest thing I've heard? What's the reasoning for that?

It's thicker than PS fluid and that's how the system was designed. It also has a higher boiling point.

[marty1mc]

Wait are you really supposed to use atf fluid for power steering in our cars? That's about the weirdest thing I've heard? What's the reasoning for that?

It's really not that weird, Toyota also uses Dexron for PS reservoirs and systems. Honda uses their own special formula of PS fluid.