Heres the scenario: Went to start my truck for workthis morning. Truck starts and about 5 seconds later starts to squeel very badly. Turn truck off, pop hood, see fluid coming from power steering box. Look closer and one of the rubber lines that was clamped on to the power steering box and been forced off. Pull the cap off to find milky power steering fluid (looks like coffee with lots of milk). Tried to pull a hose off and drain the fluid turning wheel lock to lock...thought I got most of it drained. Added more fluid, started truck and 5 seconds later starts squeeling and making noise like something in the pump is not right. Any suggestions on what could be wrong? My theory is that water somehow got into the system(no idea how that would happen), when I started the truck the water and fluid mixed, water expanded? and shot the hose off. Also it had been snowing/freezing rain here all yesterday, and looks like my fluid goes into the radiator to cool it. Any help is much appreciated. Any questions just ask, thanks guys.
Water in power steering fluid? 1999 silverado 5.3
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There is a p/s cooler in front of the rad. go to www.fullsizechevy.com and post this question. I am there as 021500HD
If the power steering fluid goes into the radiator to be cooled like auto trannys do then the cooler coils for the power steering in the radiator split or got a hole in it. Did you look for power steering fluid in the radiator? Definatly dont want that stuff getting back into your tranny line somehow (not good) if it could find it way into your tranny!
Pressure blowing the hose off is one thing that could mean what I described is a possiblity...(or freezing) hope not for your sake. Your antifreeze is at the proper mix and did not freeze or slush on you causing this hole problem correct?
Again look for traces of an oily substance in your antifreeze or radiator overflow tank. I would be on top of this problem in a hurry or at least bypass power steering fluid somehow away from the radiator. You may need a radiator like real SOON!!!
One thing I know is that for such wonderful technology some of these newer late model vehicles have is that some of the radiators plastic or not... are JUNK and belong on another planet.
With all the experts out there, its hard to believe that in the great USA that the folks on top allow this kind of JUNK! JMO
Pressure blowing the hose off is one thing that could mean what I described is a possiblity...(or freezing) hope not for your sake. Your antifreeze is at the proper mix and did not freeze or slush on you causing this hole problem correct?
Again look for traces of an oily substance in your antifreeze or radiator overflow tank. I would be on top of this problem in a hurry or at least bypass power steering fluid somehow away from the radiator. You may need a radiator like real SOON!!!
One thing I know is that for such wonderful technology some of these newer late model vehicles have is that some of the radiators plastic or not... are JUNK and belong on another planet.
With all the experts out there, its hard to believe that in the great USA that the folks on top allow this kind of JUNK! JMO
Let us know what happened... so some of us can be on top off this type of problem with our wonderful vehicles. Thanks Dan
It sounds like because the clamp fell off, air gotten into the system. The running engine sucked air in because of the leak. Your hearing noises because of this from what it sounds like. I would first try fixing the obvious problem with the clamp so its a tight connection with no leaks. Then fill the reservior with fluid and cycle the wheel back and fourth lock to lock, with the engine running. That bleeds out the air in the system.
Where did the hose come off at? I did look at a 99 and did see the little cooler in front of the radiator as LeoP mentioned... At least they didnt try cooling it through the radiator as you mentioned a possibilty.
But I still say some off the GM or likely most of their Radiators are JUNK!!!!!!!!!
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