Water in power steering fluid? 1999 silverado 5.3

2937 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by LKN BCK, Feb 28, 2007

ChrisL

Discussion Starter · Feb 15, 2007

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.

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LKN BCK

· #3 · Feb 16, 2007 (Edited)

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

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LKN BCK

· #4 · Feb 16, 2007

ChrisL said:
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.

Let us know what happened... so some of us can be on top off this type of problem with our wonderful vehicles. Thanks Dan

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LKN BCK

· #7 · Feb 17, 2007

ChrisL said:
Chris R got it right.....hose fell off, air got into system. Filled with fluid and turned lock to lock to bleed the system. Thanks!!!

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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LKN BCK

· #9 · Feb 28, 2007

hrd said:
so...whats the skinny?, is it a separate cooling unit, or does it enter the radiator ala the tranny cooling lines?...if its separate, and i gather at least some units are, i want one for my el camino

The skinny is...it is a seperate cooling unit.
Not very big either, as you may want to take look at one.
Let us know if it is something that may work for you or some of us. Keep us posted on your findings.
Dan

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