Leaking Hydro oil on drivers side mid car. Can this be a line and if so can just the line be replaced?
Hydro Oil low light came on lost power steering. Topped off oil and turned car on noticed it squirting/running out from under car drivers side about mid car. Could this be a line/hose and if so is that somthing that can be replaced without doing a complete hydro system?
My car has 200000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It sounds like you may have a blown power steering pressure line or rack and pinion leak. The system will need to be inspected to detect where the leak is coming from before the proper repairs can be diagnosed. You will not have to replace the entire system but only the leaking component. Have a mechanic come and inspect the leak and tell you the needed repairs. I do not recommend driving it or you may damage other components or have a fire hazard from the fluid leak.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
WHAT CAUSES A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK? Answer. Like the other systems in your vehicle, the power steering system simply ages and degrades over time. As you put more miles on your vehicle, the O-rings and seals in the power steering system lose flexibility, and tiny bits of the seals end up in the fluid.
Causes of a Power Steering Fluid Leak
Worn seal on power steering pump. Cracked, perished or loose power steering fluid hose. Excessive pressure in power steering system caused by an overfilled reservoir, which could result in blown seals. Wear and tear in power steering rack, particularly the shaft ends and seals.
The pressure from the power steering pump can become too much for gaskets and seals in your BMW`s power steering system over time, causing them to crack and wear down. When this happens, it is natural for fluid to leak.
It can damage your vehicle which can lead to hefty repair costs. Leaks can result in a reduction in pressure, which will result in pumps and other components wearing out. This will cause your power steering to stop working. Turning will be much more difficult, if not impossible, and could result in an accident.
Generally a power steering fluid leak can be identified easily. You will either a visible fluid spill under your vehicle or hear a squealing sound when turning your steering wheel whilst driving. Power steering fluid is a generally a reddish brown so should be easily distinguished from either coolant or engine oil.
Age and constant usage are the two biggest contributing factors to a power steering fluid leak. As the supply and pressure hoses start to age, they may develop holes through which the fluid can leak. Likewise, the O-rings and seals gradually lose their flexibility as your mileage increases.
Therefore, if your car`s power steering fluid is leaking fast, it is most likely that the seals are suffering from natural wear and tear due to long-term usage. In some cases, the power steering can also be damaged by unfiltered, impure power steering fluid.
Usually, the low levels of engine oil can stop your vehicle`s engine resulting in loss of power steering. So yes, having low engine oil in your car can affect power steering.
Power Steering Fluid Leaks
Like transmission fluid, power steering fluid will range between light reddish brown to brown on the color spectrum. However, the viscosity will be thin and the leak will be located closer to the front end of your vehicle.
One of the easiest ways to fix the leak yourself is to use a stop leak additive or high mileage oil blend. Such products can soften and condition your car`s rubber seals to stop and prevent further automotive leaks. It may take up to a few hundred miles of driving before the leak is completely sealed.
Power steering fluid can leak from: Seals and gaskets in your power steering rack. Junctions between your reservoir, lines and rack. The power steering pump itself.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Leaking Hydro oil on drivers side mid car. Can this be a line and if so can just the line be replaced?
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have a blown power steering pressure line or rack and pinion leak. The system will need to be inspected to detect where the leak is coming from before the proper repairs can be diagnosed. You will not have to replace the entire system but only the leaking component. Have a mechanic come and inspect the leak and tell you the needed repairs. I do not recommend driving it or you may damage other components or have a fire hazard from the fluid leak.
My car is leaking oil i got an oil change for it last month but it is still leaking oil what will cause my car to leak oil ?
ANSWER : Most older cars have oil leaks. Sealing technology has just not kept up with mechanical improvements to engines so much so that leaks often kill engines rather than mechanical problems. So, it is not unexpected at all to have an, indeed many, oil leaks on a 23 year old car. Oil leaks vary hugely in terms of severity and priority of repair. Oil leaking onto a hot engine manifold is the worst case (the oil can start a fire; at best, you are left breathing oil fumes in the cabin, as the oil burns off of the manifold) while de minimus seepage of oil at the oil drain plug or oil pan gasket, while annoying and messy, if limited enough is not an emergency. Some leaks are easy to repair, while others literally require the engine to be removed just to get physical access to all the leak points. In your circumstance, if you smell burning oil, oil is probably leaking onto a hot engine part such as the exhaust manifold. A certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, can perform an oil leak diagnostic and then let you know of your repair options and costs.
As far as the check engine light, that is not related to the oil leak(s). If you request a check engine light diagnostic, a certified mechanic from YourMechanic would use a code scanner to retrieve the specific diagnostic trouble code(s) from your car’s PCM that have caused the check engine light to illuminate. Using those codes, the appropriate individual vehicle components or sub-systems (often a sensor, circuit, and the like) are then carefully tested, based on specifications set forth in your car’s Factory Service Manual, to pinpoint the cause of the fault or the reason why the check engine light has illuminated. Once the faulty part or component is identified, it is explained to your satisfaction and the mechanic will let you know of the cost to repair. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.
ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.
You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.
The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.
2006 BMW oil filter gasket keeps breaking and oil leaks from oil filter. Oil leaks only after starting car in morning. PCV valve?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
Oil leak turned into oil cooler replacement
ANSWER : Hi there. There are two types of oil coolers on many cars, the engine oil cooler and the transmission oil cooler. It’s not a part that typically wears out frequently, however, sometimes leaks can develop due to being hit by an object or seals and gaskets failing.
As far as how long an oil cooler will last, that’s hard to answer due to the fact that it’s a mechanical part that can fail for many reasons that simply can’t be predicted. However, if it were to happen again, one of our local ASE certified mechanics can complete the oil cooler replacement for you.
Just noticed a huge oil leak trailing my car. It seems to be coming from below the engine. I recently had my oil changed a month
ANSWER : You might have a problem with the oil filter leaking when you rev the engine and increase the oil pressure. This can be from a collapsed oil filter media or excessive oil pressure from the engine. I recommend having the oil and filter replaced using a good quality filter and have the oil leak verified to be from the filter. Make sure to not run the engine low on oil. If you are finding you do not want to drive with the leak, a mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, and replace both your filter, and oil.
lost all oil pressure, replaced the oil pump, low oil sensor, oil pressure sensor, oil pan gasket,
ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
Are thse current and relevant prices for this service, and how long does it take? REPLACE AUX VACUUM PUMP (OIL LEAKING FROM A
ANSWER : Hi there. It really depends on who provided you with this diagnosis as to how long the repairs would take to complete. In regards to not including the seals listed at the bottom, this is not advised. The seals protect the components from leaking and will also reduce the potential of overheating on your vehicle.
