I have a 1989 OMC Cobra 5.8L that has a mysterious power steering leak. The fluid leaks out into the bilge after a day or so of sitting. I could run the boat all day without losing any fluid in the resevoir. The exterior of the pump, hoses and cooler are dry with no evidence of a leak trail. The connections to the steering "box" also look dry as far as I can see from above and with a mirror. I pressure tested the cooler as well with no evidence of a leak.<br /><br />Both hoses run uphill from the pump, so I'm confused as to how the fluid could leak out anywhere but at the pump while the boat is just sitting. The bilge is dry under the pump area?<br /><br />I put a few ounces of a power steering "stop leak" in the steering pump earlier in the year and the problem went away until my last trip out this year. Now it has returned....and I'd like to fix it right...<br /><br />Any ideas would be appreciated...<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Al
<br /><br />I pressure tested the cooler earlier but it didn't show any leaks. <br /><br />If the cylinder were rusted through, wouldn't it leak more when running with pressure on the system? The boats laid up now so I won't be able to work on it again until the spring. It frustrated me this past season though because it would only lose fluid after sitting for a few days. The cylinder sits higher than the pump reservoir. It has me baffled how it cut run uphill to leak out unless it was siphoning somehow. <br /><br />I guess the cylinder could be the only place, because there is absolutely no moisture anywhere else (except in the bilge). <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Al