Power steering fluid in bilge?

[Toddavid]

2014 Chap with VP V8-380-CD.

Checked on the boat at my marina warehouse and found an ounce or so of a thin reddish oil in the bilge below the engine.

I do all my own winterizing and it certainly wasn’t there when I laid her up back in October.

Steering fluid reservoir was a little low, but not empty.

Winter was brutal, coldest in years, with multiple single digit temp days.

Can’t see any drips underneath the engine using a borescope.

What are the chances a rubber line shrank in the extreme cold and let out some fluid at a connection?

Won’t be able to fire her up for another week when the warehouse is cleared out.

 

[Chris1956]

Power steering hoses do leak, usually at the crimped ends. I had to replace them on my Mer cruiser after the crimps on the ends rusted out.

 

[Chris1956]

My neighbor's mercruiser PS cooler rotted out and leaked all the fluid overboard. The boat was impossible to turn at cruise speed. We had go to idle to turn the wheel.

 

[MarineSp]

Todd, given the brutal cold you described, I'd also check the fittings where the hoses connect to the helm and the ram – those can loosen slightly with freeze/thaw cycles. Since you can't start it yet, it might be worth topping off the reservoir and marking the level so you can track if it's still losing fluid. When you do fire her up, have someone turn the wheel lock to lock while you watch underneath – that's usually the quickest way to spot the source