Power steering leak

[BamaCharlie]

(On my 1997 Volvo Penta 5.7 DP)
Last year I had a small leak in the power steering system.
I thought that I had it stop with some "stop Leak" power steering leak.
BUT NO ! While cleaning and getting ready to go to the lake I fired her up for the first time of the year (fired right up and ran great)I had already checked ALL fluids and the power steering was ok. After it warmed up and I ran the steering wheel from stop to stop a few times I turned off and check the fluid level again.
It was almost empty so I add more and repeated. Once again
it was very low. At this point I noticed a puddle of something in the bilge. YEP it was power steering fluid.
I looked and can not "see" the leak. I ran my bare hand over every hose and fitting including the pump that I could reach (and the steering ram) and found nothing leaking.
All ideas gratefully accepted.
Thanks
Charlie

 

[Bondo]

Re: Power steering leak

Ayuh,.... It's Leakin', 'n there's only 2 lines, 1 to, 'n 1 from the actuator...

There ain't no Easy Button to findin' yer leak, ya just gotta Look....
Use a mirror, or camera, or Whatever...

'n Quit puttin' stop leak in it, that crud don't do Squat....

 

[Don S]

Re: Power steering leak

Stop leak is something you use to get home. All it does is swell the seals, which is temporary at best, then all the seals in the system fail completely.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Power steering leak

never run your hand over a hydraulic hose under pressure if you suspect a leak. if you inject yourself with oil, they amputate the arm.