Power Steering Leaking Into Water?

[Novo62]

I have a 2008 Volvo Penta 4.3 GL, SX-A drive. I keep it in a slip during the summer. Today when I walked out to it I noticed an oily sheen on the water around the stern. Pulled it from the water and nothing obvious. Checked all fluids (including trim fluid which is on the outside and submerged). The trim fluid was not “milky” and all the fluids were normal levels except the power steering. Power steering was below low and almost not visible. I know it was full at the beginning of the season. Boat has been in the water about a month and was last used about a week ago.

Can power steering leak through a bad cooler while docked? Or is it probably something else?

Thanks!

 

[flashback]

I doubt it, it probably is the trim system.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have a 2008 Volvo Penta 4.3 GL, SX-A drive. I keep it in a slip during the summer. Today when I walked out to it I noticed an oily sheen on the water around the stern. Pulled it from the water and nothing obvious. Checked all fluids (including trim fluid which is on the outside and submerged). The trim fluid was not “milky” and all the fluids were normal levels except the power steering. Power steering was below low and almost not visible. I know it was full at the beginning of the season. Boat has been in the water about a month and was last used about a week ago.

Can power steering leak through a bad cooler while docked? Or is it probably something else?

Thanks!

Yes

 

[flashback]

Yes

How

 

[Bondo]

How

Ayuh,..... Usually because the cooler was frozen with water in it, at some point,.....

 

[Bondo]

Welcome Aboard Nova,..... Yes, it can,..... see my post above,....

 

[flashback]

Ayuh,..... Usually because the cooler was frozen with water in it, at some point,.....

Good to know, I didn't think the oil would work it's way down thru the water..
Apologies to OP.

 

[dan02gt]

I had the same thing happen on my SX-A and in my case it was gear oil coming from the prop shaft seal. Earlier SX-As were also known to leak at the trim pump.

For the power steering leak the only way I could see that being the source of the oil sheen is if the cooler is leaking into the raw cooling water and the making it's way out the raw water intake on the drive. I doubt that though.

 

[Scott Danforth]

For the power steering leak the only way I could see that being the source of the oil sheen is if the cooler is leaking into the raw cooling water and the making it's way out the raw water intake on the drive. I doubt that though.

that is one of the two modes of failure on the PS coolers

The other is the raw water with oil gets pumped thru the engine and goes out the exhaust

 

[Novo62]

Thanks guys. I haven’t had a chance to work on it so it has been in my driveway. Once everything dried out and it has been sitting, I’m noticing hydraulic oil leaking from the trim cylinders. The pump and lines are only a year old. I’ll start by replacing the seals and go from there.

 

[Scott06]

Thanks guys. I haven’t had a chance to work on it so it has been in my driveway. Once everything dried out and it has been sitting, I’m noticing hydraulic oil leaking from the trim cylinders. The pump and lines are only a year old. I’ll start by replacing the seals and go from there.

My neighbor had an issue with ps fluid loss on their VP 4.3 hose clamps on return line from ps cooler were loose emptied the ps reservoir into the bilge

 

[QBhoy]

Could be. But not the most likely cause of oil sheen in the water.

 

[Scott06]

Could be. But not the most likely cause of oil sheen in the water.

Yes of course but he said ps fluid was way low, likely has a couple things going on here

 

[QBhoy]

Yes of course but he said ps fluid was way low, likely has a couple things going on here

Think you’re right Scott. If I was a gambling man…I’m not sure I’d put money on the power steering leaking oil into the water though. Defo possible via the cooler…but jeez…you’d know all about it in seconds if it was. More likely power trim, trim tabs…running rich fuel when cold or just plain burning oil. But hey…anything is possible

 

[Scott06]

Think you’re right Scott. If I was a gambling man…I’m not sure I’d put money on the power steering leaking oil into the water though. Defo possible via the cooler…but jeez…you’d know all about it in seconds if it was. More likely power trim, trim tabs…running rich fuel when cold or just plain burning oil. But hey…anything is possible

Yes im agreeing with you no way ps goes into water. Just pointing out possible cause of really low ps fluid.

This was 2-3 summers ago - My neighbor asked me to look at her boat 4.3 VP mpi as it was making a rattling noise at speed.… we are going along at speed i have my head in engine compartment… nothing from valve cover area etc… only thing that looks odd is PS reservoir went bone dry and was aerated at rpm… topped it up and noise was gone. Never would have made the connection between the rattling and the ps fluid. Both hose clamps on cooler return lines were loose… as well as most of the cooling hose clamps

 

[QBhoy]

Yes im agreeing with you no way ps goes into water. Just pointing out possible cause of really low ps fluid.

This was 2-3 summers ago - My neighbor asked me to look at her boat 4.3 VP mpi as it was making a rattling noise at speed.… we are going along at speed i have my head in engine compartment… nothing from valve cover area etc… only thing that looks odd is PS reservoir went bone dry and was aerated at rpm… topped it up and noise was gone. Never would have made the connection between the rattling and the ps fluid. Both hose clamps on cooler return lines were loose… as well as most of the cooling hose clamps

No worries. But is it possible that the PS fluid was low and a separate issue ? Suppose over the last few decades of owning these things…I’ve maybe learned to never presume one issue is the related to or to blame for another or underlying separate issue.