My car is eating PS fluid...

[teh Phil]

Two weeks ago my PS was making some horrific noises. I checked the reservoir, and it was quite low, so I filled it up. I figured there was some sort of slow leak, and I'd have to top it off in a week or two...
Since then, I'm filled it up 3 or 4 times. It will empty ENTIRELY overnight while the car is sitting, and here's the fun part: there's no fluid under the car!

I did a quick glance-over under the car and I didn't see any blatant leaks. Do the seals on the reservoir go bad eventually? I'm taking off the PS belt tomorrow as I don't have time to track down the leak right now, but I'd like to see what the problem is over winter break.

Any ideas?

[BMWDriver]

seals are shot and its filling up the cavities of teh rack until you drive it and then its pruging it out ? just an idea.

[SpecM]

Lucas P/S stop-leak FTW

not a real fix but it'll slow that leak down

[CorvallisBMW]

seals are shot and its filling up the cavities of teh rack until you drive it and then its pruging it out ? just an idea.

Could be. If it's filling up the boots, it may not leak out until they are compressed by turning the steering wheel. If you don't see any obvious leaks or fluid on the ground, try turning the wheel back and forth and then looking.

[ldsbeaker]

You're using AT fluid, right? I had the same problem for the first 3 years that I owned my E30, then switched from PS fluid to AT fluid (dumb mistake), and didn't have any groaning, leaks, or problems.

[SpecM]

You're using AT fluid, right? I had the same problem for the first 3 years that I owned my E30, then switched from PS fluid to AT fluid (dumb mistake), and didn't have any groaning, leaks, or problems.

and only use Dextron-III ATF as well!

[E30 Cabrio]

Lucas P/S stop-leak FTW

not a real fix but it'll slow that leak down

It worked for me: My Steering Rack began leaking around this time last year and I emptied the PS reservoir and put in the Lucas Stop Leak and it's been fine since. Maybe a drop or two if I park on a downhill slope, but that's it.

[kamotors]

i used STP stop leak a year ago, and it worked perfect, i had a slow leak to start with, and it actually completely stopped the leak.

[CorvallisBMW]

can you use pure Lucas Stop leak or do you have to mix it with ATF?

[kamotors]

mix i think, it says on the back of the bottle

[E30 Cabrio]

can you use pure Lucas Stop leak or do you have to mix it with ATF?

I drained the PS reservoir with a Turkey baster, sucking the fluid out until the reservoir was empty and poured in the Lucas stop leak.

That was a year ago. Keep in mind, I only drive about 4000 miles per year because I live about a mile from my office, but it worked for me.

Put the Lucas stop leak in, start car and turn the wheel lock to lock several times, then take it out and drive it around the block a few times, making both left and right turns so the stop leak can circulate in your PS system, the park it overnight.

Like I said, if I park on a steep downhill, it will leak a few drops, but it's not a problem on level or uphill surfaces, and my driveway has a slight upwards angle so it spend the night there, and during the day, on a level parking lot at work.

But the Lucas Stop Leak seems to work if you catch the leak early and address it.

[george graves]

There is a HUGE difference in quality of ATF/PS fluids. If you buy junk, it will leak. Buy two bottles of the most expensive stuff you can find with some sort of leak stop in it(at a real auto parts store - not some gas station.) The first bottle will slow the leak, by the second one you will be good to go.