Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

[John Medina]

I just purchased a 2001 Harris Kayot 22 V Star and first trip out this summer, noticed a decent amount of power steering fluid and water in my bilge area. I filled the power steering reservoir and within a couple of hours of boating the reservoir was almost dry again. The boat has a 4.3 Volvo GL engine with a SX single prop drive. I have been unable to locate the engine number or serial number for posting but I will continue to look until I find it.

I was able to inspect the power steering pump while on muffs and I do not believe the leak is coming from the pump. I have read several post and think the culprit may be the power steering cooler but most of the post involving the cooler having power steering fluid leaving with the exhaust. Could this still be the power steering cooler? I have located the cooler and felt around it but not located or felt the amount of power steering fluid that should be present.

I also noticed a few drips of power steering fluid around the steering cylinder attached to the inside of the transom but did not see a leak from that area while on muffs.

I am planning on taking the power steering cooler off and having pressure tested. I have a week long lake trip planned in three weeks and I would be grateful for any suggestions.

 

[John Medina]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

I just purchased a 2001 Harris Kayot 22 V Star and first trip out this summer, noticed a decent amount of power steering fluid and water in my bilge area. I filled the power steering reservoir and within a couple of hours of boating the reservoir was almost dry again. The boat has a 4.3 Volvo GL engine with a SX single prop drive. I have been unable to locate the engine number or serial number for posting but I will continue to look until I find it.

I was able to inspect the power steering pump while on muffs and I do not believe the leak is coming from the pump. I have read several post and think the culprit may be the power steering cooler but most of the post involving the cooler having power steering fluid leaving with the exhaust. Could this still be the power steering cooler? I have located the cooler and felt around it but not located or felt the amount of power steering fluid that should be present.

I also noticed a few drips of power steering fluid around the steering cylinder attached to the inside of the transom but did not see a leak from that area while on muffs.

I am planning on taking the power steering cooler off and having pressure tested. I have a week long lake trip planned in three weeks and I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Took the Power Steering cooler to the shop for pressure testing and its not the problem. I am back attempting to trace the leak while on muffs. Has anyone experienced an entire resivior of power steering fluid being lost out of the power steering cylinder in only a couple of hours?

 

[dmichaud2]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

I had the same problem on an older Sea Ray. For me it was
a leak in the high pressure hose right up near where it connected to the RAM. The fun part? Getting your hands back in there against the transom to replace to hose.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

I'm chasing the same problem. Found out that the PO had missed the tube coming out of the P.S. cooler with the clamp resulting in a leak...but I'm still losing fluid (although at a much slower rate). Trace evidence is pointing to the seal on the steering ram (it was slightly wet on the underside). Gonna take her out this weekend, but some die in the fluid and try and trace it with a black light when I get back. Good luck, this problem can be a hair puller!

 

[John Medina]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

No luck on finding the leak so far. I put the power steering cooler back on and filled the power steering up once again and with the motor off ran the wheel from lock to lock probably 20 times. I started it up and ran for almost an hour and no evidence of a leak at all.

Is it possible that the system will only leak while the boat is under a load in the water?

A friend told me that I may have fixed a bad hose connector when I put the power steering cooler back on. Who the heck knows. Going to take the boat out this friday for the day, I will report back if it is still leaking.

 

[John Medina]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

Has anyone experienced a power steering leak while under a load in the water but not on muffs? Maybe I did fix the leak, no trace of power steering fluid at all in the bilge now. Now on to the water leak.

I am guessing from the cooling system. Leak is the same amount either on muffs or in the water.

 

[John Medina]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

Any luck with the dye Wingnutt?

 

[John Medina]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

Put the boat in the water this weekend and no signs of power steering fluid in bilge! Guess it was a bad hose clamp.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Power steering fluid and water in bilge.

Any luck with the dye

Yup, it showed me that the scraper and seal on the steering ram was ka-put (it's an older Saganaw unit so it's not re-buildable (odd-ball sized seal). found a like new one on-line at a good price.