What the heck is that noise?

[manticore999]

Can't believe I'm actually admitting this, but ....

I have a small, as yet undetermined, leak in my power steering system. I have to add a small amount of fluid every 5-6 hours or so or else it starts 'squealing' ... anyway, we were cruising out with another couple to a marina a few hours away from us. We got there, and as I was looking for our assigned spot on the guest dock I heard the tell-tale noise. 'Oh for cryin' out loud - I thought I found that leak!' - I was annoyed, but I had fluid with me so I figured I'd just add some once we docked. All of a sudden I hear this 'grinding' noise. I asked my wife if that was coming from us or was someone working on their boat with a power tool near by. Nope, she says, that's us! Now I'm really getting annoyed (too polite to really say how mad I was). I'm looking around and can't seem to figure out where it's coming from - so I finish docking and tying up and go exploring for the 'new' problem. Well, somehow in my docking I bumped the remote for the stereo! The grinding nose was the radio - between station static. When I first heard the noise and looked around I looked at the stereo remote, but with my sunglasses on the screen looked dark so I never even considered that.

It was the easiest fix I've seen on a boat. Just hit the 'off' switch.

Sometimes I amaze even myself!

 

[Hoss the Hermit]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

Maybe you should find the leak????????? My $0.02

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

Maybe you should find the leak????????? My $0.02

Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[manticore999]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

I've been trying to find the leak for about 3 months, and have had my dealer's mechanic look at it twice. Just can't seem to track it down.

 

[Weldor]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

I've been trying to find the leak for about 3 months, and have had my dealer's mechanic look at it twice. Just can't seem to track it down.



Now this is something I can help ya with. Put some UV dye in the unit refill with fluid and run awhile. Break out a black lite in the dark and the leak will stick out like a sore thumb. I repair heavy equipment and use this method for all hard to find leaks oil,fuel,trannys and hydraulics the works.

 

[manticore999]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

Weldor - that's a great suggestion - thanks! Now, can you tell me where I can find the UV dye? And that won't hurt anything, will it?

 

[Weldor]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

You can get the dye at most of the larger auto parts chains like Napa. There are different ones for oil,coolant,fuel and AC systems be sure to get the one for oil. The dye comes in mostly in 2oz cotainers you'll only need about 1/2 an ounce but you can't over dose a system.This will not harm anything as a matter of fact you wont even have to drain this out when the leak is found. Just make the repairs refill to proper level and your done.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

unfindable p/s leak is usually the p/s oil cooler - the oil is going into the lake....makes it real hard to find...

 

[manticore999]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

Fanstastic. I'm going to give that a try.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Nandy]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

unfindable p/s leak is usually the p/s oil cooler - the oil is going into the lake....makes it real hard to find...

Yup! That will make it a bit hard to find! LOL!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

to check it - simply disconnect the water lines from the cooler- and connect the water lines together with a peice of hollow tubing to bypass the cooler.
Then run the engine at 2500 rpm or so for a while and look for oil seeping out the water passages.

 

[Weldor]

Re: What the heck is that noise?

If your looseing that much fluid from the cooler the stern will probly show some signs of it. You know when sitting at the dock there should be some tale tail signs such as rainbows in the water. Don't get me wrong I'm not a boat mechanic by any means. But I do know that the dye works even in water so if you don't see the leak top side shine the lite in the water.