power steering

**pa4ul** · 01-19-2009 09:54 AM

My powersteering fluid gets low like no other. I have no visible leaks anywhere. can someone tell me what area to inspect so i can see where all this fluid disappears too?

**absolutegtr** · 01-19-2009 10:13 AM

Its either leaking from the drivers side or passengers side tierod end

**pa4ul** · 01-19-2009 11:05 AM

but y is there no fluid on the floor?

**ImageX** · 01-21-2009 12:23 AM

I have this same issue too.. but it runs out like every month or so.. no visible leaks either..

**will951** · 01-21-2009 06:20 AM

Where are you guys buying the power steering fluid? Mine is right on the edge....and when it's 2 degrees out groans a bit. I think I need to top it off....but I've heard that there is a special fluid??

**Wanted** · 01-21-2009 08:16 AM

For those who are leaking and you're not seeing anything on the ground or on your splash guard - you may need to look at the boots over the tie rods to see if it's collecting there. If so, you may have a pump problem which isn't too bad of deal. It's a 4 out of 10 banana job if you're handy. Worst case scenario is that you are having steering rack issues, but while it does happen - it's not very common.

Will95 - the power steering fluid needs to be a "mineral based" power steering fluid and can be purchased directly from your VW/Audi dealer (anywhere from $18-24 per liter) or at Napa for around $17 for alot more product. O'Rielly's and Autozone do not carry the mineral based product.

Be aware that your power steering pump is as succeptible to damage by being overfilled as it is to being underfilled. This fluid is a cold vs operating temperature level just like an auto tran. In really cold weather based on a bulletin that was posted here some time ago from Audi you can overfill as much as 10mm on the dipstick to alleviate any howling from the pump.

**lookaught** · 01-21-2009 09:01 AM

This is the list of fluids that you can use from memory:

1. OEM VW/Audi fluid from the dealer
2. Havoline Power Steering Fluid (mineral based)
3. Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
4. Pentosin CHF 11S (I think)

My car also dipped pretty low when the cold weather arrived. Topped off with OEM fluid and no problems since. I check it every couple of weeks just to make sure that not low.

On my B5 the seals failed onthe rack and filled the boots with PS fluid. Huge effing mess when I took it apart. Check there for a leak, and don't mess up the clamp if you're careful you can reuse it if you have the crimping tool. GL.

**MikeHall** · 01-22-2009 04:15 PM

are you sure i can use Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF (automatic transmission fluid)? Thats all i can find here in town.

Thanks
MIke

**Monkey77** · 01-22-2009 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Wanted

For those who are leaking and you're not seeing anything on the ground or on your splash guard - you may need to look at the boots over the tie rods to see if it's collecting there. If so, you may have a pump problem which isn't too bad of deal. It's a 4 out of 10 banana job if you're handy. Worst case scenario is that you are having steering rack issues, but while it does happen - it's not very common.

Will95 - the power steering fluid needs to be a "mineral based" power steering fluid and can be purchased directly from your VW/Audi dealer (anywhere from $18-24 per liter) or at Napa for around $17 for alot more product. O'Rielly's and Autozone do not carry the mineral based product.

Be aware that your power steering pump is as succeptible to damage by being overfilled as it is to being underfilled. This fluid is a cold vs operating temperature level just like an auto tran. In really cold weather based on a bulletin that was posted here some time ago from Audi you can overfill as much as 10mm on the dipstick to alleviate any howling from the pump.

I had the same issue a few backs. I had a chronic PS leak, and could not really source where the leak was coming from. Turned out my PS rack failed on the passenger side, and the fluid was just pooling up in the dust cover. Sadly I had to get a new rack, which is way too pricey, but that is the nature of the beast.

Be careful, as stated above, not to let your res run dry or over flow it. You don't want your pump to fail on top of the rack, if that is the case. Both parts are rather expensive. Check the tie rod ends, check the clamps on the pump lines, and check all your dust boots for any pooling. I used the Audi OEM mineral fluid or the Pentosin, Just remember that once you find and fix the leak, that you will ideally need to flush your old fluid it and refill it with the new fluid you plan on using. Good luck.

**festerfm** · 01-26-2009 02:25 PM

i too have been having this issue on my 03.. however, my resevoir runs dry once every 7 months or so. i kno its on the pass side of the steering rack. my question is, i dont mind refilling the resevoir twice a year since the car has 112k on it and the cost of 1 12oz bottle from audi ($10) is way better than the price of a new rack, but will just letting it go make it worse, or will it generally not get any worse than it is now? i have no warranty on the car so the new rack would be paid for out of pocket

**Boston_USP_327** · 01-26-2009 02:37 PM

my car seems to hate power steering fluid, b/c it finds a way to leak once a month... the first time the passenger side seal was bad and i needed to replace the rack (covered by warranty, so wasnt too bad). that was about 3 weeks ago... 2 mornings ago i went out, turned on the car, went in ate breakfast, and came out and took off... made the turn on the road, and it was howling at me... naturally i was like WTF, since i just replaced the rack... well i guess Audi reused my old hse clamps and it came lose and spilled ALL of my fluid... so double check the little things before assuming the worst