Power Steering fluid disapearing???

[Bonz099]

So i get in to drive the car 2 days ago and im out and about, and I hear a large wine coming from the engine. I can immediately tell its PS pump. I head home, no less than 10 min away, and notice the reservoir is very low and foamy, so i know the pump is cavitating. I fill it back up while running and wait for the foam to die down, and the whine goes away. So i got for a 5 min drive and it comes back, I look and its empty again. I dont see a drop of ANYTHING from under the car, I havent pulled the skid plate yet, but wtf? Any ideas?

[Lockon_B7]

It would be a lot of missing fluid, but the seals at the end of the steering rack could be shot. Allowing the P/S fluid to pool in the boots covering the inner tie rod.

[JimmyBones]

So i get in to drive the car 2 days ago and im out and about, and I hear a large wine coming from the engine. I can immediately tell its PS pump. I head home, no less than 10 min away, and notice the reservoir is very low and foamy, so i know the pump is cavitating. I fill it back up while running and wait for the foam to die down, and the whine goes away. So i got for a 5 min drive and it comes back, I look and its empty again. I dont see a drop of ANYTHING from under the car, I havent pulled the skid plate yet, but wtf? Any ideas?

When was the last time that you checked your power steering fluid level before driving it two days ago? The fluid does burn off from normal use and if you hadn't checked it in a while then it could have been really low.

It can take a few times of filling the power steering fluid, starting the engine, shutting the engine off, waiting for the air bubbles to go away, and repeat to get all the air out. I have had to do that for a half hour before on cars that had the whole system drained.

Pull the belly pan/skid tray and check for leaks. The return line from the power steering rack and pinion to the metal cooler line on the front of the car likes to leak but usually it is a sudden pour everything on the ground style of leak. I have seen some that had a pin sized hole too but that didn't happen as often.

It would be a lot of missing fluid, but the seals at the end of the steering rack could be shot. Allowing the P/S fluid to pool in the boots covering the inner tie rod.

While this could be true, if it was then usually it pours fluid out like hell. A local B7 A4 guy recently had this happen to him and it sent power steering fluid all over the place.

[Bonz099]

I mean, it's already taken half a bottle of chf. Would it really be that much fluid? I haven't checked it since I did the clutch about a month ago.

[JimmyBones]

I mean, it's already taken half a bottle of chf. Would it really be that much fluid? I haven't checked it since I did the clutch about a month ago.

Okay, in that case it isn't likely that it was just really low to begin with. Definitely check for leaks. In addition to pulling the belly pan I would also look right below the coolant tank because that is where the return line likes to leak.

[Bonz099]

Solid, thank you!

[S4rings-B6]

Pull the belly pan/skid tray and check for leaks. The return line from the power steering rack and pinion to the metal cooler line on the front of the car likes to leak but usually it is a sudden pour everything on the ground style of leak. I have seen some that had a pin sized hole too but that didn't happen as often.



While this could be true, if it was then usually it pours fluid out like hell. A local B7 A4 guy recently had this happen to him and it sent power steering fluid all over the place.

Would you happen to have a reference diagram that shows the return line I have a leak occurring from somewhere just below the front bumper. It's progressively gotten worst in the last month. A mechanic that looked at the engine from the top said its the valve gaskets but I checked myself and the gasket area is not moist and I don't believe he put the car on a lift to check the underside.

[VinnysS4]

half a can of CHF is a lot of fluid.....I just did a flush on my B7 S4 and it took an entire can...so needless to say...you were very low my friend. As to where its going...who knows. you will be the only one to know that for sure. Just start poking around. I've found that these engines love to hide stuff until you really dig deep. Then it will be staring you in the face. The system contains the reservoir, a feed line and a return line, the PS pump, PS cooler and the rack. Not much else in there so it should be atleast somewhat easy to narrow it down.