Overfilling Power Steering Fluid

[dlundblad]

What issue(s) would this cause in a system with a reservoir and a fill neck about 10" or so tall? I can see the fluid expanding when hot (which it does) and potentially harming the seal on the cap, but it already weeps so I assume air is able to escape. The gasket/ o ring between the reservoir and the fill neck also appears to be weeping. The vehicle in question is my blazer.

Ever since I've had the truck, I try to keep the fluid between the cold and hot mark when cold. When the fluid is hot, it's anywhere from 1/8" to 1/4" above the hot mark.

My theoretical question is with the reservoir being filled to the fill neck gasket.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

if it leaks, it doesn't matter, since it won't be overfilled for long

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Are you overfilling because of the leak?

 

[dlundblad]

I wouldn’t say the system leaks. The faulty seals are always above the fluid level aside from it possibly sloshing around while driving.

 

[69GTX]

I always keep me fluid a bit below the cold fill line to ensure it doesn't weep over when fully hot. On one of my cars it can dribble on to the serpentine belt if it gets on the top of the reservoir. Prefer that not to happen.

 

[Linctex]

That gasket under the cap isn't necessarily "airtight" by any means.

Overfilling = a little leaks out around under the cap, that's all.

 

[mjoekingz28]

The mfr makes a point to state do not overfill.

I dont know but todays cars seem to prefer being bothered less than of yesteryear. It can wreak havoc with BITOGer folks are we tend to get things correct. I used to wash my car like weekly in high school and detail it thru the week as needed. Neighbor ended up being right when he said I was going to wash the paint away.heh


Its like changing parts a little past due is preferable to too soon.

My psf is (I just soaked up some and checked) is at the lower point of the range after a ~5-10 min idle. I HAD it, iirc, on the mark at stone cold, but when totally hot it was low, so I added more... So it kind of ends up being which mark do you prefer to calibrate the ps system- the hot or cold mark?