Power Steering leak

[slybunda]

so i have a leak on my power steering rack on a 1995 ford fiesta. the car is old but its still my daily drive. the powersteering reservoir needs to be topped up from minimum to max mark every 3 or 4 months. so the leak does not seem to be too bad.
its too late in the game id say to pay the money out for a new steering rack, old car rust etc. this rack has been leaking for 10 years now by the way.
should i try something like a stop leak product such as:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucas-Oil-10008-Power-Steering/dp/B000ARPVNO/
or
https://www.amazon.co.uk/NO-LEAK-20301-Power-Steering/dp/B000T2JIFM/
or something similar?

or should i just keep topping up the fluid when needed? im scared of stop leak products since i hear they can cause more harm than good so iv never been tempted to use them. but now im on bobistheoilguy i may as well ask the question.

 

[BigD1]

Believe it or not the best I have used is Walmart Supertech power steering fluid with stop leak. On the back of the bottle it says it's only recommended for top off. It quietened down my old pump too. Really surprising to me with Supertech in the pump that the pump ran much quieter on it than Valvoline or Carquest power steering fluid.

 

[JamesBond]

So it leaks about an ounce per month? Just keep a bottle of regular power steering fluid in the back.

 

[slybunda]

hmm no wallmart near me in the uk.

 

[slybunda]

Originally Posted By: JamesBond
So it leaks about an ounce per month? Just keep a bottle of regular power steering fluid in the back.


makes sense i guess. i dont want to put something in it to make it worse. dont need to keep a spare bottle in the back either when it neds topping up iv always got some at home to put in.

would putting in a different brand maybe dexron vi make a difference? i currently use dexron 3 stuff in it.

 

[Bgallagher]

I know I might get flack for this but I used lucas power steering fluid and it stopped a PS leak for my old 93 Ford Explorer. Lucas isn't generally regarding as a good additive but it slowed my leak down to a halt and quieted down a generally noisy ford PS pump. I sucked out about half the reservoir and topped it with Lucas. Noise/Leak was gone in about a week or so. You could also just top off as you go and keep checking until hopefully it stops.

 

[supton]

Have you located where the leak is? Just so you know where it is, and can eyeball it, to see if it "suddenly" gets worse.

My vote is to keep topping it off. I've never tried stop-leak stuff, kinda wary, and in this case, it doesn't sound warranted. It's a pretty slow leak.

 

[slybunda]

yea leak is on the rack i think its one of the seals the gaitor is wet with oil. it drops off onto the exhaust so get a bit of smoke smell on long journeys. been like that for 10 years now or more, think it started around 2003. other than that all good.
id like to do a full fluid change but always scared it could cause more issues?

 

[Dyusik]

Originally Posted By: slybunda

id like to do a full fluid change but always scared it could cause more issues?


Your fluid is getting changed at a fast rate as it is, considering some units never get serviced.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
I know I might get flack for this but I used lucas power steering fluid and it stopped a PS leak for my old 93 Ford Explorer. Lucas isn't generally regarding as a good additive but it slowed my leak down to a halt and quieted down a generally noisy ford PS pump. I sucked out about half the reservoir and topped it with Lucas. Noise/Leak was gone in about a week or so. You could also just top off as you go and keep checking until hopefully it stops.
It's one of the few Lucas products that is worth trying.

 

[finmile]

Try ATP AT-205. It might help.

How do you manage to pass the MOT with that leak?

 

[sleddriver]

+1 on AT-205. Stopped a bad PS leak in the sled's rack. Haven't added a drop in 4-5months now. I'm still amazed.....

 

[slybunda]

MOT passes fine every year, i take it for a carwash and there is no leak visible by the time its at the MOT station every year.
what is ATP AT-205? is it avialble in the UK? and can it be used in place of dex3 atf?

 

[finmile]

It’s an additive. Start with low doses. Add until you’re happy with the result.

https://youtu.be/HTT0sejhoOQ