Truck is losing power steering fluid just sitting there.

[The motor guy]

How does a vehicle need power steering fluid added even when its not driven? I can see actual fluid hanging off the steering box, so that's the only thing i can think of. What else else can leak? I replaced the seals on the hydro boost pump, so that's still dry and I dont see anything leaking around the master cylinder. I guess I need to hose everything down with brake fluid and start fresh. A lot of the oil is from the blowby tube as this is on my 5.9 cummins diesel. It seems like a lot of the oily residue blows its way onto the hoses and such while going down the road

 

[The motor guy]

I think it loses more being parked than it does being driven

 

[samven]

Mine use to leak when sitting to. Mostly only when it was cold out. The steering fluid reservoir stays pressurized for a while after you shut the engine down on the Dodge. I found the cheap Dodge hose clamp was the source of my leak. I replaced all of the steering hose clamps with the screw type. I think they were fuel line clamps because they dont have any flat areas at the screw. While I was doing it I pulled the hoses and flushed the power steering unit and have not had another leak in 2 years.

 

[The motor guy]

Mine use to leak when sitting to. Mostly only when it was cold out. The steering fluid reservoir stays pressurized for a while after you shut the engine down on the Dodge. I found the cheap Dodge hose clamp was the source of my leak. I replaced all of the steering hose clamps with the screw type. I think they were fuel line clamps because they dont have any flat areas at the screw. While I was doing it I pulled the hoses and flushed the power steering unit and have not had another leak in 2 years.

Thats probably every vehicle. If the pedal is soft when the engine is off, then the system is pressurized. It needs to be put on a lift for a good look. From what I can tell, the hoses have crimp style clamps

 

[Lubener]

It should be very easy to pinpoint once you decide to start looking. Probably less time than it took to type your question.

 

[Lubener]

If I were to guess, I would closely look at the steering gear's output and input shaft seals.

 

[Egg_Head]

My K-5 used to leak sitting still. BlueDevil PS stop leak fixed it.

 

[D60]

There are vids on replacing the seal at sector shaft, although I have to wonder if the seal isn't leaking for other reasons, like throwing a rear main seal at a motor with crank slop.

Cancraft in BC rebuilds a nice box, but I'm not sure if tariffs have affected that nor am I saying tariffs are good or bad.

 

[Thebigm]

How does a vehicle need power steering fluid added even when its not driven? I can see actual fluid hanging off the steering box, so that's the only thing i can think of. What else else can leak? I replaced the seals on the hydro boost pump, so that's still dry and I dont see anything leaking around the master cylinder. I guess I need to hose everything down with brake fluid and start fresh. A lot of the oil is from the blowby tube as this is on my 5.9 cummins diesel. It seems like a lot of the oily residue blows its way onto the hoses and such while going down the road

Loose hoses

 

[The motor guy]

Loose hoses

If I were to guess, I would closely look at the steering gear's output and input shaft seals.

Is that part of the steering box? My guess is that's all that's left unless its hose like the other poster suggested. Need to park it in the shop and then see see what leaks. I have a gravel drive, so its not so obvious

 

[The motor guy]

Loose hoses

Wish I had a lift so I can stand off to the side and spray it all down. So much oil under there, you cant tell what is what.

 

[D60]

Wish I had a lift so I can stand off to the side and spray it all down. So much oil under there, you cant tell what is what.

Some detailers will steam or otherwise clean the engine bay for you. No idea on cost, however

 

[The motor guy]

If I were to guess, I would closely look at the steering gear's output and input shaft seals.

OK. All these hoses have crimped ends, so I dont think its a hose. I think it's the input shaft seal on the steering box. I believe thats the side that the steering shaft connects to. Hard to say if the output saft is leaking too or if that's just oil from the input shaft running down.

 

[samven]

Those crimped hose clamps are the biggest leakers. I had 2 that leaked and 1 that broke on the far side of the hose but the clamp stayed in place so it looked fine visually.

 

[The motor guy]

Those crimped hose clamps are the biggest leakers. I had 2 that leaked and 1 that broke on the far side of the hose but the clamp stayed in place so it looked fine visually.

Hard to tell whats leaking since the blow by tube is in front of those hoses

 

[D60]

Those crimped hose clamps are the biggest leakers. I had 2 that leaked and 1 that broke on the far side of the hose but the clamp stayed in place so it looked fine visually.

This. With a bit of age they often weep more than a drunk girl on prom night

 

[The motor guy]

This. With a bit of age they often weep more than a drunk girl on prom night

Well its still has a ton of play. Had a buddy wiggle the wheel back and forth and it all looked fine except the steering box. Unless the hoses are leaking and running down the steering box

 

[D60]

Well its still has a ton of play. Had a buddy wiggle the wheel back and forth and it all looked fine except the steering box. Unless the hoses are leaking and running down the steering box

Again, pretty common for them to leak at the sector shaft but if it's as dirty as you say, it could be from anywhere. The input shafts can leak, too.

 

[The motor guy]

Again, pretty common for them to leak at the sector shaft but if it's as dirty as you say, it could be from anywhere. The input shafts can leak, too.

I went ahead and ordered a redhead steering box. Looks like its 3 bolts on the frame that can accessed from me sitting inside the wheel well. Not sure how Im going to wrangle it back up there to line the bolts back up though.

 

[D60]

I went ahead and ordered a redhead steering box. Looks like its 3 bolts on the frame that can accessed from me sitting inside the wheel well. Not sure how Im going to wrangle it back up there to line the bolts back up though.

You poor soul. I hope the Redhead lasts.