Power Steering Fluid Low

[jranin]

This past weekend, I had my power steering fluid flushed at an express lube place. While the guy was refilling it, I saw smoke rising from the engine. Afterwards, the guy told me that there's a leak in my power steering line which he believes is coming from my pressure line. I took the van to a regular shop for them to find out specifically where the leak is coming from. Almost an hour later, they told me they can not find any leak at all in either my pressure or transfer lines. This afternoon, 2 days after the flush and refill, my wife told me that the van makes a loud growling type sound whenever she turns the steering wheel. She also smelled a bad burning type odor and saw a big white cloud of smoke come out of the van. I checked the power steering fluid reservoir when I got home from work and it is almost empty. Since I have no time to take it back to the shop to get it looked at again till the weekend, I'm going to refill it the power steering reservoir.

If there are no leak in either power steering line (at least according to the shop that looked at it) what else could be the reason for the fluid to run low so quick? Could it be the power steering pump?

One thing I also noticed when I checked the power steering reservoir is my coolant reservoir is at minimum. I'm pretty sure the guy at the express lube place topped it off. Could this also have something to do with what my wife observed this afternoon.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Milan]

That's odd....there was no leak before you brought the car in and after you had it flushed it just eats it up?

What year and mileage do you have on your van?

[jranin]

Hi Milan,

It's a 1998 and it currently has 103,518 miles.

[Milan]

Was this the first time you had the power steering fluid flushed?

[jranin]

Ever since we bought it from a private party a little bit over 3 months ago, yes, this was the first time I've gotten it flushed. Actually, I checked the power steering fluid reserve this morning and it was really low. So, I added more fluid but not enough to touch the dip stick. After adding it, I started up the engine and turned the wheel all the way to the right and left. After a few turns, I checked the fluid level and again it was as low as before. Also there was smoke coming from the upper intake manifold (well, at least thats where it looked like it was coming from). I refilled it again to the same level as the first time and took it for a quick drive around the block. The whining noise when the engine is either on or when driving subsided a little bit until my way back home to park. The growling type noise also came back when I turned the wheel. I checked the fluid level after I parked and it was low again.

[GallagherPreach]

It might be the power steering pump going bad. I would get a mechanics opinion again, but that is what is sounds like to me.

When they flushed it, they may have taken the gunk that was blocking the leak, therefore allowing the leak to become obvious.

[beater95]

fill it up with lucas power steering stop leak and that may slow or stop ur leak.