[V8] Leaking Steering Rack - Switch to Mobil1 Synthetic ATF?/ramble

[toml99 at todomundo.com]

I also put it in my Pearl car when I replaced the pump, then sold it  
and haven't heard about any problems of any sort(tiny bit of sellers  
remorse here).....I purchased a 5 gallon bucket of the Mobil DTE-13M  
on the recommendation of many, that it's almost an exact substitute  
for the Pentosin(and @ $78 a bucket, can use it to flush your system  
cheap).  One of it's slightly different properties, is it's just a  
hair thicker, and some have said it stopped their leaks.   Probably  
not appropriate for people in sub zero climate's.  I just flushed the  
87 saab with it, and the new rack/stuff is in the mail, then it's off  
to a friend's 17 yo., freshly filled with that liquid.    Should have  
seen what came out of there.  And this was a vehicle that leaked a  
quart/month for a very long time according to the P.O., and had semi  
new hoses.    Bought an in-line filter to add when I install the rack/ 
all new hoses, and have every intention of doing so on both Audi's  
when I'm in there doing the flush on them.  Dirty fluid =failure.   
Water in fluid eats hoses/seals, as does metal particles.  I know  
some Commercial fish/crab guys who's boats are about  1/2 hydraulic.   
All use lots of filters in line (to identify where the failure is  
happening,)but the slackers(who don't do regular maintenance/yearly),  
are the one's with the story's.  You should flush it before a new  
rack anyway(every 2 years in some cars?), so get a bucket of the  
DTE-13M, do the flush(turning the steering wheel lock-lock) and be  
amazed at the chunk's that come out.  Give it a week, and if it's  
still leaking(probably), then flush with the Mobil ATF and see if  
that helps.. If it still leaks, then you are with me, and need a  
rebuilt rack.  For what it's worth, the Lago needs the rack, and it  
had fresh fluid it's whole 107k life, but the ex hit a curb and that  
was that/now leaks.     At least your pump/lines are flushed, which  
you would do before the rack anyway....Sorry if that was a ramble,  
but I'm on a roll, as I just got the boat  finished today, and the  
sky's are finally clear, and I'm going to get some Halibut/prawns/ 
lingcod tomorrow....and will have nothing to do with an Audi  
hydraulic system tomorrow....Good luck... .....Tom