Re: Penosin Leak...

["Nicholas Bean" <mktnb@2bean.com>]

The apparent leak at the top of the resevoir is most likely spillage from
the previous owner constantly replentishing the oil (at $8 to $18 per can).
ZF PS leaks can happen anywhere--clean everything thouroughly, take it out
for a short drive, and check for wetness.  The least expensive leak is from
the high pressure hose ($55 parts) followed by the PS pump (reletively easy
to rebuild/seal).  Rack leaks are a hassle, and I have yet to rebuild one
successfuly.  Get a reman job with a good warranty (I seem to have seen
references on the list for as low as $150) and plan on spending an entire
afternoon.  My advice for the future:  pass on any Audi 5K with PS leaks or
tired suspensions.

Nick Bean
~~~
mktnb@2bean.com
'90 CQ 20V et. al.

>My new to me 87 5000CSTQ has a power steering/brake fuid leak.  The
>previous owner notified me of this before the purchase; claiming the
>rack needed to be replaced.  In driving on city streets I had not
>noticed any loss of fluid or "wet" spots.  However after a few trips on
>some dirt roads the leak is quite obvious, although too big to identify
>an obvious source.
>
>After ~ten miles on dirt roads the brake warning lite started to flash
>intermittently.  When I stopped I nticed that the penosin level was a
>tad below the min line (at the start of the trip it was 3/4 of the way
>between max and min...
>
>There is so much oil around the resevoir that it is hard to locate the
>source of this leak.  It could have leaked out at the top of the res and
>then down, or I suppose it could be coming from the rack (although I
>can't see how oil from the rack would get up to the res.  Much of the
>oil seems to be at the top of the resevoir (no the top was screwed in
>tighly and properly) Although the gasket on the top of the res seemed
>hard (if there even was one, I did not check, judging just from feel).
>
>Before I go off and throw in a new rack, I thought I'd check with this
>group.  Is it common to get a fair amount of oil at the top of the res
>with a rack leak?  Why would a rack leak be worse on bumpy dirt roads?
>
>My "educated" guess is that the oil is coming out of the top of the res.
>Possibly a missing lid gasket.  This fits in well with the bumpy road
>making it worse, throwing the oil around in there. I also noticed a
>small hole in the lid where the end of the "float" assembly sticks thru
>a bit.  Is this suppose to be open to air as it is on mine?
>
>Any comments on this.  Is there anywhere else in the system I should be
>looking?  Or should I bite the bullet (wallet) and do the rack?
>
>Thanks.