Hi all , any good suggestion to detect the leakage of power steering system

 

Only one way.

Get some p/pack degreaser, carefully spray ALL the hoses etc and the run the engine and look at each one in turn.

Most common leakers are the large gravity feed hose fom that container to the rear of the steer pump. Then the smaller return hose from the system to that container, which is very LOW pressure. Be careful with the clamps etc on that container, as it is plastic and OLD now, and they will break easily if stupidity steps in. Those 2 hoses are probably very hard and brittle, mine were, and 2 new hoses stopped that dampness I have in that area.

The HI pressure hoses can "weep", but if one of them starts to leak it will blow out totally in a few seconds. Sooooo, most of the leaks are on the LO pressure side, which is the return to that container.

 

Hmm...Grant is much more exacting than me. I was thinking, "Top it up, check it daily....if the level decreases, you've detected leakage."

 

Check this out below. Grant obviously knows more than most of us. I have replaced all the hoses and steering rack, the only thing I haven't replaced is the reservoir. when you get to the hose that goes to the oil cooler be really careful as its old and will break.

Steering Hoses-6 Cylinder - Parts For XJ Series from (V)720125 to (V)812255 (X300) | Jaguar Heritage Parts UK

 

I used Grant's method to locate a leak I had months ago - turned out to be #19 in the parts diagram dagny posted.

Instead of spending the large wad of money the local independent Jag repair shop / parts counter wants for the new OEM hose, I took the hose to a respected hydraulic hose builder.

I waited no more than 15 minutes for him to replace the bad hose with hose that far exceeds the OEM for 1/2 the cost

 

The leakages are from the high pressure and low pressure pipe! But the Jaguar Factory pipe is extremely expensive !!! Will look for the replacement OEM parts! Thanks

 

Isn't it ironic that most of the leaks are from the reservoir gravity feed line and low pressure reservoir return line? Mine leaked from those lines as well.

I still apparently have a small weep elsewhere, probably from one of the other high pressure lines, but so far very minor.

.

 

It is good to have such forum to share the experience and knowledge here ! Thanks for all suggestion ! And I am thinking if good to change all the pipe within power steering system which can fix all issue once.

 

Good idea, and dont forget those o/rings as well.

#18 was the culprit on mine.

The elbow (U turn) in #19 is sometimes dampish, but never drops, so I have left it alone.

When done, fresh fluid annually and never go back in there.

 

It is only money

 

Ordered whole set four steering hose in www.britishparts.co.uk , all OEM products cost GBP 163 include Fedex S&H. i believe it is a good deal. Cann't wait the parts and get the leaking fix. Cheers

 

That certainly sounds like a good deal, and you'll feel much better about having all the hoses refreshed.

I'm not sure how much it will help, but I also used aluminized fabric heat shielding tubes on the two low pressure hoses as it is suspected that their proximity to the exhaust headers accelerates their hardening and ultimate leaking.

.

 

I discovered last year (while doing AC work) that you can get a UV dye for motor oil, and wondered if it would be okay in the PS reservoir.

But on mine, its pretty easy to see all the fluid once I get the car raised.

And there's even a different type of dye for coolant leak detection - that may be handy later on.

 

Here's two cents from a fairly new guy.

I'm having the same situation with a leaking power steering system. Here's what I've found out and done.

Jag power steering fluid is Dexron 3...$17 .52 per liter at Auto Zone....with a little ebay/amazon shopping I was able to buy a batch of 7 liter bottles for an average of $9.17 ish per liter. Free shipping.

Why 7 liters? A power steering fluid flush takes 1 U.S. gallon of fluid.....so 4 liters at Auto Zone = 7 Liters off the net. Future use for the same cash.

Site of leak detection: removed under trays, both....removed air intakes to gain visual access from the top. S type up on jack stands.....creeper....flash light...mirror on telescoping rod....couldn't make out the problem area. It all looked like mating snakes to me.

So.

3 cans of Gunk....a long handled stiff parts brush....and a gentle to less than gentle stream of water to clean the entire front and underside of the motor. Done.

I then left off both undertrays and topped off the fluid reservoir including two small 'one dose' containers of 'tracer die' designed for oil based products including ATF. I was very careful to make sure every thing was chemically compatible.

With a UV flashlight bought off of Ebay for around $8.00 I am able to look from the top of the motor, hood up, and then from underneath, once again with the car up on jack stands, for glowing traces of the 'tracer die'. I did this with the lights out to make the die easier to see. Yep, there it is....glowing under the UV light....or what my class mates refer to as Black Light.

It still looks like a twisting ball of mating snakes to me but I believe I've found the culprit. It's looking like one of two hoses down under the car, right above the frame structure cross member before it gets to the steering rack.

I'm not sure I'm the guy that can repair it,...I'll have to chew on that for a day or two but at least I now have a pretty good idea of, if not what it is, then where it is.

I know it's not the pump and I know it's down low and seems to be a slow weeping under pressure vs. an immediate threat gusher.

Any way.....that's the 'detection technique' I've been able to A. sus out and B. use to my own advantage.

So tools needed:

Tracer die
Cleaned area of the motor and undercarriage
UV light source....recomend ebay UV flash light
and Yellow lense glasses (Harbor Freight for $1.99 vs. more) ...for detection in the daylight I supose. I just looked for the 'black light' glow in the dark

Hope this is of some assistance to you.

03 STR Quartz/ Lt grey

 

Ron,
Be very very very very very careful when removing the two pipes from the cooler at the end of the radiator. They will be tight, and probably a little corroded. The slightest turn of the metal protruding from the radiator, onto which the hoses are attached, will cause a leak inside the cooler, mixing power steering fluid and water, and necessitating a replacement radiator and a tankerload of fluid to flush the power steering clear of water. Ask me how I know this......!!!

 

[ Re: power steering leak and repair..

I decided not to do the repair myself and went to my local, Jaguar factory trained, Indy.......$400.00 ish out the door including parts.... done deal.

no muss, no fuss....

03 STR quartz/ lt gry. 127k and counting.


QUOTE=countyjag;1436174]Ron,
Be very very very very very careful when removing the two pipes from the cooler at the end of the radiator. They will be tight, and probably a little corroded. The slightest turn of the metal protruding from the radiator, onto which the hoses are attached, will cause a leak inside the cooler, mixing power steering fluid and water, and necessitating a replacement radiator and a tankerload of fluid to flush the power steering clear of water. Ask me how I know this......!!![/QUOTE]