Just put back together a 2000 xk8, tensioners, replaced all chains etc and water pump.

We got this car off craigslist for 1,000, and it was partially disassembled when we got it

I started it, had to use a can of starting fluid before it finally caught.

Then drove it from the barn to the house, runs fine, had it idling at house, noticed when i turned steeering wheel it growled so I looked up at the power steering cap and noticed that fluid was shooting out the side of the cap right onto the manifold when i turned the wheel.

Took the cap off and see a hole, looks like its from the manufacturer, seems to be a vent hole.

If you look at a cap it is like a star, sort of, this hole is in only one of the points.

Ok so what gives, why is this hole there and why is fluid able to shoot out of it onto the engine. You cant aim it anywhere but at the manifold when its screwed on, is there maybe supposed to be a tube in that hole ?

Thanks

 

hmm, my wife did the serpentine belt, is it possible she invented a way to route the belt and make the pump spin backwards ?

The pump is empty now and there is fluid all over the drive way, its like the reservoir was pressurized

let me look into this more

 

ok, i went and got more fluid put it in, now it growls LOUD. fluid doesnt look good, chocolatey. I think it may have gotten water in it. I think the pump failed and started pressurizing towards the reservoir. at idle pump is making noise when just turning. So probably need to flush and replace pump i guess.

 

ok, i replaced the pump with one off ebay for 80 bucks, pump was bad, but worse, the cap.

Bad design

Has a vent hole and when screwed on MUST aim directly into hot manifold, pump fails like mine did it pressurized the reservoir and sprayed fluid all over the manifold.

Fire hazard ?

I dont know

I added a piece of tubing, copper, 90 degree bend aimed down, shoved it in the vent hole on the side of the screw on filler cap for the power steering

If you find a hobby shop that sells RC planes they will have a display that has tubing pieces pre bent that fit right in the hole

 

Hmm, well that sounds like bad news for me too. I just noticed the other day on my car that there seemed to be fluid coming from that same vent hole. Well I guess I will have to add that to my "to do" list, before the car sets ablaze. Thanks for the post.