Power Steering hydrolics

[marcp68]

Just discovered that I've got a leak in the power steering hydrolics resulting on no fluid and no power steering.

Apart from building my biceps is there any mechanical reason why I shouldn't use the car until I've had it repaired?

[DieselJohn]

I don't think it will do the system any harm. Maybe a little dangerous though, depends how stiff it is and how strong you are!

[Nick P]

just take the belt off the pump and proceed to become popeye....i did it a few years ago with an old cavalier which i drove for about 7 months like it....only bothered fixing it for the MOT.

not sure on the legality of it though

[TeamD]

Just keep topping it up and you get the added bonus of anti-corrosion treament under the car!

Mind you, can't see you being popular with drivers behind you, especially if their car is white, well, so to be pink.

[chassis 33]

Powersteering pumps use the fluid as lubricant, a bit like diesel injector pumps use fuel as lubricant. Running it without fluid will cause the bearings to seize sooner or later, unless you take the drive belt off, as has been mentioned.

Regards
Iain

[pantscat]

DieselJohn said:

depends how stiff it is

chassis 33 said:

use fuel as lubricant

sorry...

[Rob-C]

If you can run with the belt removed, OK. If the belt powers other things as well (say for instance the water pump on a Lotus Excel) then it's a pisser and the pump gets knackered in no time

[greenv8s]

I've noticed that PAS steering gets very heavy when the engine stops, maybe not a problem if the rack has completely drained but be prepared to find the steering goes more or less solid. I'm not sure whether it will do the rack any harm to be used with the hydyraulics dry, it might not like it. I'm pretty sure the pump wouldn't like it. All in all it doesn't sounds like a bright move to keep driving in this state. Is it a severe leak, or can you keep mobile by topping the fluid up regularly until you can get the hose replaced?

[marcp68]

Thanks all for the advice...it's taking about 10 minute to drain the resevior so I'd say it's quite a major leak!!!

As for removing the belts I will have to check the feasability of this as I'm not sure what is driven by which belts...