Car spilling fluid-

[EBruce]

I am getting all new rubber tomorrow and decided to take the traction control off and do a sustained doughnut as I had seen them do on TopGear ....might as well have some innocent fun wearing through the rest of the old rubber, right?

I took the car to about 5 miles an hour to protect the clutch and cut the wheel hard left and nailed it. 3 or 4 perfect doughnuts ensued.

The issue is my car now feels extremely heavy to turn at slow speed (thing hand over hand over hand for a 90 degree turn). It also makes a slight ticking/buzzing from the front when I turn back and forth at speed....

Took a look and all fluid levels are correct so I traced the spill to the front of the engine by the thermostat/water pump. It is an orange/brown color (see picture taken from under car) and appears to be more water based than oil.

Any ideas on what this fluid may be? Odd that its affecting the steering.

[krisdelta]

If it's causing the steering to go heavy, could it not be power steering fluid? Was the cap on tight/ I don't have any expertise here - but only thing I can think of.

Good luck, hopefully nothing serious!

[EBruce]

Kris- I thought the same thing, but power steering appears find (between two lines) and is a greenish color. The color above is a brownish/orange and coming from a different area.

[krisdelta]

I guess it's possible the power steering has blown a fuse?

Perhaps the fluid is just some dank water that's been shaken loose with some vigourous driving?

[Jockman]

Bruce...if you've been doing doughnuts then could the liquid perhaps not be jam ??

I suggest tasting it

[brumma]

Jockman said:

Bruce...if you've been doing doughnuts then could the liquid perhaps not be jam ??

I suggest tasting it

Nice one! Not very helpful, but funny!

[MichaelV8V]

Power steering can be damaged by holding it on the end stop for a while, which is why they soetimes recommend not to park on full lock. Were you doing the doughnuts on full lock?

[EBruce]

@Jockman-very funny

@Michael-yes I was on complete lock the entire time, this may be the issue-at least with the steering. Regarding the fluid, I am not sure what that is. I am hoping that its coolant (level is slightly low) that was just forced out during the hard continuous turns and not something more serious as there are still not codes.

Edited by EBruce on Saturday 31st March 01:41

[yourtheguy]

Only a thought by holding on full lock it puts alot of load on the steering pump trying to stop it, thus the load would be put through the belt to the waterpump and as the coolant is texaco longlife it is a orangy red colour.
I've not looked at my engine much yet so not sure but on most water pumps there is a small hole on the bottom where coolant will come out of if the pump seals have gone.

[EBruce]

Yourtheguy-thanks for a helpful second post. Is it the engine coolant that would come out of a leaky water pump?

[yourtheguy]

Hi Bruce, yes it will be coolant from the waterpump, i reread you first post and you said that the steering is heavy now, maybe the pressure releif valve in the steering pump has stuck open

[EBruce]

Thank you, I will have the car looked at on Monday and point them in that direction. I was not aware that there was a valve in there.,

[BingoBob]

Jockman said:

Bruce...if you've been doing doughnuts then could the liquid perhaps not be jam ??

I suggest tasting it

Brilliant.