Boiled power steering fluid

[A2Z]

Hi All,

Just returned from Oulton Park on a track day (another very good event from Circuit Days btw)and whilst the '5 performed flawlessly I did notice some fluid splattered around the PAS reservior and a small puddle collected on some steelwork just underneath. This has happened at a previous track day as well but I forgot about it. The fluid level seems fine and nothing untoward regarding the power steering, just a very hot reservoir and fluid escaping (from the top by the look of the staining).

I know the rack will have taken a beating but has anyone else had this and is there anything I can do.

[Mr MXT]

You can get PAS fluid coolers, but I would have thought boiling the fluid would be rare on normal I.e none drift track use?

[A2Z]

Well, I say boiling but really it was a hot reservoir and spurting out the top.

[Monumental]

I had this when I first got the car ('94 Roadster), but I guess that the fluid was probably 16 years old and full of water. After changing the fluid the situation was much improved although I still get a tiny bit of spillage on track.

[Richyvrlimited]

Tends to be cavitation of the fluid rather than it boiling which causes it to spill out of the filler neck, though if your fluid is particularly old then it might also be boiling.

A good synthetic PAS fluid will help stop the cavitation/boiling emmensely.

[A2Z]

Looks like I shall change the fluid then and see if it improves.

Is there a drain plug etc? or shall I get out the turkey baster?

[deviant]

Mine (97 NA8) does it whatever I do with the fluid though I was never sure if it was boiling or if high speed cornering with sticky tyres was forcing fluid up the neck of the reservoir. I just live with it and top it up as required, I am going to ditch the PS at some point anyway. Completely unnecessary on an MX5 and st on track.

[Pete Franklin]

happens to me during autosolos regually. I think its a case of "they all do that"

[Monumental]

A2Z said:

Looks like I shall change the fluid then and see if it improves.

Is there a drain plug etc? or shall I get out the turkey baster?

I don't think there is a way to drain it without pulling hoses off (could be wrong though!).

I syphoned it out in the end, got most of it I think.

[SimonV8ster]

I think your right - just found the main pipe from the fill up bottle to be very worn so replaced it - I think that is the only way to drain it out, pull the pipe off the bottom !!

[roddo]

I think you will find its due to the pump running at 7000rpm all day.......

Nothing to worry about.......they all do it

Paul

[A2Z]

Thanks for all the good advice guys. Seems like a case of " they all do that, Sir".

Will still change the fluid though as that is the only fluid I haven't changed and could be up to 14 years old.

[NeoVR]

Yeah ive had this a few times on the MoT car control days - ive started using a rag and elastic band over the top of the resevoir to limit the mess it makes.

[Monumental]

Monumental said:

After changing the fluid the situation was much improved although I still get a tiny bit of spillage on track.

I take that back, seemed to lose quite a lot of fluid today at Snetterton. Was worth it though