2007 Tahoe power steering fluid flush possible issue
August 25th, 2018 | 7:23 AM
#1
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2007 Tahoe power steering fluid flush possible issue
Hi all,
Yesterday I had my 07 tahoe w/ ~256k miles, serviced. I had the brake fluid flushed and the power steering fluid flushed, and one of the trans cooler lines replaced.
I always inspect the work done. I check the engine bay for anything that might be out of the ordinary. So I check the power steering fluid reservoir, I see that theres fluid all over the cap and the side of the reservoir and some had fallen onto the steering shaft boot and some other conduit. So I get home and I remove the cap and wipe it down till its as dry as possible then wipe down the outside of the reservoir till its dry, then hose down the other places where fluid has dripped. Im thinking this is just spillage from the flush that was done.
I drive the car this morning and I wanted to make sure the cap and outside of the reservoir were dry, and guess what, they were wet again. Im not sure but I feel they may have replaced the cap. I also noticed the fluid is green now. So I think they flushed the system of the old red fluid and switched me to new synthetic fluid, and they gave me a new cap, which is not doing its job.
I cant remember what my old cap looked like, but it was pretty filthy and this cap seems new. My thinking is that the old cap will have remnants of the old non synthetic fluid which shouldnt be mixed with the new fluid? but there will be remnants of the old fluid in the reservoir and lines anyways.
like i said i cant be sure that its a new cap but i feel like it is, im going to try and bring it back to them today.
any insight is welcome! thanks!
Yesterday I had my 07 tahoe w/ ~256k miles, serviced. I had the brake fluid flushed and the power steering fluid flushed, and one of the trans cooler lines replaced.
I always inspect the work done. I check the engine bay for anything that might be out of the ordinary. So I check the power steering fluid reservoir, I see that theres fluid all over the cap and the side of the reservoir and some had fallen onto the steering shaft boot and some other conduit. So I get home and I remove the cap and wipe it down till its as dry as possible then wipe down the outside of the reservoir till its dry, then hose down the other places where fluid has dripped. Im thinking this is just spillage from the flush that was done.
I drive the car this morning and I wanted to make sure the cap and outside of the reservoir were dry, and guess what, they were wet again. Im not sure but I feel they may have replaced the cap. I also noticed the fluid is green now. So I think they flushed the system of the old red fluid and switched me to new synthetic fluid, and they gave me a new cap, which is not doing its job.
I cant remember what my old cap looked like, but it was pretty filthy and this cap seems new. My thinking is that the old cap will have remnants of the old non synthetic fluid which shouldnt be mixed with the new fluid? but there will be remnants of the old fluid in the reservoir and lines anyways.
like i said i cant be sure that its a new cap but i feel like it is, im going to try and bring it back to them today.
any insight is welcome! thanks!
Last edited by Typerod; August 25th, 2018 at 7:27 AM. Reason: spelling errors
August 25th, 2018 | 7:39 AM
#2
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original cap, seal is a bit pressed in, it doesnt fit the reservoir as snugly as i would like it, but its never allowed fluid to seep out before this recent service
i just did an ebay search for a pic of the new cap, the underside of the cap in the pic below where the rubber seal is nice and permeable. But the underside of the cap on my reservoir is a bit glazed over, but i never ever had this issue before the flush. maybe i'll just replace the cap?
Last edited by Typerod; August 25th, 2018 at 12:44 PM.
August 25th, 2018 | 12:43 PM
#3
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Joined: Oct 2017
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From: USA
Hi all,
Yesterday I had my 07 tahoe w/ ~256k miles, serviced. I had the brake fluid flushed and the power steering fluid flushed, and one of the trans cooler lines replaced.
I always inspect the work done. I check the engine bay for anything that might be out of the ordinary. So I check the power steering fluid reservoir, I see that theres fluid all over the cap and the side of the reservoir and some had fallen onto the steering shaft boot and some other conduit. So I get home and I remove the cap and wipe it down till its as dry as possible then wipe down the outside of the reservoir till its dry, then hose down the other places where fluid has dripped. Im thinking this is just spillage from the flush that was done.
I drive the car this morning and I wanted to make sure the cap and outside of the reservoir were dry, and guess what, they were wet again. Im not sure but I feel they may have replaced the cap. I also noticed the fluid is green now. So I think they flushed the system of the old red fluid and switched me to new synthetic fluid, and they gave me a new cap, which is not doing its job.
I cant remember what my old cap looked like, but it was pretty filthy and this cap seems new. My thinking is that the old cap will have remnants of the old non synthetic fluid which shouldnt be mixed with the new fluid? but there will be remnants of the old fluid in the reservoir and lines anyways.
like i said i cant be sure that its a new cap but i feel like it is, im going to try and bring it back to them today.
any insight is welcome! thanks!
Yesterday I had my 07 tahoe w/ ~256k miles, serviced. I had the brake fluid flushed and the power steering fluid flushed, and one of the trans cooler lines replaced.
I always inspect the work done. I check the engine bay for anything that might be out of the ordinary. So I check the power steering fluid reservoir, I see that theres fluid all over the cap and the side of the reservoir and some had fallen onto the steering shaft boot and some other conduit. So I get home and I remove the cap and wipe it down till its as dry as possible then wipe down the outside of the reservoir till its dry, then hose down the other places where fluid has dripped. Im thinking this is just spillage from the flush that was done.
I drive the car this morning and I wanted to make sure the cap and outside of the reservoir were dry, and guess what, they were wet again. Im not sure but I feel they may have replaced the cap. I also noticed the fluid is green now. So I think they flushed the system of the old red fluid and switched me to new synthetic fluid, and they gave me a new cap, which is not doing its job.
I cant remember what my old cap looked like, but it was pretty filthy and this cap seems new. My thinking is that the old cap will have remnants of the old non synthetic fluid which shouldnt be mixed with the new fluid? but there will be remnants of the old fluid in the reservoir and lines anyways.
like i said i cant be sure that its a new cap but i feel like it is, im going to try and bring it back to them today.
any insight is welcome! thanks!
August 25th, 2018 | 12:48 PM
#4
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I shouldve snapped some pics of the fluid when I took pics of the cap.
I wonder if the tech just over filled the reservoir and when the engine is running its just forcing fluid to seep out from under the seal in the cap?
August 25th, 2018 | 12:49 PM
#5
CF Monarch
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 263
From: USA
original cap, seal is a bit pressed in, it doesnt fit the reservoir as snugly as i would like it, but its never allowed fluid to seep out before this recent service
i just did an ebay search for a pic of the new cap, the underside of the cap in the pic below where the rubber seal is nice and permeable. But the underside of the cap on my reservoir is a bit glazed over, but i never ever had this issue before the flush. maybe i'll just replace the cap?
August 25th, 2018 | 1:02 PM
#6
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Joined: Oct 2017
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From: USA
Thanks Henry. What did you mean when you said, "its not green"? did you mean the fluid you use is not green? or that my fluid isnt green?
I shouldve snapped some pics of the fluid when I took pics of the cap.
I wonder if the tech just over filled the reservoir and when the engine is running its just forcing fluid to seep out from under the seal in the cap?
I shouldve snapped some pics of the fluid when I took pics of the cap.
I wonder if the tech just over filled the reservoir and when the engine is running its just forcing fluid to seep out from under the seal in the cap?
I meant that Redline power steering fluid is a light red color, not green. Most GM power steering systems can use ATF for a fill, but I like the Redline full-synthetic oils.
I've never seen green power steering fluid, but that doesnt mean it doesnt exist. If yours is green, then I have no reason to question you about that fact, Typerod
It highly possible that the auto tech may have overfilled your system. Auto techs get paid a fixed amount for a certain job by time, so sometimes they make mistakes.
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August 25th, 2018 | 3:20 PM
#8
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its not a good pic that captures the color, but its green. so hopefully my PS system is designed for this fluid, bc I do know it was red fluid before the service.
August 25th, 2018 | 5:00 PM
#9
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Well, I've never done a complete PS flush. I just use an oil suction pump like you use for axle lube. I've never had a power steering pump fail ror any lines break or leak.
I meant that Redline power steering fluid is a light red color, not green. Most GM power steering systems can use ATF for a fill, but I like the Redline full-synthetic oils.
I've never seen green power steering fluid, but that doesnt mean it doesnt exist. If yours is green, then I have no reason to question you about that fact, Typerod
It highly possible that the auto tech may have overfilled your system. Auto techs get paid a fixed amount for a certain job by time, so sometimes they make mistakes.
I meant that Redline power steering fluid is a light red color, not green. Most GM power steering systems can use ATF for a fill, but I like the Redline full-synthetic oils.
I've never seen green power steering fluid, but that doesnt mean it doesnt exist. If yours is green, then I have no reason to question you about that fact, Typerod
It highly possible that the auto tech may have overfilled your system. Auto techs get paid a fixed amount for a certain job by time, so sometimes they make mistakes.
If the system was over filled, would that cause the fluid to push past the seal? I'm no technician, but I'm assuming there is pressure in the reservoir from the fluid circulating, and when its over filled its just too much for the seal to hold back the fluid.
August 25th, 2018 | 6:37 PM
#10
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vent holes?
So I got to check the fluid level. The tech REALLY REALLY over filled the reservoir. I siphoned about 60-65 CC's of fluid out, now the level is just a few milimeters above the "full when hot" mark. The tech filled it up so far, that the fluid mark was touch the spring on the underside of the cap, which if you look at the earlier pictures is WAY above the full when hot mark.
After siphoning (using a plastic syringe), I sprayed down the area with brake cleaner to make sure I had a dry clean area. Then I test drove the car for about 10 miles accelerating briskly and going about 65 mph for a few miles. I parked the car on level ground, and checked the cap and outside the reservoir, it was completely dry.
So I'm assuming now the fluid getting past the cap was b/c of the overfilling of the reservoir, but I'll have to keep an eye on it for a week or so.
I did notice something that interested me, there were these tiny holes in the cap, not sure if they go completely through to the inside of the cap to be exposed to the seal. After some time, I was like, how is the fluid escaping, then I see these tiny holes (3 total), and I was wondering maybe these holes are some time of pressure relievers, that allow fluid to escape it the pressure is past a certain point? Its a long shot I know, lol. I tried shining a bright light under the cap to see if the light would pass through the holes but I couldn't see any light peeking through.
The fluid color is more of brownish color when view in the plastic syringe and has a hint of green.
Here are a few pics...
Last edited by Typerod; August 25th, 2018 at 6:39 PM.