<all> Mixup with Power Steering Fluid

["Mike Theuri" <mikesoft@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the information on the power steering fluid. I checked
the reservoir this morning (Tues.) and it was again empty. I figured that 
since I had only used 3/4's of the valvoline, it had gotten into the
system and possibly displaced air bubbles and had settled down. 
Well going by the information that I received when I passed through 
the BMW dealership. I figured it was okay to safely switch back to the 
correct ATF. I added till the reservoir was at its correct level and 
was driving for most of the afternoon. I topped it about 3 times and
every time I checked it the reservoir was empty. Any time I stopped 
the car for a few minutes I made sure to check to see if there was a leak 
under the car and there was none, neither did I see any "spray"
around the engine to suggest a burst pipe. Neither does there 
seem to be any smoking which happens if fluid drips on a hot 
engine. So far in doing the topping I have used two quarts (using 
a Dexron III ATF), is it possible that there is a leak that might only 
be happening when the car is moving ? Is two quarts or more too
much such that there might be a leak ? I have placed a sheet of 
paper under the car just to make sure that there is no leak.  I plan
to have it checked on Thurs. I would appreciate your insight in the 
meantime. Thanks 

Mike Theuri -- '86 325



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> From: Mike Theuri <mikesoft@domain.elided>
> To: BMW <bmw@domain.elided>
> Cc: gary.lin@domain.elided; scholz@domain.elided; mclan@domain.elided
> Subject: <E30> Power Steering -- Please help. 
> Date: Friday, July 31, 1998 7:35 PM
> 
> Early this week I mentioned that I had made a mixup by 
> putting in synthetic power steering fluid instead of ATF.
> Apparently this was not supposed to cause any harm,
> atleast according to my mech., Valvoline (synthetic ps) 
> and the BMW dealership service. However it appears that
> there was a previous leak from before, that hadn't been 
> attended to from the guy I bought it from a week ago. I 
> ended up taking the car to the mechanic and his diagnosis 
> was that I needed a new rack and pinion because that 
> is what was leaking. I doubt if he really checked the 
> problem but he probably did it visually and also since he
> had quite a bit of work to do on the car he might not have
> bothered to check it thoroughly. I decided to go under the car 
> myself and check where the leak was coming from. I topped 
> up the ATF fluid, turned on the engine and turned the 
> steering wheel to each full end of a turn and then checked 
> under the car to see if a leak would show and sure enough it
> did. I'm not very familiar with terms but I will do my
> best to describe where the leak appears to come from. The 
> leak appears to be coming from the point where steering 
> column connects to the front axle and where there is a 
> connecting nut. I placed my finger on  the connection and
> there was a small black plastic pipe that seems to run from
> the left side (still looking from the front side) and the end of
> seems to be circular and ends at this connection. It appeared
> to me that the end was supposed to be plugged into something
> at the joint as I was able to lift it up. Its directly below this
> point that the leak appears to be coming from. Is it possible 
> that my mech, is wrong about the rack and pinion system ?
> Does anyone know what purpose this pipe is for ? Any insights
> on how to fix this ? Gene, do you think this has something to
> do with the o-bolt ? (Please send me the url on fixing the o-bolt) 
> Thanks in advance for your help and assistance.
> 
> Mike Theuri --- '86 325

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