Bad leak and whining noise after minor offroading

Did some minor offroading and noticed a whining noise on my way home, found leak when i got home. Fluid has no strange taste, is oily, has distinct smell. Checked Power Steering reservoir, it's low. So I assume it's PS Fluid. The leak is only on the drivers side, any idea where to start troubleshooting? Am I looking at $$$$$?

 

Are all of the boots on the steering rack still in tact? Is it hard to turn the wheel?

What color is the fluid?

 

idt tasting it is the best thing to do

so no damage you could see?

 

Fluid is maybe reddish/brown, thin/oily, losing daylight so hard to tell for sure. doesn't taste sweet or anything, smells "different" Wasn't hard to turn the wheel yet when i got home but made a whining noise which sounded related to power steering. Didn't see any damage to boots or steering rack, anything specific to look for?

 

Lmao...was thinking the same thing.


Put some clean cardboard under your truck and let is sit over night, will help you pinpoint the leak unless its coming from high up in the engine bay and working its way down.

 

Why the fuck would you taste it? i have no idea though, hopefully you get it fixed asap!

 

different fluids have different tastes, like antifreeze is sweet. I eat enough fast food that who knows how many shit particles from people's hands i consume, a little taco fluid wont kill me.

 

besides damage from debris, what could cause a line to break though? Pressure?

 

haha...you posted that a minute before I posted thing thing about the cardboard....


but if its reddish brown sounds like ATF in the powersteering system, unless you switched the dex atf for regular PS fluid.

 

Check the lines on the ps pump

 

in my f150 i had i was doing some off roading and i busted a powersteering hose. dont know how it happened but it did. if its whining, i dont see what else it could be. my f150 was screeaming like a little girl.

 

So I assume if it's a PS line, it's not gonna cost too much, but the pump will be expensive?

 

If it's bright green like my piss after too many energy drinks, i dont taste it... much...

 

The pump may still be okay depending on how long it was starved of fluid. Replace the lines, fill 'er up and see if the pump still makes noise. The pump may just be making noise now b/c of the low fluid.

 

X2!