Can oil leak be caused by bad PS pump?

Hi, I could use some insight into whether an oil leak that started recently might at all be related to a power steering pump burnout I had, and how serious the leak may be.

In early February the New England area had extremely cold temperatures over a weekend. Shortly after that I was driving and the power steering line running into the steering rack corroded through and created a large power steering fluid leak. It was no doubt going to happen at some point anyway, but I think the cold temperature probably made the failure happen sooner. I only had roughly a mile between when the first symptoms of steering trouble started and when the power steering pump started making an obnoxious whine. At that point I was home and just parked the truck. It isn't a daily driver so I let the truck sit until I had time to work on it, which wasn't until right now. Shortly after the power steering issue happened, though, I noticed what appeared to be oil starting to seep through at the front of the engine. It now has a very slow drip, maybe a few drops a week when just sitting there. Before this the engine had no noticeable drip onto the pavement. See pics below for where seepage is occurring.

Would it make sense that a power steering pump issue could somehow start an oil leak, or does that make no sense at all and this was just a coincidence? Given the location of the leak, any thoughts on what might be causing it and how serious it may be?

 

All oil leaks can be serious if the seal fails completely massive oil leaks can occur .

Keep an eye on things carry extra oil.

The power Steering pump did not seize up and burn off the belt correct?

If that did happen enough shock on a all ready failing front seal perhaps.

strange things do happen.

Just one of those strange things the just happened now.

 

I would scrub the front of the engine clean.

And then get a UV dye kit.....and find where its leaking from....

Your alternative is to take to a mechanic and trust/bet on his crazy genius....


There's a lot of places where it can be leaking.....could be an easy fix....


If you want something carefree to drive......these trucks really only favor the DIY'ers.....

You're gonna start having problems with rust....gonna start having problems all over the truck..............so carefully consider your options.....

 

It is the Force that keeps them going.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Bivouac, no the pump didn't seize up and the belt did not burn off. Strangely, the pump isn't making any noise now when I start the engine up. It was whining badly when it first happened, and it continued to whine when I started it up again the day after it happened. After sitting a few months now it makes no whine at all

Silver, thanks for the advice on the UV kit. Regarding DIY, I am pretty much like that and want to do all of my work myself. That's what gives me pause about this issue - a leaking engine seems way out of my depth, both in skill and facilities needed. Will need to give this some careful thought. As far as rust, oh yeah have had lots of fun there too. Missed the frame replacement cutoff, but got the frame fixed at a speciality shop in Rhode Island (same place that makes the Saf T Cap frame kits).