I autocross my third gen and occasionally run it on road racing courses. It is an all stock (well, mostly) 88 IROC 5.7. After running it hard (lots of steering motion), the power steering fluid pushes itself out of the power steering unit cap and coats the left side of the engine with fluid. This is not necessarily a problem, but I am wondering if I can't do something to stop this.

Questions:
1) Do the springs "wear out" on the caps? Would putting a new one on there reduce this behavior?
2) I have considered putting Red Line (or some other) "performance" power steering fluid in there to rasie the boiling point of the power steeering fluid. However, I am concerned that raising the boiling point of the fluid may cause something else to fail in the power steeer unit. How anyone tried this?

I have to believe that this is a fairly unique problem since I never see this in spirited street driving. However, other Camaro drivers that race their car see this all the time...

 

I see that too in autocross events. I haven't done it for a while so I hadn't thought of a fix lately either. Since you're in stock class, I suppose a remote reservoir pump is out (not to mention too much work ).

Let's consider the source of the problem. Is it from boiling of the fluid? (I'm asking...I'm not sure.) If it is, could it be from hitting the stops too hard, or is it just from the quick transitions and constant motion (you mentioned in other posts that you have "slow hands" but even that is quick )?

Maybe a cooler would help if it's boiling, though probably not legal for you.

There's an outside chance that it could just be slosh, but I don't think it's that simple (is it?).

This is an interesting one, that I'd like to see get worked out. Anybody else have some insight?

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Clem
SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
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1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission (hopefully not for long)

 

This is easily fixed. Get a PS cap for a 1995 Yukon. $9 from GM. It has a rubber skirt about 1/2" below the cap that baffles the reservior very effectively and keeps fluid from splashing out the cap.

I had the same issue when road racing, thought the fluid was boiling but turns out it was just splashing.

-Kevin

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1982 Z-28

See http://www.mycar.net/mafb/registry/detail.cfm?id=276 for details

 

As far as the cause, I have been under the impression that the fluid boils which raises the pressure and pushes the spring in the reservoir cap open to relieve the pressures. I suppose I am wondering if the spring just gets tired...

I should just buy a new cap and see - it's gotta be cheap...

 

Well, if the fluid is splashing, then a tigher cap would definitely do the trick. If it's boiling, then the increased pressure could blow something else out in the steering assembly.

Sounds like you guys believe it is simply splashing...

 

Another common issue is a leak on the return side of the system... under hard steering, there can be a vacuum in the return lines and that side of the gear; even a tiny leak will let in enough air to foam up the fluid.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports