I noticed I'm getting a little blow-by of power steering fluid past my power steering cap. anyone ever try to seal this better? what was your solution?

 

Not really any way to do that.

More likely, you have a small leeeeeeeek somewhere in the return side of your system. Could be the return line, the reservoir itself may have a pinhole (esp if somebody reefed on the res tank with a tire tool to tighten the belt at some point in its life), the shaft bushing, etc.

What happens is, that part of the system is under (more or less) some degree of vacuum (suction) during normal operation; small air bubbles get drawn in, and distributed into the fluid, aka turns it into a FOAM; at moments that high assist is called for (parking lots and other lock-to-lock wheel turns get used) the foam goes into the high pressure parts of the system; the air in the foam compresses; when the fluid comes back into the suction side (goes instantly from 1000 psi or more to negative 3 psi or whatever), it explodes like Mentos in a Diet Coke, thus causing the appearance of a "leeeeek".

Fix the air leeeeeeeeek on the return side, and your cap will almost certainly stay dry, like it did when it was new. I'd suggest starting with the return line. Cheeeeeeeep, eeeeeeezy, good probability of success. Although as I'm sure you know I don't like just busting out the parts cannon and strafing my car indiscriminately with it, sometimes it's quicker/eeeezier/cheeeeeper/less grief than "troubleshooting". This is one such case.

 

Factory L31 power steering cap has a little rubber grommet on it:




I don't think I recall having the grommet on my L98 cap but it's been a bit.

 

Thanks guys, I'll have to have a closer look at all this. it was a light dusting of something, so I assumed from cap, but didn't bother to look all that close. just happened to have my hand down there to check on fluid level and noticed it, and moved on. I've had this issue with another non-GM car, where the cap needed a new o-ring, and just assumed it might be a similar problem here.

 

My 83 Van had that same rubber grommet, come to think of it every 80s and 90s GM vehicle I have seen has as well, even if the reservoir was remote mounted.

 

An old racer's trick.

 

^^^^^ LOVE IT !