Ford P/S Reservoir Lid Leaks

[Blackmutt]

I've got an '86 Ford Ranger. The power steering reservoir is plastic and it's built into the pump. Does anyone else who races have a problem with power steering fluid leaking out of the vent on the lid? Every race my truck is a mess and I was wondering if anyone has a cure. Is it OK to plug the vent or does the system have to breath?

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[steveG]

It has to breathe. Are you using a power steering cooler?

[down4glamis]

I added a vent line, where the small hole is. We drilled it out, placed a lil spout piece, and JBwelded it in. WE then used a long hose to feed it down into the frame rail(where the frame rail is now filling up)

BUT, its still leaking out of the lid! do we need 2 vent lines?!?! one for it to puke, and one for it to breathe?!?!

[dezertdude]

Sure your not overfilling it?

[down4glamis]

yea, lol, it just EMPTIES itself. 94 ranger, 3 differernt p/s pumps, 2 new boxes, but the same ole problem...

tried a thinner fluid, to let it breathe and move(as in: Shock fluid). gonna drain it, and run lucas fluid in it...

[Blackmutt]

I have also thought about drilling out the vent hole, installing a short tube and then putting on a small breather on top. I think if I can get it to vent a few inches taller the fluid might not be able to reach that high. The problem with that is I can't have a vent filter flopping around--it wouldn't last one lap. If I tried to clamp a vent filter in place with that configuration I wouldn't be able to get the filler cap off. I also suspect it's leaking around the cap too and I'm looking for some type of gasket for that, although I might have to make one.

For your vent line that goes to the frame, do you run low on fluid halfway through a race or are you able to make it to the finish with plenty left in the reservoir. I can see just letting the vent drip to the ground rather than the frame rail.

[down4glamis]

i need 6" more of vent hose, to clear past the frame rail, and maybe 24" more, if i want it to dump under the truck, and NEVER leave a mess. It is still leaking around the seal im sure, like you said. I can do, maybe a lap and a half, before my arm is beat, and it needs to be re-filled. Really depends on the course.

The vent line works for us, you should try it, as we know its working, there is LESS of a mess aroudn the pump, and it is more focused where we have it dumping. we zip tied the vent, about 6-8" from the cap, so when the cap is removed, it will have room to move around. a workable, sealable, cap/gasket is really what we need, how or when we will make one... i dont know

[Justin]

The Ford pump is a POS. I replaced the pump on my ranger with a Howe pump and reservoir and have no more problems with fluid leaking out. It also steers much easier.

[down4glamis]

if i did the replacement pump, i would do the ram assist and everything else. at the moment, that is not an option.

I have all the goodies i could possibly want, and ram assist is the LAST one i need! (well unless i toss my lil kid 2.5"s and get some big boy 3.0"s lol!)

[Justin]

Why would you have to do it all at the same time? You say your losing all your fluid in 2 laps? How much is that slowing you down? Its the same pump for no ram and having the ram.