Power Steering Question

[rover67]

OK, granted this is not a cruiser, it's a GM. Yuk... but i am looking for some advice.

My roommate's car's power steering is acting up... the fluid smells TOASTED, like very burned, and the rack is leaking a little bit. I am hesitant to recommend replacing the fluid because of my experiences with automatic trannys... but he is about to take it on a long trip, and it does smell pretty bad.

so my questions are:

Change fluid or not.. will the detergents in the new fluid break up the bad goo like an auto tranny? does power steering fluid have detergents?

Should i dare try the stop leak crap?

sorry for the non cruiser content..

 

[Rzeppa]

My daughter brought her 1992 Sebering up for us to replace the P/S pump. Turned out the fluid itself was toast (as in toasted). I used my brake fluid vacuum thingie (kinda like a mityvac) to remove from reservoir, refill and repeat 3x her fluid, and now her pump is working fine. This was last summer and it's still going fine. Just a low cost, low effort suggestion...can't hurt and may well help.

 

[rover67]

cool, we'll just replace the fluid.

thx!

 

[Corbet]

might try some of the Lucas PS additive. I've had good luck with it.