How to tell what kind of fluid is leaking?

[ddddddd]

Hello, I have a 2001 SE 4x4 MT, and I have some fluids leaking. I can't find the source of the leak, mainly because I do not know how to tell what kind of fluid is on the ground under the X.

I have tried wiping it up with my finger and smelling it, comparing it to various bottled fluids. Is there an easy way to tell what it is? When it is on asphalt it looks blue, when I wipe it on a white T shirt it looks orange/red. Feels like oil or P/S fluid.

I recently changed the clamps on my P/S system to regular worm clamps, which fixed the P/S leak i was having earlier (i had to fill the reservoir daily, not any more!).

On a side note, what happens when you put too much P/S fluid in the reservoir? Does it get forced out somewhere?

To sum it up, is there a way to identify fluids on the ground easily? e.g. Engine oil is flammable, but P/S fluid is not? Something that is testable and not subjective to smell or touch or vision?

 

[Prime]

Sounds like power steering fluid to me. Being a manual transmission it is the only red fluid we have. Engine oil or manual gear oil is going to be black/brown when smeared.

 

[ddddddd]

Ok thanks, I kinda figured it was P/S fluid. Is there any way that the coolant and P/S fluid would mix? It just doesn't feel like pure P/S fluid.

Also, I put some Lucas oil P/S Stop leak in there. Since using that product (about 3 days ago), I have read that it is bad for the P/S pump. Should I flush the system or just get as much of it out as I can and put regular P/S fluid back in?

 

[Prime]

P/S stop leak isn't a terrible thing but it doesn't work. Best bet is to find the source of the leak and replace the offending part. No way for the coolant to mix with the p/s fluid unless it's after the leak.

 

[ddddddd]

As a follow-up to this, in case anyone is searching and finds this unanswered thread, it was leaking P/S fluid from the return hi pressure line. The metal tube had a gash in it and it was leaking P/S fluid fast. I ordered a new return hose and replaced it when I was changing the timing belt. It was a pain, and I don't think I could have done it if I didn't already have all the stuff out of the way for the timing belt.

 

[emtmark]

Thanks for the follow through!