| Author |
Message |
Conte Ng
Guest
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 Posted:
Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:33 am Post subject:
Power Steering Fluid |
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Hi Guys,
I have a 94 bmw 530i. I found that there was a leaking at the position just
in front of the dash board. Then I discovered the power steering fluid
level was too low.
So is there any chance the leak was due to the power steering fluid. What
damage can be caused to the car if the level was too low for a couple of
months.
The change of gear of my car is not as smooth as before. Is it the impact
due to the low level of the fluid?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards to all
Conte
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Jeff Strickland
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:51 am Post subject:
Re: Power Steering Fluid |
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Well, the power steering is not near the front of the dash board. The power
steering pump and all of its attendant hoses are at the front of the motor.
Near the front of the dashboard is where one might find the Brake Master
Cylinder, and the Clutch Master Cylinder. These two share the same
reservior -- on top of the brake master cylinder. You said that your gear
changes are not as smooth as you remember, my guess is that the clutch
master is leaking. Normally, this part leaks internally, but it's not
impossible for it to leak to the outside.
"Conte Ng" <conte.ng046@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:kaaff.3558$w84.664196@news20.bellglobal.com...
| Quote: | Hi Guys,
I have a 94 bmw 530i. I found that there was a leaking at the position
just
in front of the dash board. Then I discovered the power steering fluid
level was too low.
So is there any chance the leak was due to the power steering fluid. What
damage can be caused to the car if the level was too low for a couple of
months.
The change of gear of my car is not as smooth as before. Is it the impact
due to the low level of the fluid?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards to all
Conte
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| Back to top |
|
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Malt_Hound
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:31 pm Post subject:
Re: Power Steering Fluid |
|
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Jeff Strickland wrote:
| Quote: | "Conte Ng" <conte.ng046@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:kaaff.3558$w84.664196@news20.bellglobal.com...
Hi Guys,
I have a 94 bmw 530i. I found that there was a leaking at the
position just
in front of the dash board. Then I discovered the power steering fluid
level was too low.
So is there any chance the leak was due to the power steering fluid.
What
damage can be caused to the car if the level was too low for a couple of
months.
The change of gear of my car is not as smooth as before. Is it the
impact
due to the low level of the fluid?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards to all
Conte
Well, the power steering is not near the front of the dash board. The
power steering pump and all of its attendant hoses are at the front of
the motor.
Near the front of the dashboard is where one might find the Brake Master
Cylinder, and the Clutch Master Cylinder. These two share the same
reservior -- on top of the brake master cylinder. You said that your
gear changes are not as smooth as you remember, my guess is that the
clutch master is leaking. Normally, this part leaks internally, but it's
not impossible for it to leak to the outside.
|
Actually the power steering reservoir is in front of the firewall on the
drivers side on an E34 530i, just in front of the brake reservoir. And
the hose connections on the bottom of this reservoir are a know weak
point. Many E34s develop leakage in that area. The fix is to remove
the crimped hose restraints and replace them with regular worm gear
style hose clamps.
There is unlikely to be any damage or relationship between the gear
changes and the power steering leaks. But, the OP did not mention if
his 530i was an automatic or manual transmission which would be
important. If a manual then perhaps your assertion that the problem is
brake fluid would be correct.
--
-Fred W
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Conte Ng
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Power Steering Fluid |
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Hi Fred,
My 530i is automatic. The change of gear was very smooth before. Smooth
means you don't even feel the car is changing gear unless you really pay
attention to it. Since about a month ago, when the low gear is changed, I
felt there is a little slow down in speed before it can change to next gear.
Sometimes the car does not move at all when I release the brake paddle after
a complete stop. I need to press a little on the gas paddle and the car
will jerk to run.
Today I checked the brake/clutch fluid, the level is still above the minimum
level. So the problem would be from somewhere else.
Thanks very much for your points
Conte
"Conte Ng" <conte.ng046@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:kaaff.3558$w84.664196@news20.bellglobal.com...
| Quote: | Hi Guys,
I have a 94 bmw 530i. I found that there was a leaking at the position
just
in front of the dash board. Then I discovered the power steering fluid
level was too low.
So is there any chance the leak was due to the power steering fluid. What
damage can be caused to the car if the level was too low for a couple of
months.
The change of gear of my car is not as smooth as before. Is it the impact
due to the low level of the fluid?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards to all
Conte
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| Back to top |
|
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Malt_Hound
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:06 am Post subject:
Re: Power Steering Fluid |
|
|
Conte Ng wrote:
| Quote: | Hi Fred,
My 530i is automatic. The change of gear was very smooth before. Smooth
means you don't even feel the car is changing gear unless you really pay
attention to it. Since about a month ago, when the low gear is changed, I
felt there is a little slow down in speed before it can change to next gear.
Sometimes the car does not move at all when I release the brake paddle after
a complete stop. I need to press a little on the gas paddle and the car
will jerk to run.
Today I checked the brake/clutch fluid, the level is still above the minimum
level. So the problem would be from somewhere else.
Thanks very much for your points
Conte
|
So then, as I originally surmised, the most likely cause of your leakage
on the front left (facing forward) side is from the power steering
reservoir. Get that sealed up ASAP so it doesn't mess up any rubber
things down around there.
There can be no possible correlation between your PS leakage and any
shifting problems, aside from the general age of the car and
transmission. Your (and my) cars are 10+ years old with "lifetime fill"
transmissions that tend to get a bit balky with age. I have opted to
not do anything with mine after hearing the multitiudes of horror
stories about others that have flushed and refilled the precious fluid
(it's damned expensive) only to have caused a total failure in a
previously marginally operating unit.
I'll just continue to operate mine, a bit gingerly at that, and see how
long she'll go.
YM(on the other hand)MV.
--
-Fred W |
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Jeff Strickland
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 3:25 am Post subject:
Re: Power Steering Fluid |
|
|
"Malt_Hound" <""Malt_Hound\"@*spam-me not*yahoo.com"> wrote in message
news:N6adnTtJPfZBbuDenZ2dnUVZ_t6dnZ2d@adelphia.com...
| Quote: | Jeff Strickland wrote:
"Conte Ng" <conte.ng046@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:kaaff.3558$w84.664196@news20.bellglobal.com...
Hi Guys,
I have a 94 bmw 530i. I found that there was a leaking at the position
just
in front of the dash board. Then I discovered the power steering fluid
level was too low.
So is there any chance the leak was due to the power steering fluid.
What
damage can be caused to the car if the level was too low for a couple of
months.
The change of gear of my car is not as smooth as before. Is it the
impact
due to the low level of the fluid?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards to all
Conte
Well, the power steering is not near the front of the dash board. The
power steering pump and all of its attendant hoses are at the front of
the motor.
Near the front of the dashboard is where one might find the Brake Master
Cylinder, and the Clutch Master Cylinder. These two share the same
reservior -- on top of the brake master cylinder. You said that your gear
changes are not as smooth as you remember, my guess is that the clutch
master is leaking. Normally, this part leaks internally, but it's not
impossible for it to leak to the outside.
Actually the power steering reservoir is in front of the firewall on the
drivers side on an E34 530i, just in front of the brake reservoir. And
the hose connections on the bottom of this reservoir are a know weak
point. Many E34s develop leakage in that area. The fix is to remove the
crimped hose restraints and replace them with regular worm gear style hose
clamps.
There is unlikely to be any damage or relationship between the gear
changes and the power steering leaks. But, the OP did not mention if his
530i was an automatic or manual transmission which would be important. If
a manual then perhaps your assertion that the problem is brake fluid would
be correct.
|
I like to think that my assertion is more like an educated guess ... It very
well might be a bad guess, but that's still better than an assertion ;-)
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Conte Ng
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:19 am Post subject:
Re: Power Steering Fluid |
|
|
Hi Jeff & Fred,
Thanks very much to you two. I spent 6 bucks on the brake fluid for topping
up. After running for 50KM, I found my car runs alot smoother now. I
really appreciate of your great help.
Wish I can buy you a big lunch somewhere in the world
Thanks very much indeed.
Conte
"Conte Ng" <conte.ng046@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:kaaff.3558$w84.664196@news20.bellglobal.com...
| Quote: | Hi Guys,
I have a 94 bmw 530i. I found that there was a leaking at the position
just
in front of the dash board. Then I discovered the power steering fluid
level was too low.
So is there any chance the leak was due to the power steering fluid. What
damage can be caused to the car if the level was too low for a couple of
months.
The change of gear of my car is not as smooth as before. Is it the impact
due to the low level of the fluid?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards to all
Conte
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