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Posted

From underneath, the oil pan is damp and I see a small yellow drip, but no drips on the garage floor it looks like power steering fluid is seeping from somewhere as the steering rack bellows are also slightly wet. I don't see the  reservoir losing any fluid. 82k miles on a 2008. It's difficult to get in there and clean everything to see where the leak is coming from. Any typical culprits? Pump, high pressure hose, rack? Thanks!


Posted

I've never seen yellow power steering fluid.  Have you identified that it is indeed power steering fluid that's leaking?  Clean PSF would normally be slightly amber color or red like ATF depending on model, and that's only if the fluid is new.  If you are running original fluids at 82K from a 2008, the fluid is more likely to be very dark amber/red.

Posted

Thank you.  Power steering fluid flushed / replaced at 77k miles by Lexus Dealer.  I guess the drip could be an amber color. I will attach a photo tonight. 

Posted

A quick search online looks like a 2008 SC430 is running an ATF based fluid, which would be some shade of red.  Possible that you have the paperwork from this service?  IF in fact the fluid leaking currently IS coming from your power steering, it shouldn't be amber/yellow based on this.  If you have the paperwork, does it call out what fluid was used for the service?  Also, look at the fluid in the power steering fluid reservoir. What color is it (you'll need to remove cap and dab some on a white paper towel)?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Thank you BenchTest, I also expected it to be ATF red.  But the Power Steering Fluid was flushed most recently at a Lexus dealer less than 5k miles ago.  Per a Lexus dealer's website, "If you are looking for a leak, you want to know how to distinguish between power steering fluid and other car fluids. New, it is light amber or clear. Old, it becomes dark brown."  https://www.earnhardtlexus.com/power-steering-repair  My Power Steering Fluid is definitely a light amber in the reservoir as is the drip collecting on the bottom corner of the oil pan.  I have cleaned off the oil pan and will try to see from where the leak is coming.  But the steering rack bellows also look damp and I can't really see further up.  I was mostly wondering what fails typically with the Power Steering on these cars, and at what mileage.  Mine is a 2008 with 81,600 miles and spent most of its life in California and Arizona.

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