4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

This is power steering fluid right?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 06:00 AM
  #1  
Scott LaRock's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 781
This is power steering fluid right?

Old Apr 5, 2008 | 06:02 AM
  #2  
caseymaxima's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 310
That could be anything! As far as PS fluid goes remember that it is just regular ATF, so is your trans leaking?


Zack
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 06:04 AM
  #3  
Scott LaRock's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 781
No my trans isn't leaking but the car is making a mess and the power steering fluid is draining.
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 10:08 AM
  #4  
njmaxseltd's Avatar
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,024
Originally Posted by Scott LaRock
No my trans isn't leaking but the car is making a mess and the power steering fluid is draining.
Oh then that could be blinker fluid all over your driveway.

Seriously.
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 01:33 PM
  #5  
MAXIMAK99's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 122
From: Dallas
There's no way to tell what fluid it is from the pic. If you say that the power steering fluid is draining then why dont you just get that fixed and see if the problem stops.
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 06:10 PM
  #6  
QNO_A32's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,105
From: NY
you just answered your own question. clean and dry everything PS related. start the car and kinda slowly go lock to lock. than look to see where it starts getting wet.that should help you.
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 07:43 PM
  #7  
Snypa's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 7,389
From: I-75 4th_Laud
power steering it is then.
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 10:25 PM
  #8  
maxgp1029's Avatar
00vi Equipped.......
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 187
From: Connecticut
Is this a joke?
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 10:35 PM
  #9  
hot_wax_tree's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,044
From: Minnesota
most likely your ps.
Old Apr 5, 2008 | 10:50 PM
  #10  
tarun900's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
Yeah when my rack and pinion was leaking PS fluid, it looks dark too. We originally thought it was oil...
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 08:06 AM
  #11  
dgeesaman's Avatar
Maintenance Monster
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,231
From: Harrisburg, PA
Gear oil, ps fluid, ATF, and motor oil all look dark on the ground.

Get under the car and find the leak.
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 08:23 AM
  #12  
Nealoc187's Avatar
SLOW
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,617
From: West burbs, Chicago
you've got to be kidding. did you seriously just take a picture of a spot on the ground and ask us to identify the fluid? did you seriously just say "hey guys my power steering fluid is disappearing and I have some unknown fluid on the ground, do you think my PS fluid is leaking?" come on...

Last edited by Nealoc187; Apr 6, 2008 at 08:26 AM.
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 08:50 AM
  #13  
tarun900's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
^^Hahaha....yeah I guess your question has been answered. When my PS fluid was leaking, I could look at the rack/pinion thing and see it leaking, so I had the rack/pinion replaced.
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 08:54 AM
  #14  
ROCKART's Avatar
wants an I35
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,282
From: Delray Beach, FL
tranny fluid = ps fluid. both are reddish unless youve actually put "power steering fluid" in your reservoir, which is clear


those spots on the ground look like water the way they are dispursed. im guessing thats condensation from your ac (water).
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 09:24 AM
  #15  
Kbghdg's Avatar
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 17
Looks just like my carport under my 1995 gle did. Before I had the steering rack replaced. Also the control arm bushings were shot too. My brother in law did all the work and no more leaks.
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 12:46 PM
  #16  
tarun900's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
What are control arm bushings?
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 01:11 PM
  #17  
andrei3333's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,389
Originally Posted by ROCKART
tranny fluid = ps fluid. both are reddish unless youve actually put "power steering fluid" in your reservoir, which is clear


those spots on the ground look like water the way they are dispursed. im guessing thats condensation from your ac (water).
I have observed this many times, it disappears after a while - scared me the first time though... but i dont think i eved had that much of it on the asphalt...

just check the damn underbelly
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 01:41 PM
  #18  
LeVeL's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 856
From: MASS
wow
Your ps fluid isnt evaporating so yeah, Id say its all over your driveway.
Sniff it next time... no way to tell by looking at it
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 04:08 PM
  #19  
Scott LaRock's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 781
Relax people, I'm no mechanic so give me a break already. My car has multiple leaks and I'm just trying to find out what is what.

I'm going to the mechanic in the morning.
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 04:14 PM
  #20  
Nealoc187's Avatar
SLOW
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,617
From: West burbs, Chicago
you don't need to be a mechanic to have common sense and use some modicum of logic.
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 04:24 PM
  #21  
Product_Of_Korea's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,208
From: BFE, Minnesota
a dog could of just took a runny dookie and someone sprayed it with the hose and that whats left over.

seriously you wouldnt be able to tell from a stain on the street. if anything if its leaking that bad put a big peice of plastic under your car over night where you suspect the leaking is coming from and go from there
Old Apr 6, 2008 | 06:13 PM
  #22  
Kbghdg's Avatar
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by tarun900
What are control arm bushings?

I should have said "Tranverse link bushings".
Old Apr 7, 2008 | 07:43 PM
  #23  
JSMax's Avatar
Sold
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,005
From: Edmonton AB Canada
Originally Posted by Nealoc187
you don't need to be a mechanic to have common sense and use some modicum of logic.
If it were truly common, would it still be called common sense?
Old Apr 7, 2008 | 08:08 PM
  #24  
tarun900's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by Kbghdg
I should have said "Tranverse link bushings".
Haha that still doesn't help me....anyoen tell me what this is? LOL
Old Apr 7, 2008 | 08:14 PM
  #25  
Crusher103's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 54,042
From: Dur-ham NC
I think its a 5 year olds ****
Old Apr 7, 2008 | 08:15 PM
  #26  
nsnrider's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (59)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,785
From: Chicopee, MA
how about putting a white or some other light colored paper under car and take a note on what side trhe leak is comming from and what color it is. If your fluids are old, they will all pretty much be dark color and tough to identify amongs them.

But did you fix your p/s leak yet?
Old Apr 7, 2008 | 08:16 PM
  #27  
nsnrider's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (59)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,785
From: Chicopee, MA
Originally Posted by Crusher103
I think its a 5 year olds ****
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 02:41 AM
  #28  
Product_Of_Korea's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,208
From: BFE, Minnesota
im tellin you guys 5year old pee wouldnt stain like that im going with the runny dookie
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 06:50 AM
  #29  
Scott LaRock's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 781
Originally Posted by nsnrider
how about putting a white or some other light colored paper under car and take a note on what side trhe leak is comming from and what color it is. If your fluids are old, they will all pretty much be dark color and tough to identify amongs them.

But did you fix your p/s leak yet?
Not yet, another mechanic told me its the rack and pin but I'm going to a different one today.
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 07:20 AM
  #30  
udienow's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 868
From: Palatine, IL
you guys all fail... this is simple. I diagnosed all leaks:


Tho in all seriousness that doesnt look like any car fluids. I've had my share of leaking oil and trans fluid and the spots it leaves are darker then that. Looks like water spots to me. You need to smell the spots when they are still wet. Trans fluid has its own smell. If you dont know what that is take ur trans dipstick out and smell that, then compare. Last way to tell is park over a white towel, let the stuff drip on that and c what color the stain is on the towel.

Last edited by udienow; Apr 8, 2008 at 07:24 AM.
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 08:25 AM
  #31  
Kbghdg's Avatar
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by tarun900
Haha that still doesn't help me....anyoen tell me what this is? LOL

Buy a chiltons manual and look it up!
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 08:27 AM
  #32  
ROCKART's Avatar
wants an I35
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,282
From: Delray Beach, FL
Originally Posted by udienow
Tho in all seriousness that doesnt look like any car fluids. I've had my share of leaking oil and trans fluid and the spots it leaves are darker then that. Looks like water spots to me. You need to smell the spots when they are still wet. Trans fluid has its own smell. If you dont know what that is take ur trans dipstick out and smell that, then compare. Last way to tell is park over a white towel, let the stuff drip on that and c what color the stain is on the towel.
i swear i read that in someone else post too....
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 08:39 AM
  #33  
95BLKMAX's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,317
From: Miami, FL
Originally Posted by udienow
you guys all fail... this is simple. I diagnosed all leaks:


Tho in all seriousness that doesnt look like any car fluids. I've had my share of leaking oil and trans fluid and the spots it leaves are darker then that. Looks like water spots to me. You need to smell the spots when they are still wet. Trans fluid has its own smell. If you dont know what that is take ur trans dipstick out and smell that, then compare. Last way to tell is park over a white towel, let the stuff drip on that and c what color the stain is on the towel.
sorry buddy, nice try, but you got it all wrong. Its very simple actually..

His MUFFLER BEARING is shot! So all the exhaust oil is dripping out the flanges!
Thats it! I just fixed his car,

I iz teh kthnxby
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 08:44 AM
  #34  
absoundlab
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
it looks like cooking oil
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 09:08 AM
  #35  
udienow's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 868
From: Palatine, IL
Originally Posted by ROCKART
i swear i read that in someone else post too....
Oh.. sorry didnt really read the thread, just wanted to post my pic.
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 09:47 AM
  #36  
black_maxed95's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (41)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,403
From: Braidwood, IL
its not PS fluid. your ps fluid is suppose to drain. Everytime you make a turn a little bit is used up.
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 10:03 PM
  #37  
Crusher103's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 54,042
From: Dur-ham NC
ok maybe its the **** of a 12yr old
Old Apr 8, 2008 | 10:11 PM
  #38  
hot_wax_tree's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,044
From: Minnesota
I have very similar spots on my drive way where I park and I know it is P/S fluid for me cause the rubber tubes on my return line are total crap and leaking. thats why I have 2qts of P/S Fluid in my trunk. just fallow the lines that lead from your P/S reservoir right after you have driven it and see if it is leaking.
Old Apr 9, 2008 | 02:07 PM
  #39  
ejarmol's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 127
From: Bethany Beach, DE
do you have steering fluid or stock steering fluid?
Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:01 PM
  #40  
Product_Of_Korea's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,208
From: BFE, Minnesota
Originally Posted by Crusher103
ok maybe its the **** of a 12yr old
and dookie...............



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:05 PM.