1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Sudden power steering leak

  1. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #2 MCS02, Jan 22, 2016
    It sounds like your PS hose clamps. The crimp clamps mini puts on them are crap. It is a PITA but get them off and put normal clamps you can tighten down.
    The hoses are probably contracting in the cold and leaking. Plus the crimp clamps get lose in time and can't be tightened. I got rid of mine long ago and put good clamps on, no more leak
     
  2. fishmonger

    fishmonger Well-Known Member

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    #3 fishmonger, Jan 22, 2016
    got similar replies from others I consulted with. Sure hoping it's a simple fix like that (messy, PITA, but cheap).

    Other suggested leak would be a loose banjo bolt on the high pressure line, but that's difficult to correlate with the sudden onset when it got real cold here.
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #4 Nathan, Jan 22, 2016
    First thing that comes to mind is the clamps.
     
  4. fishmonger

    fishmonger Well-Known Member

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    #5 fishmonger, Jan 24, 2016
    After cleaning it all off nicely and doing a test drive, we replaced the feed line clamp at the pump and that reduced the leak, but we still see oil coming down the other line. It's not very cold right now, so perhaps we didn't really fix anything with that clamp change. However, the location of where the oil is pooling after a good cleanup is a good indicator that we are dealing with a hose seal problem

    Plan is to replace both lines and all clamps next weekend when parts arrive here. Also found an engine oil leak around the oil filter housing, plus the usual leakage from the front where CPS and dip stick O-rings are most likely failed. Those are all spring projects, as there is very little leakage. 30k mile car and everything leaks...

    We did for a moment consider the PS delete kit. Maybe try it in summer, not now.