Should turning the steering wheel with the motor off cause the power steering fluid reservoir to overflow?

I am putting one of my knuckles back together and turned the steering wheel for better access to the hub nuts on the back...a few minutes later I noticed power steering oil on the floor. It appears to have leaked out of the reservoir around the cap.

Anyone else had this happen? Do I have a clogged vent in the system? Thanks for advice and clarity in this issue.

 

It's normal. If you try steering the truck after the motor stalls and make some decent turns it will actually dislodge the cap while it pushes a bunch of fluid out the reservoir top.

 

its normal try steering slower it useally works ole speedy chris beat me to it!

 

I love this forum.

 

Same thing happened to me last week, when turning the steering wheel side to side, while working on getting rid of the unit bearings!

 

Like the others said... Normal. I have lots of stains in the driveway from pushing the truck around with the motor out...LOL

 

Ummm yes, just ask SkySkiJason. I accidentally did it to his X at RRE when we did his brakes. I told him to look at it as undercoating! Sorry buddy...lol

 

speaking of stains, i have had a power steering leak that has taken awhile to fix and now there are stains all over the driveway. anyone have any ideas on what may be good to use to get them up?

 

Thread back from the dead! Happened to me today. Was hoping some of you with more knowledge could explain this.

WHY does it push fluid out/pressurize the reservoir/lift off fill cap when turning steering wheel with motor off?

 

Because the steering gear is forcing fluid back through the return lines into the reservoir while the pump isn't pumping it out of the reservoir.

 

Thanks, makes sense. I have more front end work to do, so I'll try turning it very slowly and see if that doesn't help prevent PS fluid blow-out, making a mess, and scaring me into thinking that there is something else to fix!

 

I don't think turning the steering wheel slowly will change anything, except the fluid will overflow slower!

Good luck anyway.