Hi all, I'm new here...looking forward to learning a lot from the forums.

I bought a 2006 F250 Super Duty about 3 months ago, and it's been doing fine. I backed it into the shed yesterday after work, and noticed a little while later, a small puddle of fluid under the front. I crawled under and looked up...the entire steering pump is wet and dripping. I thought at first it was engine oil coming down from above, but it seems to be steering fluid (or whatever is in the steering reservoir). Clear looking fluid/oil.

I've read about high-pressure hose leaks...exactly where is that hose? Is it the one that is nearly against the pulley on the bottom?

Any other ideas/suggestions as to where the fluid could be coming from?

 

Wow...91 views and no one has any suggestions? Has no one ever had a similar leak?

 

1. Most views are from search engine crawlers. Only a handful will be members.
2. What engine do you have?
3. The fluid would be red.

 

Thanks for the response! Okay, your post got me to thinking. The steering reservoir has a leak somewhere around the middle where it looks like upper and lower halves are bonded together. It was wet when I bought the truck, and I played on that to get a $100 discount to cover a new one (which I haven't gotten around to yet). Anyway, the level has been just below the stick ever since I got it, but has been consistent. I stuck a screwdriver down into it and it is red. What I got off the steering pump appeared clear in nature.

If it's oil, where could it be coming from to be all over the power steering pump?

2006, 6.0, 102k miles.

 

Have you ever seen clear oil? I havent... I am not familiar with the 6.0, but clear would usually be fuel.

 

they may have flushed the power steering system with power steering fluid instead of the ATF that comes from the factory. This can be a clearish color

 

I didn't mean clear like water, only that it didn't appear to have a specific color. It felt like oil, not fuel. The steering pump and surrounding lines were wet to the touch.

Is there a hose/fitting at the front of the engine that could leak oil? EGR cooler possibly? Oil cooler line?

 

Maybe you have a brake line leaking, the fluid is clear and will spray all over the place.

 

I thought about that, but front of the motor?

Plus it wouldnt take long for the brakes to fail.

 

Look around, you will find it.

 

Agreed, it wouldn't be long before master cylinder would run dry, but I have seen the hard line spray all over the frame and inner fender. other than coolant or something I don't have a clue what would be clear and oily.

 

Went out and cranked it while ago to check it out again...turns out it's fuel, dripping from the fuel inlet under the fuel filter. It's been a hectic week...can't figure out how I couldn't smell that it was diesel the other day, but I specifically smelled of it and couldn't ID it as such...

Next question...how big a deal is it to change this out, and where is best to get the parts? Any parts store? Any particular brand better than others? I found this kit on eBay that includes the cover plate, screws, o-rings, gasket and blue spring for $62. Is that a good price, and is that a reputable brand? http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-FUEL-FILTER-TUBE-SEAL-KIT-6-0L-2006-07-F250-F350-F450-F550-SUPER-DUTY-/360767723633?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53ff6e9871&vxp=mtr
Thanks for all advice/suggestions/etc...