Power Steering Pump Failure or a Leak?

[CDsDontBurn]

As for using Prestone anti-freeze, I wouldn't. Prestone has changed it's formula to that of GM's Dexcool, which is the absolute worst stuff you can run in an engine. Even the GM guys are getting rid of it, as it clogs heater cores and engine blocks. It forms a crystal like substance, and just keeps getting worse the longer it's in place. I don't know about the blue Honda stuff, but it wouldn't surprise if it did it too. I've been using Peak in everything for the last 10 years or so without any problems in my GM's, and 4 years now in my Hondas.

I've been using Prestone coolant since I've owned my Accord, so 10.5yrs now. At first I didn't know any better, and then I came across threads and threads of coolant stuff. I remember several posts stating that the important thing be that the coolant be silicate free. I was ready to go to Honda blue coolant, but then I read the Prestone label and it stated it was silicate free.

I've never had a problem with the coolant or the coolant system outside of dumb issues like hoses getting old and developing leaks or the radiator itself breaking for something funny AF.....like "swallowing" a pigeon.....

Anyway, that's a whole different issue / topic. I was just curious about the PS fluid thing and used the coolant as a comparison.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Update:

I did the job yesterday, LOL. Lots of stuff just kept coming up and I never had time to actually do the work. I ran out of the Prestone PS fluid on Wednesday so I was riding on what I had left in the system. By Friday, the system was just about empty and the PS pump would give out intermittently depending on if there was enough fluid in the pump or not when I was making a turn. That's what I was having to deal with for the past......since before I started this thread, lol. Anyway, here are links to the pics I took.

These two shots are the results of the symptoms of air getting into the PS system. The reservoir would bubble up and PS fluid would just gush out of the reservoir tank.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oUbTqKsJw6joA8b02

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gtusYYyC8XZfVTQB3

This is the tell-tale sign that there was something going on with my PS pump. Up until I took this guy off, I never knew exactly where the leak was coming from, but the slow leak trail was there showing it was leaking from somewhere.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sr5SMDu2AZBdlxNl1

These are a continuation of the two pictures above with PS fluid all over the top part of the frame. This is under the car. I sorta cleaned this up, but I didn't really do a good job of it. I have to revisit this this coming weekend before it gets caked on with dirt / debris.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FtWF36IyBd9XXaSi2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vn72krtW5VqLQJT72

And what I would frequently see wherever I parked.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VdEA2Jg4SETsZkCP2

My setup had the right idea, but the execution was not correct. Let's just say that the puddle seen in the last picture got much bigger.....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hwN8M7zvT2SsJm1W2

And it's obvious from this picture that whatever seal / gasket is behind the bearing is what failed. This is where the pump itself failed and was causing air to get into the system.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4oYap1zLOcsBe24M2

The backside is relatively clean, in comparison to the front side....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xJE0Q3Ho9rCiEItB3

All the "old" fluid. This includes two bottles of Honda PSF to flush out anything that was still left inside. I purchased only 4 bottles, 2 to flush, and 2 to put in. I should have purchased 5, 3 to flush and 2 to put in.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PJJx6xvAn2VxLQ9r1

Here's what a contaminated and near empty PS fluid reservoir looks like....(this is a couple weeks old)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HA2skuMoA9T09Tkj1

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VFOUUhy2PWWVMa3z1