Black fluid - My power steering pump knackered!?

Well, ever since I had my TT engine conversion done by Keron last year my PS pump have whned a bit, and I always thought it was just a loud pump! However, upon opening the lid on the reservoir yesterday I discovered BLACK fluid!

Hopefully I can get a replacement quickly, but why would it be black? Hopefully it's not steering rack related

Any ideas?

Cheers

Dan

Not sure on the black stuff mate & sorry to hear you have an issue.

I have a spare PS pump I bought off a member on here If your interested. I thought mine was on its way out, ended up being something else.

The fluid is really old would be my guess.

Autobox ATF goes exactly the same when its old

Try a fluid change mate, mine was the same, whining and darkish (not black though) fluid, changed it and it's fine now

Usually black fluid is due to worn rack seals. Seiously overheated oil can go black. Usual cause of overheated fluid is letting Jamie P drive the car at Llandow.

Usually black fluid is due to worn rack seals. Seiously overheated oil can go black. Usual cause of overheated fluid is letting Jamie P drive the car at Llandow.

What kind of a fix is this? Is it a nightmare to do?

Just wash out the reservoir and give it a full fluid change for a start, and see if it gets dirty again quickly (2000 miles / or a month). If it does it may be heading towards rack trouble. Fairly easy to change, but an expensive part new from Toyota

Toyota quoted me over £900 + vat for a new rack. I ended up just getting mine refurbed instead.

Toyota quoted me over £900 + vat for a new rack. I ended up just getting mine refurbed instead.

Wow that must be a great rack.

Usually black fluid is due to worn rack seals. Seiously overheated oil can go black. Usual cause of overheated fluid is letting Jamie P drive the car at Llandow.

You saying that Chris, I was talking to Mark Luney, Chris Arther and Co who run the Pro Supra and they mentioned that they have had constant trouble with the PS fluid over heating caused by drifting. Are the Supra's prone to over heating fluid ? I suppose because the pump is constantly working if you're driving sideways. Is that the reason why it would over heat ?

Yes, of course, constant lock to lock action with huge wheels and tyres will boil the fluid. Jamie P had fluid overheating at Llandow when I was there once, due to his "flamboyant" driving style Any PAS set up will gain a huge amount of heat in that sort of usage. Normally a car driven on a race track will be unlikely to have problems, as there are long straights and the driving is far smoother with far less aggressive and prolonged steering input. If you get up against the rack stops the pressure in the system goes right to the bypass valve level, and temps will go ballistic.

A small cooler in the return line to the pump should cure it. Over hot fluid kills PAS racks in no time.