Visible difference in motor oil and power steering fluid?

[CManT1914]

Okay I keep having fluid pooling underneath the car, under the driver side front of the motor. I have checked all the bolts and oil lines and filter and stuff, and everything is snug, and it looks like it's just power steering fluid from when I pulled my pump off. It's real dark, and I just put in brand new oil, so it shouldn't be black already (car hasn't even been driven 1 mile since the new heads/cam). Is there a way to by sight/smell/taste (yikes) the difference in motor oil and power steering fluid?

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

PS fluid is red.

 

[haulbalz]

PS fluid is red.

not really

 

[CManT1914]

not really

The stuff I just picked up is clear.

 

[94TURBO5 O]

If you didn't bleed the whole rack then there is prob old dark fluid mucking up the new stuff. it happens as soon as you turn the wheel and it mixes. Check the resivoir and see if it's lower.

 

[CManT1914]

If you didn't bleed the whole rack then there is prob old dark fluid mucking up the new stuff. it happens as soon as you turn the wheel and it mixes. Check the resivoir and see if it's lower.

I pulled the car out of the garage and drove it around the parking lot, when I pulled back in, I got out and noticed this solid stream of fluid where I had been turning around and stuff. But it was only where I had made turns, so I figured by turning the wheel I had pushed the rest of the fluid out of the system. I was just hoping I wasn't leaking oil that badly. Well 50resto didn't have the pulley I need, so I'm a little bummed about that. But I'm gonna drive my car tonight anyway, lol.

EDIT: Oh, and when I said the stuff I just picked up, I meant the stuff I just bought at the store, not the stuff on the ground.

 

[94TURBO5 O]

So you're turning the rack manually right now? Yeah that will make it leak like a mofo. If your car is off and you unlock the wheel and turn it, fluid will leak out of the top pinhole. So you're cool. Do you need a pulley or what?

 

[CManT1914]

So you're turning the rack manually right now? Yeah that will make it leak like a mofo. If your car is off and you unlock the wheel and turn it, fluid will leak out of the top pinhole. So you're cool. Do you need a pulley or what?

Okay, I'm just glad it's p/s fluid, lol. I have a pulley supposedly coming from ford. It was supposed to be here today, but they didn't order it in time. They said it will be in tomorrow. Thanks a TON for your offer in the other thread though, I really appreciate it.

 

[94TURBO5 O]

No problem. Just check your ps lid and it's prob coming out of the pinhole.

 

[CManT1914]

No problem. Just check your ps lid and it's prob coming out of the pinhole.

Forgive me for sounding dumb, but I'm not familiar with power steering systems. Where is the resevoir? And the pinhole? I hooked the new pump up and attached the lines, so it shouldn't leak anymore.

 

[94TURBO5 O]

That is the part of the pump that you pour the fluid into. The lid has a tiny pinhole in it to relieve pressure and if the pump is not turning then it will leak out of the lid from the pinhole.