Help - what could be causing this leak
 

Hello All,

I was working under my car and noticied a bit of oil near the boot for the passenger side rack n pinion. See pic. I checked boot and lines that were close by but couldnt see where or what caused it. Any ideas?

I cleaned the area and will check in a few days to see if i can find the leak that way.



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Did you check the PS fluid? Sounds like the rack is leaking, which you might start looking for a new rack. Can't quite tell from that pic, because it could be coming from somewhere else, so check it in a few days and see if it is back like you said.

Ps fluid level hasnt dropped at all....we shall see in a couple of days

2009 STI here. Mine died about a month ago at 70K and had to be replaced. Power steering was low, leaking at the pinion valve. More or less the same as this:
[url=http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gr-suspension-handling-stiffening/255845-steering-rack-leaking.html]Steering rack leaking. - Subaru Impreza WRX STI Forums: IWSTI.com[/url]

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ive seen newer wrx/stis leak at valve housing to rack gasket. its a very thin metal gasket that goes in between. racks almost never leak internally. usually external leaks like orings on connection fittions and housing gasket

That would suck if the whole rack needs replacement.

What is the difference between a 2015 sti r&p than a 2011?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh6FY9Tq5Jo"]2015 STI 13:1 vs 2008-2014 STI 15:1 steering rack comparison - YouTube[/ame]

Found a deal on a 2013 rack with very low mileage. (Someone that swapped just because they wanted 13:1.) Wasn't worth it to me to pay 2-3x the price for a new 2015 rack.

Since its the passenger side It's probably not the pinion seal. I would check the turbo oil drain back rubber line next to your up pipe. If the oil appears to be coming from above that I would check you turbo. Sometimes the turbo inlets rip causing oil to leak on that side. Also the pcv breather from the block is right in front of the turbo. I would start at your highest point and work your way down.

If its only on the rack boot and nothing higher I'd pull it back the boot and check for oil inside leaking past the inner tie rod seal.

From the color in the pic looks like engine oil to me not p/s fluid. What kind of boost are you pushing? Do you get excessive oil blow by in your pcv/intake system

Gotta hand it to youtube lol should of done a search first before posting the question.

Thanks for posting that, very helpful.

I did have a leak awhile back on my pcv area, maybe thats what it is...leak has been fixed.

Ill check back in a few days, hopefully it was drip from the pcv.

Turbo is fine, no leaks there.

Thanks all for your help!