Power Steering Fluid Reservoir issue - trackdays

[Expressivedrives]

Hi is it only me or somebody else is experiencing the same problem? After the track day, steering fluid is spilled all over the passenger side of the engine room. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir is not overfilled.

[dparm]

Yes, common problem. The fluid gets very hot and weeps/spits.

Some have installed a mini catch-reservoir for it to vent and overflow into. I believe there was also a newer reservoir cap with better venting.

[Redd]

Put a sock on it. Literally. 😂

[Kelse92]

Yup, common issue. Catch can, sock, microfiber. Use whatever you like to cover the reservoir cap and you shouldn't have too many more issues.

[dogbone]

No magical solutions here.....the aftermarket reservoirs don't do much better. I have tried to capture the overflow from the outlet port of the stock reservoir cap and taking that to a small reservoir. It doesn't really work the way you want. I have the Bimmerworld reservoir. I simply put a wrist sweat band around the cap of the reservoir. It stops the fluid from spewing everywhere. Keep a few of them around and swap it out a couple times a year.

[SYT_Shadow]

A 991 Cup car was refueling by me at the Glen this year. In the 'frunk' guess what they had... two different master cylinders and both of them had a little Porsche branded sweatband/sock thingy. Laughed pretty hard.

I use the Bimmerworld reservoir, it works quite well

[Expressivedrives]

Oh thanks, I go for M-sport socks, I guess

[dparm]

Back in my old Honda days, we use to buy the expensive Spoon Sports ones....because JDM yo.

[dogbone]

This problem is even worse with hoods vents because the power steering fluid sprays onto the passenger side windshield.

I also had to capture the spew from my Vortech blower unit once hood vents were installed because that sprayed onto the driver side windshield as well. This was a much more complicated process. So much fun!

[M3SWEETNESS]

Use to have this issue but there's a sweet spot for the fluid level. I siphon the old fluid 2 times a year and give it fresh fluid but only fill the reservoir slightly above the minimum mark(periodically check fluid levels). I had the same luck filling it to the full mark and it going all over the place in the engine bay. Now I have yet to have it spew out and the power steering pump has shown no issues or made any sounds indicating it was starving for fluid. I just make sure to change out the fluid twice a year or more depending on how dark it gets between track days. Plus if you get the fluid via FCPEuro you just send in the old fluid for a refund... its a Win Win. But if you're a stickler about having it to the full line and it spewing over every time, the sock method is a tried and true trick !

[Redd]

You're only supposed to fill it up to min mark cold.

[M3SWEETNESS]

Originally Posted by Redd

You're only supposed to fill it up to min mark cold.

You are correct when the engine is cold fill to the min mark... I never really thought about it but I do top offs after oil changes and usually the engine is fairly warm. Either way I've been fortunate enough to to have it spew over after the initial time. I think that's the misconception is that people will inherently fill up to the max mark when the engine is cold causing the issue. Just depends on the persons habits and if they read the owners manual.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by dogbone

This problem is even worse with hoods vents because the power steering fluid sprays onto the passenger side windshield.

I also had to capture the spew from my Vortech blower unit once hood vents were installed because that sprayed onto the driver side windshield as well. This was a much more complicated process. So much fun!

This is actually why I still haven't installed the side vents, even though I bought the whole trackspec kit.

[kyippee]

What fixed it for me is the Bimmerworld powersteering reservoir + do88 powersteering cooler I'm not as fast as dogbone or some other track rats here, but I think my pace is decent and I'm running 295 square Nankang AR-1, so there is a decent amount of stress on the car

I even did some sliding around and tossing the car around today, and no PS fluid spraying through my hood vents.

Wrapping a sock around the stock reservoir didn't help - the fluid would just drain out anyways.

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by dogbone

No magical solutions here.....the aftermarket reservoirs don't do much better. I have tried to capture the overflow from the outlet port of the stock reservoir cap and taking that to a small reservoir. It doesn't really work the way you want. I have the Bimmerworld reservoir. I simply put a wrist sweat band around the cap of the reservoir. It stops the fluid from spewing everywhere. Keep a few of them around and swap it out a couple times a year.

This one didn't help?

[Davisca455]

Question for anyone using the Bimmer World (Moroso) reservoir.
Has anyone installed a filter on the return line?

I'd like to utilize a filter, but there doesn't seem like there's much room up top for it, while keeping serviceability good?
Maybe under the felt tray?

Ideas?

[dparm]

Why do you need a filter? The engine already has an oil filter. :-)

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by dparm

Why do you need a filter? The engine already has an oil filter. :-)

Haa!
Yes...
Engine Oil Filter...Roger that
Engine Air Filter...Got two of them
Transmission Filter...Got two of them
Fuel Filter...Yes sir
Power Steering Filter...Not anymore

[dparm]

Oh, duh, it's a PSF catch can. The PS system is sealed, I don't think a filter is hugely useful.

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by dparm

Oh, duh, it's a PSF catch can. The PS system is sealed, I don't think a filter is hugely useful.

You are probably right.
I'm gonna be keeping an eye on the "greenness" of the fluid and plan on doing some regular flushes.
I was just trying to replace the full function (minus the leaking) of the factory reservoir out of an abundance of caution.
I figured some poor engineer at BMW went to all that trouble to design a reservoir with an integral filter, and then convinced the management to sign off on the added expense.
There must have been some rational to go out of their way to add a filter?
Maybe a filter was the only way they could get the desired life out of the system?
I'm lazy and I don't like to "reinvent the wheel", so if anyone has put an inline filter onto their PS return line, I'd like to see a picture.

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

You are probably right.
I'm gonna be keeping an eye on the "greenness" of the fluid and plan on doing some regular flushes.
I was just trying to replace the full function (minus the leaking) of the factory reservoir out of an abundance of caution.
I figured some poor engineer at BMW went to all that trouble to design a reservoir with an integral filter, and then convinced the management to sign off on the added expense.
There must have been some rational to go out of their way to add a filter?
Maybe a filter was the only way they could get the desired life out of the system?
I'm lazy and I don't like to "reinvent the wheel", so if anyone has put an inline filter onto their PS return line, I'd like to see a picture.

Same thoughts here. In for more.

[derbo]

I put a BMW motorcycle brake fluid reservoir with the top of the cap pierced to vent. It's been pretty good so far!