power steering foaming

[nashuanuke]

I have a Coyote Gen III from Mike Forte with a power steering pump set up by him, so it's not the one FFR provides with the built in reservoir, I'm running this summit kit: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G3160 with this reservoir: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-340202P

I have tried everything to stop it from foaming and squirting out the vent when I turn the wheel. I think I may have figure out my issue, the reservoir doesn't have internal baffling. Before I shell out another $100 on a reservoir with baffles, anybody else got any ideas of things I may be missing?

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[nashuanuke]

P.S. I'm thinking I'll go with this if I do replace it: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all36132

[CraigS]

Admittedly I haven't spent a lot of time looking in the reservoir but I wonder if there isn't something else going on. Thinking that on fresh install it is common to turn the wheel back and forth while topping up the new system. I usually use the decreasing bubbles getting to zero bubbles to indicate I have finished bleeding the system. Is the reservoir just plain too small for this system and pump pressure/flow? IDK.

[rich grsc]

Are the hoses connected correctly, what kind of fluid are you using?

[nashuanuke]

Are the hoses connected correctly, what kind of fluid are you using?

attached according to the Summit kit directions, 6AN pump to rack and rack to reservoir, 10AN reservoir to pump. Looking this morning, I've got a very minor leak on the rack connection to the hose to the reservoir that wasn't there before.

I'm using the Autozone Shop Pro OE PS fluid.

The reservoir is a little below 30 cubic inches, which is just under a liter, I've got it mounted clearly above the pump and keep it about half full. If I fill it anymore, it just sends the liquid out the cap vent.

[Jeff_J.]

I've been following this post a little and was a little reluctant to ask if the hoses were connected to the correct ports on both the Hydroboost and the rack, but since Rich mentioned it I thought 2x his question. I have heard the pump reservoir will spit fluid if the high pressure line from the hydroboost is connected on the wrong side of the rack. Maybe this is not the case for you but I'd go over the install instructions as well as confirm the high pressure side of the rack.. Just sayin its worth another close look.

[nashuanuke]

I've been following this post a little and was a little reluctant to ask if the hoses were connected to the correct ports on both the Hydroboost and the rack, but since Rich mentioned it I thought 2x his question. I have heard the pump reservoir will spit fluid if the high pressure line from the hydroboost is connected on the wrong side of the rack. Maybe this is not the case for you but I'd go over the install instructions as well as confirm the high pressure side of the rack.. Just sayin its worth another close look.

not using a hydroboost, it's straight from pump to rack to reservoir to pump, line from the pump discharge is to the lower port on the rack

[phileas_fogg]

It sounds like you've got the right plumbing, and for others researching this topic I'm enclosing a picture of the power steering ports. Note that the high pressure port is the lower one, and the return to the cooler (if you have one) or reservoir (if you don't) is the upper.

Also, the reservoir you propose using appears to be identical to the one I received from Fast Freddie when I installed an electric pump. It's a good one; no foaming, and I'm able to run it 3/4 to 7/8 full. I do use the Honda power steering fluid at the recommendation of several forum members here, but as I recall the advantage was for quieter running, not low foaming.



John

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=204063&d=1726083847

[Norm B]

Try jacking the front end so the wheels are off the ground. Fill the reservoir half full and, without starting the engine, turn the steering wheel slowly lock to lock. Keep adding fluid as necessary to keep it half full. It helps to have a helper turn the wheel so you can see when the bubbles stop coming up.
Put the car back on the ground and start the engine. Let it idle and don’t move the steering wheel for a bit. After 30 seconds, again, turn the steering wheel slowly lock to lock. This procedure has always worked well for me.

Good Luck
Norm

[juddster]

I had this same issue, but was using the FFR set up with the remote reservoir. Ended up that I had the washers at the steering rack incorrect.

Here is the post I made about it; https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?43469-Foamy-Power-Steering-Solved!!

[nashuanuke]

I had this same issue, but was using the FFR set up with the remote reservoir. Ended up that I had the washers at the steering rack incorrect.

Here is the post I made about it; https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?43469-Foamy-Power-Steering-Solved!!

Thanks, I can't believe it's all from a leak on the connections, but I just ordered the Breeze kit just in case. https://breezeautomotive.com/shop/adapter-fitting-kit-06an-for-87-93-mustang-power-steering-rack/

[JJK]

The fittings are the most likely culprit but it is also possible you have air getting into the system from the rack or the pump. Those will be a bit harder to diagnose so hopefully the fittings fix things. My PS pump had a small leak new out of the box that I did not know about and was found during my safety inspection.

[Mike.Bray]

When my car returned from it's extended visit to the paint shop quite a bit of PS fluid had leaked out which was mystifying as I knew I did not have a leak. A little research and I think I know what happened. A year of pushing the car around and steering it without the engine running caused the rack to push fluid back through the system and puked it out. I refilled the reservoir, cranked the engine, and did not have any leaks but I did have a lot of foaming.

With the car up on stands I ran the engine and cycled the steering lock to lock several times. The foaming seemed to get less but was still there. After a few miles of driving I checked the reservoir and there was no signs of foaming. Pretty sure in my case the foaming was from air in the system which eventually worked it's way out.

Maybe you have a leak on the suction side of the pump letting air into the system.

[nashuanuke]

alright, I replaced the tank and installed the washers. New tank is working in that there's no foam but now I've got a new issue. I've blown own two high pressure hoses at the point where I mate the PTFE to the fitting. I think both times were the same fitting, so I'm going to replace that fitting with a new one. But I'm also wondering about the new tank. The AllStar Performance tank doesn't have a vent on the cap, could I be overpressurizing the line because of the high back pressure in the tank? Should I put a hole in the tank cap to vent it?

Update: drilled a small hole under the cap to vent it, and re attached the line with a spare fitting. I'm really ready to be done messing with power steering.

[Jim Wehr]

Have you talked to Mike?

[nashuanuke]

Have you talked to Mike?

I've thought about it, but honestly all he did was put the pump on for me. I figure his advice would be as good as anybody here.

[wrenchigor]

In the OEM world, foaming is usually caused by air trapped in the system. It was so bad for Chrysler that they created a tool which pushed into the reservoir (like a rubber plug) and you apply vacuum to it with a hand pump.

[Mark Reynolds]

One possibility is that the pump is made with a higher flow rate for a steering box and not a lower flow for a steering rack. They look the same on the outside.

[nashuanuke]

One possibility is that the pump is made with a higher flow rate for a steering box and not a lower flow for a steering rack. They look the same on the outside.

The Allstar performance reservoir seems to have solved the problem. That summit reservoir was just too small, and with no baffles, the flow from the rack back to the reservoir just shot fluid right up through the vent anytime I turned the wheel. That said, I may do some more research on the pump. While venting the tank seems to have worked, blowing out a PTFE line every time I take the rack to the stops seems a little extreme.

[rich grsc]

The Allstar performance reservoir seems to have solved the problem. That summit reservoir was just too small, and with no baffles, the flow from the rack back to the reservoir just shot fluid right up through the vent anytime I turned the wheel. That said, I may do some more research on the pump. While venting the tank seems to have worked, blowing out a PTFE line every time I take the rack to the stops seems a little extreme.
Fluid flows anytime the engine is running, not just when turning. I sure sounds like a pump problem if you keep blowing the lines. Wrong pump or pressure set was too high

[Mark Reynolds]

Any updates? Wondering what the root cause was if found.