My 86 is leaking PS fluid. Not a major leak but leaves annoying puddles. Can I simply let it all drain out and run the car that way?

I've read many posts here about PS to manual conversions, but it sounds like most just remove the pump and leave the fluid in.

Any other cheap and simple options. I tried Lucas PS leak stop and it didn't work.

Mike.

 

fix it or pul it if it is leaking it will get tight and begin to fight u

Dave

 

If you know where the leak is get it fixed. It will be cheaper to do that than anything else. Running out of powersteering fluid won't hurt you so much, you just won't have power steering. what will hurt your car is if you get dirt, sediment, or other things that don't belong in there; in there.

 

To answer your question, yes. Yes, you can run without power steering fluid, but it will be very hard to steer compared to how it ran with it. I actually have the exact same car as you (same issue as well...leaking fluid) and it's very hard to steer, but you eventually get used to it. I'd just let it all leak out and not put more fluid in till you get around to fixing it. I let it all leak out and i'm going to remove it completely in the next few weeks as soon as I find out how to get the pulley off the front.

 

I don't have power steering, and I'm certainly not an expert, but it seems like you can ruin your power steering pump if you run it without fluid.

 

You can do it as long as you remove the belt. The pump spinning while empty will burn it up quick.

 

Yep...then it will probably seize, throw it's belt, knock the other belts off and cut at least one rad hose...

 

Yea this happened to me and I just removed the whole system. Happened almost 2-3 years ago and I never looked back, even with my new rx7 I took out the power steering. I like it that way. Don't risk messing up the pump or other components. Fix it or remove it.

 

Thanks everyone for the good advice.

I'll look into the cost of having the passenger side seal fixed. If too high I'll either zap-strap a sponge towel around the leaking seal, drain it (and disconnect pump's belt), or find a used rack.

Thanks again.

Mike.