so when i first got my 7 bout 6 months ago, the guy said that the power steering was leaking. so today after i started up my 7 and then moved it, i noticed a little puddle of oil from one night. i put my finger in it and its oil.. i dont think its power steering fluid..

so i open up the hood and take a look to see where directly it is leaking from


By blown420 at 2007-08-07

i did a lil search, didnt find much.. also looked at the faq, but i think by lookin at the picture someone could help me better. thx!

 

Looks like the oil cooler hoses. Here is one place to get them, perhaps there are others:

http://www.mazdatrix.com/b6.htm

 

scrip7, thanks for the info, at least i know where to start looking. im going to take a better look tmrw.

jeez, 200 bucks on mazdatrix.. anyone know any other places?

 

Yep looks like the oil cooler hose. Mine is leaking as well.

Corksport sells a replacement braided hose as well for abou $130 if I remember correctly.

 

is this a problem that i can put off for now..? cuz my money is going towards a driveshaft right now(im having some vibrations).. or is there a temporary fix?

went on corksport.. couldnt find anything on oil cooler hoses..

 

If it is indeed a oil cooler hose leak, it is adviseable to park it until it is fixed. If it is leaking enough from the hose to leave a small puddle in your driveway, then there is a risk of sudden failure of the hose and possible engine damage. I personally wouldn't risk it.

 

My buddy got some hydraulic hose and some clamps (two per hose end), grinded off the factory pinches on the hose ends and fixed his. I told him I wasn't very impressed with him using clamps, but oh well, he knows I'm picky with these things. To his credit, it's working well for now.

I think in the stickies is a better approach using some hydraulic hose and fittings, which is very nice.

 

I'd be all for doing it yourself. Buy some hose, and connect it. The hoses are stupidly retarded high in price. Fix it yourself for like 20 bucks.

 

I'll be scared to use clamps, there is alot of pressure in those lines. An alternative route is go to local hydraulic shop, they can fab one.

 

yes they are freakin expensive...

anyone have a decent write up on how to fix this for 20?.. i searched.

 

how much would they charge u think?

 

those are not oil cooler lines... they are the power steering lines, one goes from the pump to the steering rack and the other goes towards the front and loops back to the pump.....

you can take the hoses to a hydraulic shop and they can use a high pressure hydraulic line and use the same fittings, when reinstalling its best to use a thread sealant so that it doesnt leak from there, which they tend to do so after being removed, the fittings like to leak

oil cooler hoses are the same way, but they need to be the same size ID as well for the PS lines. i got my OC hoses replaced with something like 2,000 psi hydraulic hose and they used the same fitting but with a much better seal.

for both my OC hoses they ran me $80 total.
for my PS they ran between $45-60 cant remember.

but remember, when using a high pressure hydraulic hose, they are harder to bend and move, so with the OC lines getting them to thread on will be quite a tedious task... its not hard, its more of an annoyance really....

but you do get the peace of mind that they'll never bust, and they're much better than stainless lines.... less costly, much better strength.

be careful when putting them on tho.... check and double check for any clearance issues with any pulleys and belts that might eat them up.... it mounted my OC lines to the frame rail with custom mounts and made a hole in the subframe to zip-tie the PS hoses so they can stay away from the A/C pulley and belt.
they might be strong, but not indestructible

 

wow are u sure its the power steering? the guy i bought the fc off of mumbled something about the power steering..

and when i was driving it on sunday for a bit.. it was really hard to turn left..

ill get under the car and get a better picture today

 

D'OH, upon further inspection of the picture (i had to use the windows magnifier, vision is blurry today)
but make sure you get that better pic posted so i can let you know

the top hose is an oil cooler line, i think the bottom is the other line or it could be a PS line....


best way to make sure you dont have any leaks like that is just take both OC lines and have them made like i stated above.
if it still leaks oil... then its the PS lines



P.S. make sure to use ATF type F for power steering fluid, its red and stinks

 

Been awhile, but i think ~$100.

I would go with the corksport for a few more $$.

 

hai-tek7..

i looked on corksport... theres nothing there for oil cooling hoses.. i even did a search.. can u take a look?

cptpain.. thanks.. ill look for that type of power steering fluid. i bought this other kind, but i havent used it yet.

i just moved my car and im about to take a look under it.. but im so full right now my mom made a feast for lunch. but i managed to take a vid of the leak on the ground.


http://www.zippyvideos.com/7696078037207346/snv30039/

 

Here, 7th product down.

 

yes, 130 sounds a bit better.. thanks for the link.

can anyone see my video on zippyvideos??

here is the same video on google videos...


http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...24672801&hl=en

 

Aaron cake (I believe.. .do a search to confirm) uses -AN type fittings for the oil cooler lines and it comes out really nice for a LOT cheaper... and.. if you ever DO spring a leak in the future, simply get some more hose... the connectors are reusable.

 

still tryin to determine if its the power steering or oil hoses that are leaking.

 

You can buy used hoses for $40. You would have to go through 3 sets of those to spend enough for the corksports. It has also been mentioned that corksport oil lines have failed before.

 

Do you have more information about the Corksport ones failing?

I'll go take a search right now.

 

where can i get the used ones at?

 

Seems like they dealt with the issue.

 

Thanks for the info, I'll probably pick a pair up.

Unless someone can convince me that the Mazdatrix ones with AN fittings can justify the added cost over the Corksport ones.