1982 SR5 pickup, 4wd, 330k miles or so at this point.

A couple weeks ago I noticed some power steering fluid on top of the power steering reservoir, as if it had leaked out of the cap. I wiped it up, checked the level. It typically has been on the high end of the "cold" mark, and when I checked it was slightly lower than that. It sat for a couple of weeks as I drove my other vehicle, then I drove it again for awhile recently and checked again, and there was some more (but less this second time). I checked the fluid level again and it was around halfway up the cold mark.

Since there isn't anything on top of the reservoir that could leak down into it, the only thing I can figure out is that it's coming out of the cap somehow...but it's been screwed on tight! Anyone have any thoughts? Can I just keep checking it (I check my engine oil pretty regularly as that burns/leaks, so it wouldn't be the worst thing to just check this now too) and fill it up a little bit when necessary, or should I dig into it further because I'll have some worse problems down the road?

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

Could be a bad gasket in the cap. Is the the pump noisy? If so it could be making excessive heat thru cavitation.

Try changing the fluid completely.

Typically the fluid level in my Taco and 83 are higher then you indicate and have no leakage problems.

The worst thing is you'll blow the pump, not an issue as there are rebuilds available....or blow the steering box, an issue as there are not rebuilds available, you'll have to do it yourself or have it done.

 

Thanks for the thoughts! A bad gasket in the cap sounds easy..I'll start there. I don't think it's noisy, but the whole truck is noisy so it might just be getting covered up, and I suppose I haven't tried to listen for it.