Wife came home from the college today and the truck had just started to smoke when she pulled into the driveway.

Smoke was coming from the driver side, towards rear of the motor. I took some pictures to show where the fluid is and whatnot. The fluid is a golden clear color, my oil hasn't been changed in a bit, so it's black, which should rule out motor oil.

Brake fluid level is perfectly at Full, and power steering fluid is at full too, maybe a tad low. I did see evidence of leakage directly below the PS fluid box/pulley, so I'd guess a leaky line or O ring somewhere's.


Drippage of fluid onto the bottom control arm:


Looks like splatter on frame/linkage for whatever...


And stains on the bottom of the inner plastic fender:


I had the wife push on the brakes several times and there was no leaks or squirts coming from the caliper, line, master cylinder, anything....

This last pic worries me more then anything, shows the plugs for 5 & 7, from from the valve cover down is soaked, motor was too hot to get a finger on it to see what it was, looks golden with a flash light pointed at it:


Valve cover gaskets appear to be in good shape, they are fairly new. Just the rear of the block is wet, 1&3 are dry, passenger side is bone dry.

There is some oil on the valve cover, I need a new grommet for the PCV valve, little oil leakage there.

There's a stain on the exhaust manifold which I'm pretty sure is what was smoking, can't tell what it was.

Truck was at normal temp, bout quarter ways below 210.

Not sure which direction I should be going in, brake fluid, power steering, both or something else. I couldn't find anything that was actually leaking.

 

The lines into the back of the PS pump tend to leak.. Top off all fluids that are low and give a good wash under the hood there and look to see if you can pin point where the leak is coming from..

 

Well I cleaned things up as best they're gonna get for the time being. Dipped my finger in the brake fluid reservoir and while it's nice and clean it's exactly the same smell as the leaky fluid.

I did notice a fluid stain on the back of the caliper where that little nut is, it didn't leak under pressure when we pumped the brakes up though...

Did the same with the PS fluid, it's much more yellowish and a really stank smell.

 

Is it possible there is a pin hole in a line somewhere

 

if the brakes were leaking, the pedal would collapse on you, and fluid would squirt out under high pressure. (like when bleeding the brakes).

i was looking at power steering pumps and lines the other day because mine is whining some. prices are all over the map, but the most for the money was a Fenco Pump SP17108 from Advance, $47 -15% discount code A124 to knock off $10. Lifetime warranty. and inline filter 2210 from Autozone for $10 to go in the return line.

hose prices were all over the map. The only 2 brands were Gates and Edelman/Plews.

Advance didn't list any PS pump for the 01. I found the SP17108 part number on the Fenco site. The other option is the Cardone 20-7953F. As usual, Rockauto was cheaper until you add in shipping from multiple sources, and then the shipping prices go out of sight.

 

Brakes work great, they built up and held pressure just fine.

Perhaps it's ps fluid after all....

I'd rather have to steer these beasts the old fashioned way then have no brakes.

 

Wouldn't the brake safety kick in and stop the pedal from going to floor and you would just be using half the braking?

 

So your caps were tight? Hoses and lines buttoned up tight and snug? Checked the ps hoses for wetness? Seems to have both a spray and splash patterns which means nothing so be ruled out right..cardboard trick could help pinpoint the prob

 

The hoses below the ps pump were wet, everything else is buttoned up and looks good. I cleaned things down and drowned the truck with soap and water, I'll be checking them in the next few days, see what leaks.

 

Alright gents, here's an update.

This is what I found after I washed down everything on the driver side:



Here's the underside of the master cylinder:



Still can't find anything actually leaking.

Brake fluid is still full.