Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Boiling ? Power Steering Fluid

I am looking for a solution to a problem I had last year when running my 98 Contour SVT hard at Watkins Glen. It appeared that everytime I returned from the track that the power steering fluid had boiled over and left a mess on the strut tower and the reservoir. I am almost positive the fluid was comming out from the cap on the reservoir. I checked the seal on the cap and it was fine. I cleaned it off and have driven normally since and have no leaks. My best guess is that the power steering pump is spinning at such high RPM for so long that it is boiling the fluid?
Has anyone experienced this problem? I was thinking that going to a synthetic fluid may solve the problem. I am going back to the Glen in August, so I hope to get this resolved.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Also would like suggestions for a real good manual transmission fluid and rough amount needed.

Marty

Yikes that is an interesting problem. I would tend to think that it's not boiling over but perhaps spilling from all the nasty turns. If it boiled and there were bubbles in the line, you would notice this in the feel of the steering wheel.
imho, anyways.

Not sure if you have the stock pulleys on there or not, but I would at least consider some underdrive pulleys. That would slow things down a bit... if that were the case.

There is a cooler, for the PS system, located in front of the A/C condensor. If you look through the bottom of the front bumper, you will see it. Little bitty thing! If you still feel that heat is your problem, then I would look into replaceing the stock one with a larger unit. I would think that any small tranny cooler would work.

But I have to agree with jazz here. If your fluid would have boiled over, not only would that create bubbles, but it would also discolor the fluid. It would turn a brownish color. Since you did not mention this, I am thinking that the seal on the cap was just not good enough to hold the fluid in during the hard turns. That or it was over filled a good bit.

As for a good tranny fluid for your SVT... Check the tranny forums! There have been some very good reviews of Redline MTL(IIRC) from several SVT owners. Otherwise, most everyone runs Mobil 1 Syn ATF with a shot of Fords Friction Modifier.

Welcome aboard... Now hows 'bout showing off some shots of your ride at The Glen!!

Mine does that when it is overfilled. It will not tolerate even being a little too full when driving in a spirited manner. Sometimes it is hard to read the full mark on the side of the resivoir.

Also, if you think it is overheating (not likely), it may help to switch to synthetic power steering fluid. In the past I used Mobil 1 ATF but receintly I have been switching over to Valvoline synthetic.

although a little cooler it is big enough for our cars.... it shouldnt be a heat problem unless you were hot lapping for an hour or more (hardcore racing too) the contours cooler is pretty effiecent. i think that it was overfilled or at the top and that it caused the problem

but please keep us updated

ps if you havent changed the fluid since owning the car it might be a good idea to do so

Boiling (temp) or foaming (air in system)?

Every contour owner that I have met at the track has had the same problem. And of course, I haven't bothered to find a solution.

On your manual trans fluid there has been a lot posted about that over the years.

The most important thing is to use a fluid that has friction modifier. A common answer has been to use Mobil 1 ATF with 2 oz (1/2 bottle) of Ford friction modifier added. This is the so called "cocktail" found in the FAQ section. Another answer is use any dino ATF that meets Mercon specs and adding 2 oz of friction modifier. The friction modifier makes a huge difference in overall shift quality.

Alternatives have included the newer Ford full synthetic MTX fluid (which Ford recommends for topping off or replacement of the Mercon fluid in MTX Contiques) but also with 2oz of friction modifier added. This is what I have in my car presently. It is probably the most expensive option. Another alternative is Chrysler spec ATF+3 with no additional friction modifier because it already has a higher level of friction modifier. I have also used this and it works great. Others have posted that they have used Red Line synthetic manual trans fluid, both with and without added friction modifier. Red line has two products, one seems closer in viscosity to ATF like the original Mercon fluid and the other a little thicker in viscosity like the Ford synthetic. If you want to try and find still another alternative, the Ford synthetic MTX fluid is a 75/90 GF-4 fluid. GF-5 fluid cannot be used because it has additives that will attack yellow metals (brass synchro parts).

Do a search and you will find more than you may want to know on the topic.

On your 98, you will need a total of 2.7 quarts. Those with the newer trans (part way into the 2000 model year) only need 2.2 quarts.

Thanks for all the advice. I wanted to add some more info. The track sessions are 20 minutes of hard driving. The fluid does seem to be discolored and the steering becomes slightly more difficult at low speeds (returning to pits). I had even tried to pack some paper towel in the cap area and the fluid pushed through it and the cap to get all over the resivoir.
I am going to try a combination of replacing the fluid with synthetic and keeping the level as low as possible. It does seem very reasonable to go to a underdrive pulley and a larger cooler (maybe next year).
Sounds like the best bet for the transmission fluid is the Mobile 1 with the friction modifier. Thanks.
I will post some pictures from the last 3 years I have gone to the Glen
Marty

Ya know guys.... Since CSVTs are not uncommonly known in the past for there road course stints, can't we look into what they change, if anything, in there PS systems? Might not be a bad thing to look into.

Wasn't there a guy up in Canada that just recently bought and rebuilt a CSVT from Mirko or someone and is using it right now on the track? I know he or the guy helping him with it, is around here because he posted engine questions and later he posted some pics of it. If we could find out who exactlly that was, you could PM him and find out. Better yet, he could just post an answer in this thread so we could all know.

Sorry I can't remember, too many post, too many questions, such a small amount of time!

I think that going to a better grade of fluid will help you the most though. Please, keep us posted on this.