Water pump leaking AND power steering overflowing milky

Towing a caravan back through the lanes of Devon today my TD5 Disco (99 Manual) dropped a load of milky power steering fluid from the reservoir- it was very hot. No noticeable change in the feel of the steering. As this was a particularly poor place to stop I thought I'd carry on until I found somewhere better - then the engine temperature started going up. So we stopped - it didn't go too high. I carefully released some of the pressure by loosening the filler cap and a trickling sound started from behind the water pump - could these two things be related or am I just lucky? Any help greatly appreciated!

Was it the correct cold climate fluid or had someone just stuck in atf?
You say trickling but did it lose any coolant?

Quick google seems to suggest theres some sort of gauze filter in the bottom of the pas reservoir, maybe worth a look?
Search td5 boiling pas fluid.

if pas system keeps frothing the oil a new pump is likely needed, pas pump drives the water pump

lynall said:

Was it the correct cold climate fluid or had someone just stuck in atf?
You say trickling but did it lose any coolant?

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Not too sure on the coolant type, it's not lost any before but Ive only had it a month (done about 1200 miles with no coolant or PAS issues). It lost probably a pint or two - I think it might be the seal on the water pump that's gone.

lynall said:

Was it the correct cold climate fluid or had someone just stuck in atf?
You say trickling but did it lose any coolant?

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Thats bollocks about the cold climate fluid, doesnt need it in this country, it never gets cold enough. Normal PAS fluid works fine. Siberia would be different...

ant_harvey said:

Not too sure on the coolant type, it's not lost any before but Ive only had it a month (done about 1200 miles with no coolant or PAS issues). It lost probably a pint or two - I think it might be the seal on the water pump that's gone.

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Cold climate fluid is the pas fluid (not the coolant) and is thinner than std atf, lots of modern cars run it as std, even ordinary motors and Im sure the makers wouldnt use it if std atf was up to the task.
Rough rule of thumb is std/dextron 2/3 is red and ccf is yellow ish.

Little bit of reading for you, http://www.southernlubricants.co.uk/aqadmin/media/uploads/55350611966e2/Cold Climate Power Steering Fluid.pdf

Bobdog said:

Thats bollocks about the cold climate fluid, doesnt need it in this country, it never gets cold enough. Normal PAS fluid works fine. Siberia would be different...

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I dont see quoting the correct spec oil as being bollocks?
If you really think its all about temperature, well I give up!

lynall said:

Cold climate fluid is the pas fluid (not the coolant) and is thinner than std atf, lots of modern cars run it as std, even ordinary motors and Im sure the makers wouldnt use it if std atf was up to the task.

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in what way d2 pas system is basically the same as d1 it runs fine on atf ,using a synthetic oil reduces service intervals which is no improvement

jamesmartin said:

in what way d2 pas system is basically the same as d1 it runs fine on atf ,using a synthetic oil reduces service intervals which is no improvement

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James have a read of the link I posted above quite interesting,
Ive always been of the opinion any oil is better than no oil, but times are a changing and stuff is getting very fussy.
Im sure day to day commuting atf will cause no issues, but the guy said he was towing a van so Im assuming the whole outfit loaded to the gunnels with family and clobber and everything working at max load/temp.
Lets be honest its no harder to add ccf rather than atf and soon just like atf there will soon be tubs in everyones shed, as I said above times move on.

Of course it could be as simple as the car got very close to overheating due to some other issue, viscous fan failure etc and the pas oil gave up the ghost.

lynall said:

James have a read of the link I posted above quite interesting,
Ive always been of the opinion any oil is better than no oil, but times are a changing and stuff is getting very fussy.
Im sure day to day commuting atf will cause no issues, but the guy said he was towing a van so Im assuming the whole outfit loaded to the gunnels with family and clobber and everything working at max load/temp.
Lets be honest its no harder to add ccf rather than atf and soon just like atf there will soon be tubs in everyones shed, as I said above times move on.

Of course it could be as simple as the car got very close to overheating due to some other issue, viscous fan failure etc and the pas oil gave up the ghost.

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an hydraulic system is an hydraulic system,its not the oil type,frothing is air or boiling ,likely air through the pump,ccf would make no difference imo

lynall said:

I dont see quoting the correct spec oil as being bollocks?
If you really think its all about temperature, well I give up!

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It IS about temperature. Land rover sell vehicles all over the world so they have to be able to operate in all temps. Ccf may have some extra, beneficial additives but using standard PAS fluid does no harm whatsoever in a temperate climate such as ours.

jamesmartin said:

an hydraulic system is an hydraulic system,its not the oil type,frothing is air or boiling ,likely air through the pump,ccf would make no difference imo

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You are correct a hyd system is a hyd system but there are different types of hyd oil mainly related to pump type and working pressures Iirc, as Im sure you well know.

We all know atf will work, but why not just fit the proper stuff, its not like its mega dear?

Note to all arguing isnt going to help the op fix his motor, but does keep his post at the top!

lynall said:

I dont see quoting the correct spec oil as being bollocks?
If you really think its all about temperature, well I give up!

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Thanks for looking into this for me - I appreciate the help. I'm stuck away from home (Cheshire) with it ATM- if anyone knows a reliable Landy person in the Yeovil area?

lynall said:

You are correct a hyd system is a hyd system but there are different types of hyd oil mainly related to pump type and working pressures Iirc, as Im sure you well know.

We all know atf will work, but why not just fit the proper stuff, its not like its mega dear?

Note to all arguing isnt going to help the op fix his motor, but does keep his post at the top!

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Ok, going back to the original question, the pas pump and water pump are on the same shaft. If the internal seal/bearing has gone, coolant could be getting into the pas fluid. Especially if the weep hole in the casing is blocked somehow.

Bobdog said:

Ok, going back to the original question, the pas pump and water pump are on the same shaft. If the internal seal/bearing has gone, coolant could be getting into the pas fluid. Especially if the weep hole in the casing is blocked somehow.

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It looked to me like the coolant was coming out from behind the water pump but this only started as I released pressure on the system, having pulled over due to the needle rising 3/4 of the way - this was 10 mins after I had dropped off the caravan, kids and clobber. The power steering fluid level didn't seem to have dropped despite loosing loads - it was hot and quite a thin milky fluid. I haven't had chance to check it now it's cold as it's over at the recovery garage awaiting its 200 mile trip home.

I'm sorry to hear about your problems, I can't offer much in the way of technical advice, but I do sympathise with being broken down away from home (happened to me yesterday!). Also, not familiar with any specialists in your neck of the woods, but given how helpful members are on this forum, I'd be surprised if someone can't pm you a friendly suggestion of a garage near you (assuming this is not a contravention of the forum's rules, and it's taken in good faith)

Ok, it looks like the engine coolant has somehow got into the PAS - explains milky pas fluid, hot pas fluid and drop in the coolant. So is there a PAS cooler that could have burst a seal and somehow have been filled with coolant?

ant_harvey said:

Towing a caravan back through the lanes of Devon today my TD5 Disco (99 Manual) dropped a load of milky power steering fluid from the reservoir- it was very hot. No noticeable change in the feel of the steering. As this was a particularly poor place to stop I thought I'd carry on until I found somewhere better - then the engine temperature started going up. So we stopped - it didn't go too high. I carefully released some of the pressure by loosening the filler cap and a trickling sound started from behind the water pump - could these two things be related or am I just lucky? Any help greatly appreciated!

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Not absolutely familiar with the Td5 but I know some continental vehicles have a heat exchanger coil in one of the radiator tanks, my son has a Merc ml 320 and it has a coil that passes returning PS oil through a HE coil in the radiator tank, I think it is to keep the oil at "a" temperature that smooths the lumpiness you could get with really cold PS oil or stopping the oil from overheat in extreme temps, if the Td5 has that system and there was a leak in the coil, (heat exchanger),it could be leaking high presure hot coolant into the returning low pressure hydraulic oil, thus diluting the oil and giving coolant loss/loss of cooling system pressure that will cause engine overheating, just an idea, maybe completely left of field.

Hi Ant,
I've recently replaced the PAS pump on my TD5. This has the pulley attached and, as stated above, this "slots" into the water pump behind it so both can turn. This is the only place I'm aware of that the 2 fluid could meet. Knowing what it's like to be away from home with a caravan I've found a local LR dealer in Yeovil on the net for you - Yeovil LR, Mead Ave,Houndstone Buissienss Pk, BA22 8RT. 01935 426600 if that's any use to you.
Regards,
Griff