Power Steering Fluid Reservoir Leaking?

[jehu]

Replaced a leaking res today.. hoses looked ok , clamps were good to re-use. filled it and drove... checked it and there some fluid had escaped the lid it seems... thing was as tight as it could get and the thing was only filled to the level indicated on the stick... do these always leak a little?

[ross1]

EVERY old BMW I see has a leaking P/S hose at the reservoir. Are you certain it isn't weeping from a hose on the bottom and being blown around?
Having said that I also see a lot of caked oil and dirt on the caps too. I'm addressing my own currently and will soon know if the stuff up top is really coming from down under.
That wasn't much help, was it?

[shogun]

On my E32 the lid has a gasket, but the lid is not sealed completely, there is a small breather hole in the lid, so that cold and warm power steering fluid has space to breath. Maybe you filled too much fluid.

[jehu]

On my E32 the lid has a gasket, but the lid is not sealed completely, there is a small breather hole in the lid, so that cold and warm power steering fluid has space to breath. Maybe you filled too much fluid. I'll keep an eye on it. As its a brand new reservoir the O ring is also new .. I never noticed the breather hole before so I'd guess that's where its escaping as it seems to start at the cap and not below..