[Westphal]

Definitely sweeter than gear oil, not quite as tangy as engine oil.

 

[Jeepman]

I dug out my dental picks, small needle nose pliers, small screw driver and a pocket size Prime-Lite and went to work on a power steering reservoir cap from a 4th Generation.
I'm not a dentist, but working with dental picks gives me more patients. Ha, ha.
Yeah, one needs patience (not patients) to work with dental picks. Anyhow, here's what I found and will use Valhallalla's great pictures (hope they aren't copyrighted) from Post #15 to illustrate.
1. The cap is bare naked, just a molded piece of plastic with screw taps on it.
2.. The center part, including the part containing the "o" ring and the larger circular part (with two cutouts) that snaps into the bare naked cap, is all one plastic casting, based on casting marks.
3. I could find no holes with the dental picks, I mean no cavities, where fluid could pass through. Everything appeared tight.
4. I assume overflow happens around the "o" ring.
5. I could saw a cap in two if one really wants to know what's in the inner sanctum. For that I will need my surgeon's saw.

Note: Based on casting marks and arrangement, I would say my cap was made by the same machine that made Valhallalla's cap. Identical "o" ring color as well.

 

[markfothebeast]

I have the Dorman P/S reservoir as well. Except when I removed the cap I didn't only hear a loud "pop" but a high pressure explosion of power steering fluid in my eyes and face. I blindly felt my way around to get to the house and flush my eyes out.

My vision hasn't been the same since. The fluid shot over 20 feet across the garage and was caked all over the wall. I've had three 4th gen Caravans and this is the only one that had this excessive pressure build-up in the reservoir. I've used this same Dorman reservoir on another Caravan and it didn't have this issue.

 

[shuswap]

I have the Dorman P/S reservoir as well. Except when I removed the cap I didn't only hear a loud "pop" but a high pressure explosion of power steering fluid in my eyes and face. I blindly felt my way around to get to the house and flush my eyes out.

My vision hasn't been the same since. The fluid shot over 20 feet across the garage and was caked all over the wall. I've had three 4th gen Caravans and this is the only one that had this excessive pressure build-up in the reservoir. I've used this same Dorman reservoir on another Caravan and it didn't have this issue.

Wow, that would be a real concern. Hope your normal eyesight has returned. nasty over-site by Dorman. That is very hot fluid when running and ejection under pressure would be a disaster, as you stated.

 

[markfothebeast]

Fortunately the engine was off. My eyesite has not gotten any better since.

Wow, that would be a real concern. Hope your normal eyesight has returned. nasty over-site by Dorman. That is very hot fluid when running and ejection under pressure would be a disaster, as you stated.

 

[energized1979]

Hey, all just following up to let everyone know how this ended up getting fixed several months ago because I suspect it might help someone else in the future.

I decided to just loosen the PS cap so that it would wobble. I thought for sure it would splatter fluid so I monitored it for several days and too my surprise no splattered fluid. Also, this eliminated any pressure or at least ruled out "pressure in reservoir" as the cause of the problem. However, it did not improve the slight shuddering. After praying about it awhile, and studying here and other places I concluded there was the tiniest pinhole leak somewhere in the system so small that no fluid was leaking. It was the only thing that made sense.

I bought a bottle of something called AT 205 which is really highly rated and supposedly effective for certain fluid leaks. I read reviews for 2 hours and most of them were glowing. There were a few here and there saying the stuff ruined there PS system. I mostly thought the negative reviews were from those who did not use the product conservatively and/or properly. You need to drive vehicle hundreds of miles immediately so it can dispurse.

I was still uncomfortable so I devised a strategy to test it but not risk ruining my whole system right before leaving on the cross country drive. After all, you hardly use the steering on all highways I threw the new bottle in the glove box if needed for any **** mary emergencies(right next to the 5$ low pressure radiator cap I bought...lol) I packed van and left California. In Pennsylvania, 200 miles from parents farm in NY I pulled off at rest stop. I used a cloth to dab up and lower the level of PS reservoir just enough to put about only a 1/3 of the bottle of AT 205 in. More than enough if it was going to work but not drowning the system with it.

I drove home without stopping to fulfill the products mileage recommendations. I forgot I had put it in, but a few days later I was driving my mom somewhere and suddenly realized the Van was not shuddering anymore in parking lots etc....

The AT 205 fixed a problem that could not be fixed any other way without buying hundreds of dollars worth of PS parts hunting around for the issue. This is definitely a product I will research more and possibly try out in the future for other issues but I will always do so in moderation.

 

[markfothebeast]

I just had the Dorman P/S reservoir blow up on me again. This time it fortunately didn't explode in my eyes. But the fluid went as far as getting all over the side of my Pontiac Trans Am 10 feet away. This should be recalled. I think it's from turning the steering with the engine off. But still, it should vent pressure.

 

[ScuzziOne]

Just say "no" to Dorman products...

 

[markfothebeast]

I've contacted Dorman and referred them to this post.

 

[markfothebeast]

My eyes are actually not doing well. At all. And I l had never recieved a response from Dorman. Maybe my attorney will recieve a response.

 

[Jeepman]

Turning the wheels manually can cause a pressure buildup in the reservoir and leakage of fluid. I can't say I have ever seen one explode.

 

[Jaded]

I just put the dorman on mine. It's not venting. Fluid splashes out when I open it. I notice the cap is pretty much the same as the original. The original reservoir seems to have a larger diameter throat for the cap. Both caps can wiggle in the old one, but are tight on the dorman.

 

[FabricGATOR]

I just put the dorman on mine. It's not venting. Fluid splashes out when I open it. I notice the cap is pretty much the same as the original. The original reservoir seems to have a larger diameter throat for the cap. Both caps can wiggle in the old one, but are tight on the dorman.

I was going to ask if anyone tried the old cap on the new reservoir.

Fortunately the engine was off. My eyesite has not gotten any better since.

I am going to ask if your eyesite was any better before putting the +4 drops in...
(sorry, couldn't resist... something about Carnegie Hall)

 

[Jaded]

I cut the o-ring down until it was loose in the housing comparable to my stock unit. Hopefully this works. I'm going to try to get a measurement showing the difference between the 2. I'm thinking this is a defective part.

 

[Road Ripper]

Dorman = Defective. They only make a few good parts, so most of what they make is junk. Doesn't surprise me. I had a brand new Dorman brake master cylinder fail and fry my front brakes and hub bearings. At least they make a good aluminum oil filter housing/oil cooler for the Pentastar engines.

 

[ggoose]

The cap has to be vented. Note the fluid level is marked for both cold and hot. Needs to be able to breath as the fluid heats up and cools.

 

[Donal63]

I have the Dorman P/S reservoir as well. Except when I removed the cap I didn't only hear a loud "pop" but a high pressure explosion of power steering fluid in my eyes and face. I blindly felt my way around to get to the house and flush my eyes out.

My vision hasn't been the same since. The fluid shot over 20 feet across the garage and was caked all over the wall. I've had three 4th gen Caravans and this is the only one that had this excessive pressure build-up in the reservoir. I've used this same Dorman reservoir on another Caravan and it didn't have this issue.

I have recently started experiencing the fluid splashing out of the reservoir when removing the cap. I have had this van for over eight years, and have changed out the reservoir, probably two times. Could not figure out where the pressure was coming from, or why. Tried removing the cap, turning the steering wheel from one side to another several times, with motor running. Did not solve the problem. Glad to see this thread.

 

[VinceBoomBots]

Interesting. Why so complicated, I wonder. Can't say I noticed those holes in the Dorman Cap I looked at the other day. I thought I had looked carefully. I did try to pry the pieces apart with a screw driver but there was no give.

When replacing the reservoirs I always used the OE caps since they were yellow. Never noticed a pressure build up at any time.

When replacing brake calipers I always used the OE pins since they were stainless, not plated. Repaired short sections in the exhaust instead of putting in new longer non stainless parts too.

Stay with OE as much as possible.

Go Mopar or Go Home...You go Cheap...You get Cheap...

 

[Bobstown&country]

I also used a dorman reservoir . The power steering fluid swishes around inside the reservoir when it is running. Not sure if that is normal. I lost the original cap inside my engine compartment.. I do not see any venting on the dorman cap. I will try the cap off my 2001 and see it that has any changes.

I am having some issues with my steering not working like power steering sometimes when I start it. It goes away when it warms up some.

 

[VinceBoomBots]

ATF+4 isn't that bad, a step above castor oil.

Add some Tequilla and a little Umbrella...😎