Power Steering Pump Lubrication
 

On my 380sl, the area under the power steering pump pulley, the ignition coil cover, and the vacuum lines to the charcoal canister have been oily for some time now. Since I recently replaced the front, main seal, and the rest of the engine is dry, I suspect the oil must be coming from the front, pump seal.

However, the pump doesn't have a crank case connection, and the oil doesn't look like power steering fluid. Moreover, it's been leaking for some time now. So, before I start replacing the front seal, I just wanted to make sure that the oil was in fact coming from that seal.

Does anyone happen to know how to confirm this, and/or how the pump shaft is lubricated?

Thanks in advance.

A seeping power steering pump seal will sling an oil fog from the rear side of the pulley (front of seal). touch the rear of the pulley to confirm.

Yeah, the rear of the pulley is coated with oil. What throws me again, though, is that the oil is black, not red.

Still, my guess is that it has to be ATF coming from the pump, as (1) the other pulleys and belts are clean, (2) the coil and vacuum lines on the driver's side fender are coated, (3) the rest of the engine is clean, (4) my power steering fluid is a little low, and (4) the steering box isn't leaking. Ergo, the front (and maybe the rear) pump seals are leaking,

Thanks for "steering" me in the right direction. :)

The power steering fluid in my car is a dark blue/black fluid coming out of the bottle, not red.