Disaster Strikes

Folks,

I was driving home last week after having covered maybe 150 miles on a very hot day (25+). As I got closer to home I noticed a moaning noise coming from the engine. Now, this noise has always been there to some degree, noticable when cold, 99% gone as the engine\tranny warms. The noise rises and falls with the revs, and also when in neutral.

As the journey progressed the noise got worse and worse, and as I turned the steering wheel the noise worsened. I pulled up to my drive and I noticed smoke coming from the drivers side wheelarch, not a lot, but enough to induce mild panic.

I opened the bonnet but did not see any signs of fire thank feck. I had a quick look underneath and lo and behold there was a puddle of some sort of fluid dripping away. It was dripping from the rear of the engine. It did not seem to be oil or anything like that, it felt like water to the touch (highly subjective test I know). I suspect the smoke was that fluid hitting the exhaust. My temp. Gauge was on 90 degrees all day and the fans were kicking in and out as normal.

I checked all my fluid levels and the one on the far right of the engine was very low (I'm not sure which resivoir this is). Of the 2 on the right hand side it is the closeer to the headlight if that makes sense.

I know the details are sketchy but would any of you learned gentlemen have any suggestions as to the problem (and what I may be looking at price wise) before I head for my local grease monkey?

Many thanks,
Avus.

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Right hand side (passenger) nearest to headlight is power steering fluid. Sounds like you have a leak on the steering rack around the steering column. The pump cavitating could be the source of your noise.