Hey all,
My power steering has decided to sprout a leak and dump fluid everywhere - i've narrowed it down to the high pressure hose fitting on the back of the pump. Anyway, can I use some DX-3 fluid to confirm the leak and then flush and use Valvoline Formula F once the hose has been replaced/leak fixed?

Also, power steering fluid has found its way onto the alternator (how much I don't know) and I know power steering fluid has a habit of killing alternators (ask how I know). Is there anything I can do to minimise any damage? Maybe a degrease and flush with clean water? - Car has not been driven/run since i've noticed the leak (but the damage has probably already been done).

Thanks, Thomas.

yeah dextron is 3 is ok to flush with.

couple of cans of CO Cleaner should do the trick. Electricals friendly and self evaporative

More than likely the culprit is the seal in the nut at the end of the hose where it goes into the power steering pump. You CAN replace this nut but is more than just screw off old one and put new one back on.
You will need to remove the OLD nut from the end of the the High Pressure hose with either a hacksaw or some form of Nut Cracker. The new nut is rather cheap and should fix your problem. The part number is BA 3F656 B and costs about $13.50 from your local Ford dealer. As to the fluid dumped on your alternator it should be easy to clean it off with some Engine Degreaser.

When you have fixed the problem you should use either:
POWER STEERING
CASTROL SYNTRANS 75W/85
or
Ford R1 424 1L

NB: When you replace the nut, make sure you screw it into the pump first before placing the end of the High Pressure hose into it or it WILL leak.

If it is the problem papa smurf talks about, do you self a favour and by the after market Mackay branded hose that deletes the stupid leak prone nut and solves the problem for good.