Another power steering question.

[ShadowGT]

I noticed over the past few days that after I've turned the car off, or really when I'm just idling too, power steering fluid is dribbling out and landing on the front cat converter and smoking off. I get low on PS fluid every 2 weeks.
I tracked the dribble and noticed it's the connection between the power steering pump pipe and the steering gear pipe. It's the one closest to the engine block, it's at the back of the engine, you can reach it from the top of bottom.

So in all, it's where the pipes connect.
I can't find a good description of how this is connected together. They screw into each other? One is a collar, the other is a fitting that screws in? Point is, I don't want to start turning fittings and snap one off on accident. I just want to back the connection apart a little and tighten it back up to get a good fit.

If anyone knows how that connection fits together, I'd like to know so I don't create more work than I have too.
Also if there is any sort of gasket that is supposed to be in there, I'd like to know as well.
Thanks.

[ShadowGT]

You can lock the thread or leave it open for other people who might have a one in a billion chance of the same question. I figured it out.
The steering gear side has the male end, the power steering pump has the female end. The female end is the long hexagon fitting and it doesn't turn. The male end is a 14mm wrench fitting and it turns and screws into the long female piece.

Loosen this fitting just a bit while the car is running and the power steering reservoir will pour onto the floor in a hurry. Turn it the other way until it can't turn anymore.. you're good.

Lets just say I did the dirty stupid work for you.

[Garrison]

Pics of said dirty stupid work?
My car smokes when I turn it off, something is dripping and burning off of the front cat, I can only assume it's what you're describing.

[ShadowGT]

I was thinking about taking a pic down there but it was so damn messy I didn't take my cell phone anywhere near down there.
Check those PS line couplings, they hang directly over the front cat.

(PS: I did not want photographic evidence of the enormous power steering fluid spill I created in my apartment parking stall. I use Lucas Oil PS fluid, it's red. It looks like I killed someone under my car.)

[ShadowGT]

By the way.. oil smells sooty when it's burning off on the cat converter. Coolant smells acrid. PS fluid has a whole 'nother smell. Like a faint, soft chemical smell. The smoke is whitish / grey.

[Garrison]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards PS fluid then. Which is really strange because I've been continually checking the reservoir and it isn't leaking anymore; likewise it doesn't smoke anymore... or I haven't noticed it. But that shouldn't just suddenly stop, I would assume.

[ShadowGT]

Check your AC drain hose which is on the firewall on the passenger side about 2/3's of the way down and next to the fender wall. It's a little rubber hose that's supposed to be pointed downwards. Sometimes it comes loose, the bushing that keeps it in place works it's way out of the firewall. It'll twist a little and start dripping water on your exhaust connection right behind the engine.
A year ago this happened. I stopped at home and I heard a gurgling sound from the back of the motor, then a hissing sound. Sure enough, the water was draining off and landing on the header connectors and steaming off. I shoved the hose back into place and twisted it back, never happened again.

Also now that I'm completely out of power steering fluid, (my epoxy weld patch didn't work) the dribble and burn off thing is not happening anymore.