Water in the steering ATF reservoir

[Garth56]

I have a 2004 E46/N46 automatic 4-cylinder sedan.
I keep losing about 250ml of water every 2-3 days with no visible water leakage.
However, I keep finding my steering oil being mixed up with water and the steering oil reservoir becomes overfilled and creamy pink stuff leaks out of the reservoir.
How is it possible that water is getting from my cooling system into my power steering system..?
I can only think that the water is somehow going from the water pump into the steering pump because they are both driven by the same pulley..?

 

[DarrylvanNiekerk]

That does sound very weird.

Even though they are run off the same pulley they don't share a common shaft but rather slot together and technically run independently.

That being said one can only imagine since each internal shaft does exit each unit there must be some sort of seal / bearing on each that is worn and allowing water to pass through.

Not a fun replacement job. 🙄

 

[Garth56]

It's an awful job..!
My original steering pump was leaking from the shaft behind the pulley.
Oil was literally pouring out of there.
I bought a used steering pump with water pump assembly and fitted it to the car.
The oil leak stopped but now, as I said it appears to be pushing water into the reservoir.
The used spares shop said I can bring it back and swop it for another, but the mere thought of changing the whole thing again is giving me nightmares...

 

[Garth56]

This is what the ATF oil looks like.
The colour on the dipstick is more accurate.