Is there a good aftermarket cooler for the power steering? During the end of my last ride my pressure lines got very hot and started to leak. I don't know if the stock toast or just not up to the job of off roading. What do you guys use?
CK5
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Power steering cooler
- Thread starter hammermachine
- Start date
I use the 12" log cooler on this page.
http://www.pscmotorsports.com/fluid-coolers-c-196.html?zenid=ujeeah1qpvftsbqac215j29ip0
Any of the coolers here will do you right. Line size is important so I suggest buying from PSC as they have done all the research for you and only sell what works.
Get what suits your application.
http://www.pscmotorsports.com/fluid-coolers-c-196.html?zenid=ujeeah1qpvftsbqac215j29ip0
Any of the coolers here will do you right. Line size is important so I suggest buying from PSC as they have done all the research for you and only sell what works.
Get what suits your application.
I put one on mine and I got a trans cooler off a 90's ish ford explorer. Flushed it and seems to run well. It's a stacked plate design and about 8"Wx12"Lx 1/2"D. My steering system was already using ATF also.
I use an auto trans cooler
k20
3/4 ton status
I got a trans cooler from napa its approx 6" wide and 10" long. Works pretty good.
British Slave
1/2 ton status
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Where do you guys mount the cooler?
k20
3/4 ton status
I am out of room in my truck behind the grille, have a big oil & trans cooler there, so for the time being mine is.......ahem.......zip tied to my batt cables that are running from my second batt to my primary. Hangs in front of the first crossmember, behind the bumper. It definately cools it down, just not to its fullest extent. Im eventually going to mount it to that x-member.
Ned Kelly
1/2 ton status
I thought I read somewhere stacked plate coolers aren't recommended for PS fluid? I wonder what PSC recommends?
Thermal bypass might be good in cold climates:
http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=2&Category_Code=tru-cool-hd
Thermal bypass might be good in cold climates:
http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=2&Category_Code=tru-cool-hd
I have a derale power steering cooler/mount kit.. that i bought for 25.00 and it works perfect. I used 3/8 rubber hose that it came with also, i ran it in the return and it does good......mounted on the right side lowest part of the rad next to my toyota corola cooling fan..
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i have a oil cooler from a 04 ford 6.0 psd.its mounted to the back of my cooling fan.it seems to work good.
Don't know. My steering is using ATF as fluid through the stacked plate cooler.
Mine's in front of the radiator
Cooler
I ordered the cooler from Summit a Derale Heat Sink Transmission Coolers. I also ordered the replacement hoses also. Hopefully this will solve my overheating issues. I guess I'll figure out where to install it when I get my hands on it.
I ordered the cooler from Summit a Derale Heat Sink Transmission Coolers. I also ordered the replacement hoses also. Hopefully this will solve my overheating issues. I guess I'll figure out where to install it when I get my hands on it.
I had read that too somewhere a while back.... so I checked out PSC, they sell both, stacked plate and tube/fin..
I had read that too somewhere a while back.... so I checked out PSC, they sell both, stacked plate and tube/fin..
That was pirate, iirc the problem was funky turbulence in the typical automotive stacked plate cooler causing airation(sp?). Seems like PSC now offers a stacked plate design but it's from some hydraulic application so it works ok.
Edit: found it - http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348962&highlight=steering+cooler+stacked+plate
New cooler!
Just added a aftermarket power steering cooler. It took me longer to install (only because I couldn't find my teflon tape). I bolted it to inner fender wall and ran the replacement hoses to the pump and steering gears. It looks pretty cool (HA!) the cooler installed pretty straight forward. Later I took the K5 for a run around town, after bleeding the system. It didn't seem that the cooler made any difference to the touch. After the 1/2 hour run the power steering lines and cooler were hot to the touch. I don't know if it was any cooler than before. I'll see how it'll go the next time I'm off road.
Just added a aftermarket power steering cooler. It took me longer to install (only because I couldn't find my teflon tape). I bolted it to inner fender wall and ran the replacement hoses to the pump and steering gears. It looks pretty cool (HA!) the cooler installed pretty straight forward. Later I took the K5 for a run around town, after bleeding the system. It didn't seem that the cooler made any difference to the touch. After the 1/2 hour run the power steering lines and cooler were hot to the touch. I don't know if it was any cooler than before. I'll see how it'll go the next time I'm off road.
Keep in mind that a good power steering fluid wants to be 180 degrees or so during normal conditions. You will not be able to touch a hot power steering system.
ATF is NOT a good power steering fluid.
ATF is NOT a good power steering fluid.
Really 180 degrees is normal? I had no idea, so i guess it's working as advertised, since I can touch it. Thanks for the info.
I'm using the same cooler in the same location. It works well but can still overheat. I'm looking to move it to the front grill or behind the bumper if it can be protected better.
Slapperbar
Retired Navy NDT Examiner
Hell, I'm just using the factory "cooler" that's strapped under the rad. crossmember. It's a 2 pass deal of Aluminum tubing on the return line. Mine's O.E..
