Power steering pump overheating?

[stallion85]

During my last wheeling trip I noticed a lot of whine coming from my power steering pump. It had heated up and overflowed. WTF? Is this normal? The fluid level prior to leaving was fine.

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

Yes this is very possible, you can put a cooler on it.

 

[stallion85]

What if I just put an extended resevoir fill hose thingy that the Hydro guys use. Could this allow for heat expansion?? I think that could work. /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

 

[HarryH3]

That will keep it from overflowing, but it won't keep it from overheating. /forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif A small cooler plumbed into the return line of the power steering will keep the temps down.

 

[stallion85]

Does anyone have any pic's of this pump cooler? Is this a normal problem. My pump is fairly new and so is the steering box..... /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I have a cooler for sale in the fs forum about 12"x7" /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif

 

[79Beast]

I had that problem when I went to crossover steering. I bought the smallest tranny cooler the parts store had (about 11x7) and routed it into my power steering return line. I mounted it in front of the radiator, but to the side. I have not had a problem since.

 

[HarryH3]

I picked up a small 11x3 stacked-plate style tranny cooler from a mid-80's Ford pickup in the junkyard. I've also seen them in some Ford vans. I think it must have been part of a towing package, since it wasn't installed on all of them. But it only cost 4 or 5 bucks and looks like it will make an awesome power steering cooler. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[tRustyK5]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone have any pic's of this pump cooler? Is this a normal problem. My pump is fairly new and so is the steering box..... /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine started doing that while at Blazer Bash last year...now it's whining every day by the time I get to work (10 miles drive through light traffic). Steering box isn't new, but is still in good shape and the hydro-boost pump is new(ish). One fine day I will plumb a small cooler and see what happens. I now have a remote resevoir spare, so i may go with that at the same time.

Rene

 

[diesel4me]

Ford pickups came factory with a cooler,it was nothing more than about 3 feet of extra steel tubing formed into a "S" curve,it was in the return line--they rot out really fast around here.Have seen similar ones on suburbans in the junkyard too. Also,a friend needed a remote resivoir for his plow pump,we found a nice one on a mid 80's firebird with the 2.5 four banger in it,its not real big but it held enough fluid to let his angle pistons get full travel--best part is it was factory made and easy to install!. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gifThe C-60 trucks with the 366 and 427,454 motors have a nice remote resivoir for the power steering too--but the boneyard didnt want to break up the motor because its harder to sell without all the brackets and accesories.

 

[HarryH3]

It's easy to find PS pumps with remote resevoirs. You just have to look in the right place. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Peek under the hood of a GM van. There are plenty of those littering junkyards. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[willyswanter]

Just remember that heat kills ps pumps very quickly...

I run this:

It's 10x12 and has a huge fan.

 

[Muddytazz]

Damn, that is nice. Is that set up on a toggle or on a thermal-switch?