any advantage??? powersteer fluid cooler

[cruiserhead2]

is there any benefit that would come from using a powersteering tranny style or frame cooler.

does the cooler fluid do better then the hot fluid???
thanks

[Landpimp]

I'm curious as well, gonna get to installing a OEM PS on my fj40 someday soon. Noticed that the 40s(and 60s) with OME PS use a "cooler" that is nothing more than 2 pipes that run across the front end(on frame) Is this even needed or is it better to use a deal PS cooler?

John

[Eskimo]

Cooler fluid is better. I added a Derale cooler to mine, just for insurance, like the filter.

The cooler was under $20 from Summit. You'll want one if you've ever touched the pressure line on your P/S by mistake.

[KrustyKruiser]

PS fluid coolers are a great idea - it's amazing how hot the steering system gets on the trail pushing big tires around in rocks, etc. I think that most steering box/pump failure is caused by overheating. The extra fluid capacity of the cooler can only help. I am adding a high-efficiency cooler (getting it from Georg - Orangefj45) to help out my system. Adding a small, 12v computer fan to the cooler is real easy and cheap ($5 from the local supply house). Just my 2 cents

Andy

[dd113]

For any type of trail riding a cooler is essential. Any tranny cooler can work. A good 4 row will set you up right. For a DD not a big deal.

[Cruzilla]

I'm useing a ps cooler from a chevy s10 blaser, its a two tube cooler lots of copper fins 14" long and 2.5" tall and about 1.25" deep, works great and mounts infront of the grill (outside of rig) just fine and you can hardly see it.

[cruiserhead2]

Originally posted by Cruzilla
I'm useing a ps cooler from a chevy s10 blaser, its a two tube cooler lots of copper fins 14" long and 2.5" tall and about 1.25" deep, works great and mounts infront of the grill (outside of rig) just fine and you can hardly see it.

what year is the blazer that it is out of?????
how much would i cst roughly......just so i can get an idea.
thanks again
-m

[Cruzilla]

Its out of a late model 88-90 Chev S-10 Blaser, it cost me around 10 bucks or so, it mounts between the grill and body on the doner rig on the drivers side.

-Scott

[chef]

I've been using ford tempo auto tranny coolers with good success. $5 at pic-n-pull...

[texican]

Late 80's to mid 90's Ford Taurus/Merc Sable ton's of them in boneyards.
Got about 20 of them in service

[chef]

Yessir, that's the same part as the tempo...going the taurus route, find one with the front bumper already off or you'll be there for a while

[Slowerthanu]

I am using a 4 row unit from summit, works great and I have noticed a differance while out and about.

[cruiserhead2]

so i think i'll go with the trany cooler out of the tempo ar the cooler out of the blazer depending on which one is easier to extract from the car.

do i have to adapt any of the hose fittings to match w/ the trany cooler.

thanks
-m

[RUFF]

I understand that cooler oil is better but have any of you guys that are running coolers realy noticed a difference from before and after the cooler was installed?
I just wonder wether its realy going to make my steering noticably better if i install one. I am pushing for space allready in front of my radiator and dont want to make room if im not going to get a noticable benifit.

[wngrog]

Originally posted by RUFF
I understand that cooler oil is better but have any of you guys that are running coolers realy noticed a difference from before and after the cooler was installed?
I just wonder wether its realy going to make my steering noticably better if i install one. I am pushing for space allready in front of my radiator and dont want to make room if im not going to get a noticable benifit.

Well, I noticed that my P/S did not BOIL OVER once I installed the cooler

I would say that was better.

Hell, they are too cheap not to use them, but if you are not having problems now, I don't think a cooler will make your steering any better.

[chef]

Running out of room in front of the radiator? I just mounted mine on the inside fender where there was still some air flow. Not optimal, but better than nothing. I notice no difference in steering ability, but as Nolen said, it no longer boils over and smells like fire

[kling-on]

i used the radiator off of an old fridge on my J**P worked great and was FREE from the side of the road just cut out 2 rows of it and flushed it with carb cleaner and ran with it i killed 3 pumps in a year before that none after you do the math ... redneck bootyfab ... i need one on the 60 , i think it gets harder to steer after you drive a bit i think the pumps going out

[BAJowett]

If you want to stay with Toyota parts, you can use the lines and transfer case cooler from an automatic transmission equipped 85 - 95 truck or 4-Runner. The lines have the same threads and fitting types, various hard and soft, they can make for a nice oem look cooler. BTW, they mount underneather the truck on the frame, by the front drive shaft.

[2Dogs]

I installed one to try to cure a problem - my PS will quit working after extended use in 4wd. Haven't tested it out yet but I hope that it gives me more time before I need to do pump mods.....

And it is not gonna hurt to add a PS cooler. My car came with one from the factory.

[CaverInaCruiser]

Woo-hoo. Good thing I made that call.

I am in process of installing PS, (saginaw) and I put the cooler in as a matter of part of doing the project. I put in the Checker Aluminium cooler. looks neet sitting in front of my radiator. Though, I am a little concerned about airflow for the engine coolant. Well, we will see how things go. My truck gague reads in the DEAD MIDDLE of the gauge.

Now, for saginaw PS, do I put in ATF (Like in Toyota PS) or PS fluid?

[glfredrick]

I found a nice single tube w/fins model on many full-sized Ford cars... Also Ford has a nice trans cooler that is the plate style - stonger and perhaps more efficient, on many of the areostar vans. Very compact unit that would work great for PS cooler.

I mounted mine on the drivers side radiator support on my 86 Ranger. Right behind the charcoal canister. Used the same bracket for the canister, used a hole-saw to cut an air hole out to the grill area. Works sweet!

Also, found that a lot of full-sized Lincolns have the Saginaw PS pump...

[dieselcruiserhead]

Do you plumb it after the pump or the box? And what about using fittings, are most coolers (like the $20 jobber from Summit) setup with bungs for fittings?

[Eric]

I put mine between the steering box and the pump on the return line (low pressure side). I just used hose clamps to hold the hoses on.

[Mr McGee]

i used one from a bronco II....works splendid.

[BJ On Roids]

Originally posted by wngrog


Well, I noticed that my P/S did not BOIL OVER once I installed the cooler

I would say that was better.

Hell, they are too cheap not to use them, but if you are not having problems now, I don't think a cooler will make your steering any better.

Ruff, a lot of these guys run a ram assist, the valve in the box heats the oil a lot more in a ram assist setup, than a stock setup, hard to explain but i think the OEM cooler would be fine if you are not runing ram assist.

If space is your primary issue, I have seen one mounted on an inner guard with its own small electrical fan. Nolen has his auto cooler there I think?!?!

The cooler fluid is not so much the advantage, as the additional capacity. The time taken to heat that additional capacity of fluid can greatly affect the steering in that the fluid will stay cooler for longer. I think maybe just use the OEM cooler, like off a 70 series, or 60 series, as they are just a steel pipe which goes along the chassis in front of your radiator around and then back, use one of them (no space taken up) and one of those kubota fuel tanks, for a reservoir

You cna see the OEM cooler running along the front crossmember in this picture. Hell with the 5Litre tank you probably wouldnt need this.