Boiling PS fluid

[touge_ae101]

so after manfeild on the weekend i noticed everytime i came back in my PS bottle was boiling over. happened everytime.

just wondering if anybody else has had this problem? i still have the ae101 steering rack mated to the blacktop PS pump so maybe there is a compatibility issue there perhaps?

i would hate for it cut out when i need it driving hard or anything. is it something i should look into fixing or just learn to except it? PS cooler is a bit overboard i think especially when you look at the price of fittings!!

[Snaps]

Could just be old/already burnt fluid, have you had a look at the fluid recently? Should not be black, should also not smell burnt.

[matt dunn]

A lot of race cars that run PS run a PS cooler,
and a proper oil cooler too,
not just a loop pipe like lots of cars come with from factory.

[d1 mule]

iv got a factory rb25det stagea trans oil cooler you can have for $20 if ya like (converted my car to manual steering).you dont need fittings, you put the cooler on the low pressure side just cut the hose and hose clips. sorted

[touge_ae101]

thanks for the replies.

fluid is brand new only 3months old. got a complete flush when i did my engine conversion.

might be worth looking into a PS cooler then i suppose. just need to try find some space to put it.

cheers for the offer d1 mule, i will get back to you a bit later in the week.

[allencr]

Boiling, like over 150C & smoking away ready to catch fire, or just aerated & foaming & overflowing?

[Leon]

I wouldn't have thought a standard 20v should be boiling fluid. Maybe for some reason you're spinning the pump too fast .... your car was originally not a 20v. Maybe there is something different in the pulley size between the 16v and the 20v?

Bit of a longshot, but that's the only thing I can think of.

I've run my Corolla all day long at Manfeild and never had any power steering hiccups. [puzzled]

[CAMB01]

My EVO has a loop pipe in the front for the power steering.
Chelles' Mirage runs a proper cooler for the power steering from the factory but RS models only.
She has problems every now and again with the fluid leaking out of the resevoir due to high rpm running, generally over 8000rpm.

[touge_ae101]

Boiling, like over 150C & smoking away ready to catch fire, or just aerated & foaming & overflowing?

well wasn't too keen to touch it but looked like it was boiling and it was overflowing.

I wouldn't have thought a standard 20v should be boiling fluid. Maybe for some reason you're spinning the pump too fast .... your car was originally not a 20v. Maybe there is something different in the pulley size between the 16v and the 20v?

yeah it is a bit of a strange one cause i thought it was a bit odd. nah before it had a 4afe in it but it shouldn't matter about pulley size as i'm running the 20V pump. perhaps only difference could be difference in pressure to the steering rack or the 4afe steering rack being too restrictive and heating up fluid.
steering feels normal for a 20V though it is quite hard (would assume less pressure then) but that is quite normal for a 20V + i have a small steering wheel.

[1I1]

might be worth looking into a PS cooler then i suppose. just need to try find some space to put it.

You car has tons of room infront of the radiator!

[touge_ae101]

that is a long way to run some extra pipes from the PS resoivor. if i was going to run a cooler then it would be inline and probably want it just above the steering rack. tucked out of the way nicely.

[gmacrae]

bin the power steering, sorted

[touge_ae101]

i still drive it to uni everyday and want to keep it that way.

or else yes i would.

[gmacrae]

it'll drive fine without the ps, you're arms get used to it in a week or two, plus you'll shed quite a few kgs with all that crap gone. I ditched the ps on my fxgt, do roughly 70kms around town in it every day for work. If you ditch the aircon too, it means you can mill the front pulley off the crank pulley to save even more weight/rotating mass and have only 1 small belt on the front of the motor (alt / waterpump)

[metal_sean_head]

DOOO ITTTT!!!

[gmacrae]

pull the belt off and try it for a couple weeks

[touge_ae101]

hmm might be a bit tempted. how much does a manual steering rack go for?

aircon is already gone and getting rid of extra weight does sounds promising...

i have heard that manual steering makes SFA difference on the track and can sometimes be a pain if driven daily. i'll have a think bout it.

[gmacrae]

dont change the steering rack, keep the PS one. Loop a small piece of PS hose from inlet to outlet on the rack with a bit of fluid left in there. If you change to a manual rack, the steering speed will change (more turns lock to lock).

once you're at speed (50+), it feels better than PS, when putting round town its definitely a lot harder at first, but your arms will get used to it pretty quick. Costs nothing to pull the PS/AC belt off for a couple of weeks to try it

[Leon]

If you fit an angry LSD, and run an agressive wheel alignment, you will be wanting PS.

Especially if you end up doing hillclimbs and stuff.

Ask "PC" here how much fun his AE82 was without power steering (he put it back in again).

[sergei]

If you fit an angry LSD, and run an agressive wheel alignment, you will be wanting PS.

Especially if you end up doing hillclimbs and stuff.

Ask "PC" here how much fun his AE82 was without power steering (he put it back in again).

+1 Power Steer is very useful especially with lots of caster.

EDIT: Corrected my bad spelling.