Power steering cooler thought

[laserjock]

So driving down the road tonight, random thought occurred to me. I was originally going to plumb my power steering /hydroboost into the radiator where the trans would plumb in. Since I'm manual I don't need the trans cooler. I ran across a post where I think it was bikemaker that said he tried it and had issues with flow if memory serves. I had bought a PS cooler a while back when I was having issues to solve plumbing issues more than anything. I thought to myself wow, now would be the time to install that sucker. Well, I'm an idiot. It's way too small to be useful. So I got to thinking. I see guys run trans coolers in parallel all the time. Why couldn't I T into the stock cooler and run a parallel line to the radiator?? That would solve any flow issues. It would give the system a little more capacity and it should help shed a little heat out of the system even if it's not full flow.

I guess the other option is to mount that other baby cooler somewhere so it's not dumping anymore heat into the radiator. That's really my only concern.

What does anyone think? Am I just crazy?

 

[79jasper]

Have you looked at the 6.0 PSD power steering cooler?

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[Macrobb]

They also make these little aux transmission coolers for like $50 which could be used.

That being said, have you put a temp gauge on your ps fluid? Does it need any extra cooling, or does it stay in an 'optimal' range?

 

[OLDBULL8]

When bikemaker used the radiator for cooling his PS fluid, did he open up the trans. radiator input fitting ?

The input fitting hole size is very small, it's designed like an orifice to maintain the trans pump PSI., doubling the hole size is equal to four times the original flow. The PS return flow is almost Zero PSI or very little, so the trans fitting wall can be pretty thin.

 

[franklin2]

The trucks from the factory already have a "cooler" for the power steering. It's that loop of steel line mounted on front of the front crossmember. I know it doesn't look very impressive, but it must work if they went to the trouble at the factory to install it.

 

[laserjock]

When bikemaker used the radiator for cooling his PS fluid, did he open up the trans. radiator input fitting ?

The input fitting hole size is very small, it's designed like an orifice to maintain the trans pump PSI., doubling the hole size is equal to four times the original flow. The PS return flow is almost Zero PSI or very little, so the trans fitting wall can be pretty thin.

I kinda wondered that too Bill. The rad cooler is designed for pressure from the pump. The PS is just the return flow.

 

[towcat]

the radiator trans cooler is intentionally designed to slow down the flow for max heat transfer. you need flow for the PS cooler.

 

[laserjock]

The trucks from the factory already have a "cooler" for the power steering. It's that loop of steel line mounted on front of the front crossmember. I know it doesn't look very impressive, but it must work if they went to the trouble at the factory to install it.

True. I guess the question is what did the F-superduties use? The steel loop is bound to be better than nothing for sure. Probably just overthinking it. Running synthetic fluid it's probably fine regardless.

 

[riotwarrior]

I dunno I have a filter and a cooler plumbed into my setup....look in blue ox build to see it.

 

[morgankshaw]

True. I guess the question is what did the F-superduties use? The steel loop is bound to be better than nothing for sure. Probably just overthinking it. Running synthetic fluid it's probably fine regardless.

I pulled my entire hydroboost system pedals and all off an 89 superduty. It used the same metal loop on the cross member that my f350 has.


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[Macrobb]

I pulled my entire hydroboost system pedals and all off an 89 superduty. It used the same metal loop on the cross member that my f350 has.

One of the advantages of that metal loop is that it's not just a metal loop... it's a metal loop that is attached right to the frame crossmember. So some of your heat dissipation is not metal to air, it's metal to metal, into the frame which then dissipates it to the surrounding air.

 

[79jasper]

Really?
Mine 94 psd has those plastic clips that are supposed to keep it lifted off. Lol
Used to be one piece with the cross member with gunk though.

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[Thewespaul]

I have the same plastic clips on our f-superduty, I haven't noticed any issue with temps so maybe you're just overthinking it although everyone's usage and application is different

 

[laserjock]

The older ones are metal clips. They hold it off the crossmember a touch. I think I'll leave it alone for now. It's really easy to cut the steel line and add the Ts if I want to at some point.

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

The F-450's is just the same.I've never added one to log truck.I did place a small one on the return loop under the hood of chip truck,though probably not needed either.

Of course if I thought I needed it,I could run longer lines and mount it out in the grill.

Amazon.com: Hayden Automotive 1009 Power Steering Oil Cooler

For less than 20 bucks,just grab one and put it in Mike.It's not going to hurt anything and will help ya sleep better.
That said,look at all the 20-30 yr old F-450's that are probably on their oem pumps still.The ones that did fail likely just wore out long before heat killed them,so.......