Shop Power Steering Parts Here:
Power Steering Coolers
How necessary is a power steering cooler? Well, if the vehicle came equipped with one from the manufacturer, they deemed it was necessary in order to maintain proper power steering fluid temperature. Power steering fluid has an operating temperature that is required to be maintained in order for power steering systems to operate as designed. If the fluid exceeds the intended operating temperature pre-mature failure and inconsistent power steering assist.
If a vehicle comes equipped from the manufacturer with a power steering cooler it is a necessary component. The cooler helps lower the temperature of the power steering fluid after it leaves the power steering gear box, or rack and pinion unit. The friction generated in the steering unit can generate enough heat to cause the steering fluid to rise above its operating temperature. This causes the fluid to become less viscous and diminish its ability to properly lubricate and cool the system. Power steering fluid that is above operating temperature can cause excess steering effort than the driver is used to, and become potentially dangerous. In addition to the fluid becoming too hot, the result can be the power steering pump and steering mechanism becoming overheated resulting in premature failure. Not all vehicles come from the manufacturer with a power steering cooler installed. The reason for this, is that during vehicle design testing it was determined a power steering cooler was not necessary. Only vehicles that run the risk of developing overheating power steering fluid come with a power steering fluid cooler from the manufacturer.
You want to know why a power steering cooler is important – we hear you. Let’s start with some background info on the purpose of a power steering cooler. Power steering systems generate heat through friction produced in both the power steering pump and either the steering gear or rack and pinion unit. In addition to the heat generated through the power steering system, heat is also generated due to its close proximity to the vehicles engine, which will operate at a much higher temperature than a power steering system. Keeping the temperature of the power steering fluid within specifications is crucial to maintaining proper power steering system function.
Related Articles
The reason power steering coolers are required is because engineers have determined that under normal operating conditions the power steering fluid on a vehicle exceeds the nominal operating temperature and must be cooled in order to prevent damage to the power steering system. The engineers determine how much of a temperature drop they need in order to reach that perfect operating temperature, and that is the reason there are so many different power steering coolers. It would be much easier to just produce one cooler overall and use it on all vehicles, but different pressures, fluid volumes, temperature differences, and space allowances require the engineering and designing of multiple different types and sizes of coolers.
You can see why it is important to designed power steering coolers to match and perform just like the OEM. Look for coolers that are identical in material, shape, style, size, and performance to the OEM parts. This is done in order to verify that the products perform at the level the original manufacturer had in mind.
We like to consider ourselves the experts when it comes to power steering coolers. If you have any power steering cooler questions, please connect with our technicians in our Ask the Experts forum.
Power Steering Q & A > What Is? > What is the Best Power Steering Cooler?
What is the Best Power Steering Cooler
The best power steering coolers are simply ones that function the way the OEM designed them to. We often see customers with universal coolers on vehicles that came from the manufacturer with a power steering cooler installed already. You may think they all serve the same purpose and there is no difference from one to the next, but power steering coolers serve a very specific purpose and are engineered to perform a job for a specific vehicle. For this reason, you cannot take your power steering cooler off your minivan and put it on your truck and expect it to work properly.
