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Power Steering Coolers
Most power steering coolers will require very few tools to replace. Most will need a drain pan to catch the fluid leaking out when the hoses are disconnected, along with some rags to clean up any fluid that gets spilled outside of the drain pan. It’s important when disconnecting the hoses that the vehicle engine is off, otherwise the power steering pump will push all of the fluid out at a rapid pace and you will make quite the mess.
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.
Let’s talk about the power steering cooler location. Power steering coolers will usually have very similar placement from one model of vehicle to the next. Considering the size and style of the cooler often comes in to play when engineers are designing vehicles that require a cooler. Most of the time the power steering cooler will be placed at the front of the vehicle directly behind the grill. This is most often called “first air” because it is in front of all other components.
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All vehicles that require a power steering cooler for normal driving conditions will have one installed during production. However, some people use their vehicle different from what the initial designers had in mind, resulting in the need to install an aftermarket power steering cooler. If this is the case for your situation you will want to mount the power steering cooler in an area free of obstructions, and mount it tight enough to reduce vibration. If the aftermarket cooler comes with an installation kit, review the instructions. Most of them will suggest you mount the cooler in front of the AC condenser utilizing included clips.
Some power steering coolers are mounted above an air dam. If that is the case, it is important that the air dam remain in place. Often times oil change locations or vehicle owners may remove the air dam to perform an oil change and think the vehicle does not require it for operation and discard it. Removal of the air dam will result in changes to the air flow, potentially causing the power steering cooler to not operate as designed. In addition to the air dam problem, sometimes power steering coolers are mounted to the grill of a vehicle. If a customer chooses to replace the factory grill with an aftermarket grill that does not include the mounting points for the power steering cooler, it is very important to get the cooler as close to its original position as possible.
Power Steering Q & A > Where Is? > Where Do You Mount a Power Steering Cooler?
Where Do You Mount a Power Steering Cooler
Power steering coolers mounting locations are often engineered by the vehicle manufacturer to determine the most efficient location. Typically, this position will be in the area known as the “First Air” location. This location is important because there are no fans to draw heat from the power steering cooler, so they utilize the ambient air prior to it going through the air conditioning condenser, or the coolant radiator. The size and location of the power steering cooler is determined by engineering to maximize efficiency and cool the fluid to the required operating temperature under normal driving conditions.
