Info needed: Today I was driving up a grass

[Tackelbarry]

hill, approx.50-60 degree incline and as I crested the top and began to turn, my power steering pump began to whine and the steering got stiff. I got my rig on level ground, turned it off, and checked the power steering fluid. It showed full. I started my rig and the whine was gone. I drove it home with no more whine or problem. Any ides why this would happen? My rig is a 1993 LC. Thanks in advance, Scott

['74 UA FJ]

Do you have diff locks? Was your front diff locked going up the hill?



Maybe you had an air pocket in the pump.

[ArmyFJ]

How old is the fluid? not to divert the topic but 50 to 60 deg incline is pretty freaking steep you sure it was that much of a grade?

[Tackelbarry]

Yeah, it was real steep! I did not have the center diff locked but did have it in 1st gear. I was climbing the sloped side of a dam that holds water in a very large pond. Now that I look back on it, it was definately one of those, "Hey ya'll watch this". LOL! I have been driving my rig for the rest of the day and no whine or stiff steering. I have had a couple of shops look at a slow "oil leak"and both thought it was a power steering pump leak. But the resivoir has not lost any fluid? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks again. Scott

[ArmyFJ]

I would guess then that all the fluid was in the back of the reservoir and could not get to the pump and you were sucking in a little air. Even a little bit of air in there will make it sound awful. How dark is your fluid?

[Tools R Us]

Originally Posted by ArmyFJ

I would guess then that all the fluid was in the back of the reservoir and could not get to the pump and you were sucking in a little air. Even a little bit of air in there will make it sound awful. How dark is your fluid?

X2

The reservoir isn't deep enough, when you stand the rig up on the rear bumper the system sucks some air, when back on the flat it bleeds out and works fine. I have had limited success with slightly overfilling, allows a little more angle, but is more prone to leaking out the cap. The fix would be to change the reservoir for a larger/deeper one.

[Tackelbarry]

The fluid does not appear to dark, almost gold in color, but I have not had it replaced. When I checked it, it did appear to have small bubbles in the resivoir.

[ArmyFJ]

Gold? Its supposed to be light light red. Its ATF. You might want to change it out. But I don't think that caused your problem. As stated above, your crazy angle of driving is the likely culprit.

[Tackelbarry]

After I wrote my last reply, I thought about the color and you are definately right. I will change the fluid. Also, Iam going to do the same climb just so I can get a picture. It was very short but got the adrenaline and pucker factor up. Thanks for the info. Scott

[Hilux]

Aren't you possed to check the AT and the PS with the engine running?

Just checking, even though I doubt it'll make enough difference.

[IdahoDoug]

Original fluid in the 80 PS was not red - gold. Tranny fluid can be used IIRC, but originally it was filled with ps fluid and that's what Toyota recommends.

DougM

[ArmyFJ]

Fair enough, but my cap says "fill with Dexron type ATF"

[anderaa13]

Originally Posted by Hilux

Aren't you possed to check the AT and the PS with the engine running?

Just checking, even though I doubt it'll make enough difference.

not the power steering.

[Tools R Us]

Originally Posted by ArmyFJ

Fair enough, but my cap says "fill with Dexron type ATF"

This is true, but the original factory fill is hydraulic oil. Mine has Mobil DTE light in it. ATF is hydraulic oil with additives, like dye to change the color, friction modifiers and detergents to deal with the clutches, etc. In a pure hydraulic system these would be considered contaminants. Toyota probably recommends ATF because it will work and it's more readily available in an automotive shop. In my experience good hydraulic oil works better, much less likely to cavatate, make noise than ATF in a pure hydraulic system.

[ecameron87]

I have had the same problem with mine. I asked about it here.

I have since replaced my power steering pump and did a complete flush with ATF fluid. I still have problems on steep inclines and a little while afterwards. I don't think it has anything to do with the front locker. I really think that at steep angles, air gets in the lines. Has anybody ever replaced the reservoir with a deeper one?

[Tools R Us]

Originally Posted by ecameron87

... Has anybody ever replaced the reservoir with a deeper one?

I plan to, will probably go with something like this;

Power Steering Vertical Mounted Reservoir Tanks

[Atoyot1031]

Originally Posted by ecameron87

I have had the same problem with mine. I asked about it here.

I have since replaced my power steering pump and did a complete flush with ATF fluid. I still have problems on steep inclines and a little while afterwards. I don't think it has anything to do with the front locker. I really think that at steep angles, air gets in the lines. Has anybody ever replaced the reservoir with a deeper one?

x2 Moab keeps me checking if I turned my front locker off. This explanation makes sense though.

Originally Posted by Tools R Us

I plan to, will probably go with something like this;

Power Steering Vertical Mounted Reservoir Tanks

I'll be very curious to see how this works out. Please post up when the time comes!

[Atoyot1031]

Sorry for the back-to-back posts, but I had a couple other thoughts.

Originally Posted by Tackelbarry

Yeah, it was real steep! I did not have the center diff locked but did have it in 1st gear.

Scott, not to be assuming, but if your CDL wasn't locked, then were you not in low range? Any kinda climb like that definitely warrants the use of low range, and your CDL (if not F&R depending on terrain and how the vehicle is equipped).

Originally Posted by Tools R Us

This is true, but the original factory fill is hydraulic oil. Mine has Mobil DTE light in it. ATF is hydraulic oil with additives, like dye to change the color, friction modifiers and detergents to deal with the clutches, etc. In a pure hydraulic system these would be considered contaminants. Toyota probably recommends ATF because it will work and it's more readily available in an automotive shop. In my experience good hydraulic oil works better, much less likely to cavatate, make noise than ATF in a pure hydraulic system.

I'd really like to hear the shaman's opinion on this matter...(insert bowing smiley face).

[Tackelbarry]

No I was not in low range. Basically, the terrain was grass covered with some pine straw. I was in 4 wheel high but had the gear selector in 1st gear. My power steering fluid seams to be very sudsy, alot of small bubbles each time I check it. Is it relatively easy to drain and add new fluid? Can anyone that has done it give a step-by-step. I was going up another incline today, probably only 25-30 degrees and the same whining occured. Thanks again, Scott

[Tools R Us]

Originally Posted by Tackelbarry

No I was not in low range. Basically, the terrain was grass covered with some pine straw. I was in 4 wheel high but had the gear selector in 1st gear. My power steering fluid seams to be very sudsy, alot of small bubbles each time I check it. Is it relatively easy to drain and add new fluid? Can anyone that has done it give a step-by-step. I was going up another incline today, probably only 25-30 degrees and the same whining occured. Thanks again, Scott

The fluid needs to be changed, even more so if you wheel, it gets beat up pretty good. It's a pretty simple process, takes longer to type out or read about than to do. This is the method that I use;

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...ing-fluid.html

[Atoyot1031]

Originally Posted by Tackelbarry

No I was not in low range. Basically, the terrain was grass covered with some pine straw. I was in 4 wheel high but had the gear selector in 1st gear.

Scott, do your driveline a favor and use low for situations like this. This advice is meant in a nice, informative way. Besides, that transfer case is an expensive piece of equipment, best to get your money's worth out of it. Lastly, your torque converter will thank you as well!
Nick

[Cj80cruiser]

Originally Posted by Tackelbarry

The fluid does not appear to dark, almost gold in color, but I have not had it replaced. When I checked it, it did appear to have small bubbles in the resivoir.

Mine is a brownish/goldish color. I'm changing mine with the turkey baster method.

[Tackelbarry]

I really do appreciate all of the advice and input. That was pretty "boneheaded" to try to take that grade without going into 4 low and engaging the CDL. I have a 1993 repair manual that I have read since my last post and plan on changing the fluid tommorrow, weather permitting. After I change the fluid, I will do the climb again (in 4 low and CDL) and report back. Thanks again for all of the advice and input. This forum has alot of great people who take the time to contribute, which I genuinely appreciate.

[Cj80cruiser]

Originally Posted by Tackelbarry

I really do appreciate all of the advice and input. That was pretty "boneheaded" to try to take that grade without going into 4 low and engaging the CDL. I have a 1993 repair manual that I have read since my last post and plan on changing the fluid tommorrow, weather permitting. After I change the fluid, I will do the climb again (in 4 low and CDL) and report back. Thanks again for all of the advice and input. This forum has alot of great people who take the time to contribute, which I genuinely appreciate.

Not putting your truck in 4 Lo is not "boneheaded". I would have done the same thing.....Wait a minute........maybe I'm "boneheaded"

[e9999]

I do realize this is not the point of the thread and don't want to hammer on you, but for newbs maybe wondering, I feel compelled to add that the 50-60 degrees part seems highly unlikely to me, especially in High with CDL unlocked on grass and if it's anything more than a short distance that can be gunned through with inertia.

60%, yes...

Must be like when you're skiing, all the runs look vertical....

[reffug]

Originally Posted by e9999

I do realize this is not the point of the thread and don't want to hammer on you, but for newbs maybe wondering, I feel compelled to add that the 50-60 degrees part seems highly unlikely to me, especially in High with CDL unlocked on grass and if it's anything more than a short distance that can be gunned through with inertia.

60%, yes...

Must be like when you're skiing, all the runs look vertical....

When your used to wheeling in your yard its understandable how you could think this........