cold power steering (1 Viewer)

[Benji]

Decided to start the truck this morning when it was 8 degrees F out.

It cranked right away, no problems.

However, for kicks, I opened the hood and noticed that the power steering fluid was purging (overflowing) from the power steering reservoir cap. It leaked for about a minute and stopped. Didn't loose too much fluid.

I have flipped the gasket on the cap and it seems o.k.

Any thoughts? Frozen water in the system?


Ideas?

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Benji,
I too had the same problem only it was a little warmer.About 20 degrees.When the truck got warmed up it went away.No ideas?So then.....
I noticed on the power steering reservoir on my old engine said
"USE DEXTRON TYPE ATF"
So I used my old differantial and and gearbox filler,the kind that look like a tube and and have a small hose on the end,to suck the old fluid out.I then refilled it with mercron/dextron type 3 and worked the steering wheel back and forth.I repeated this about 3 or 4 time to try to get most of the fluid out of the system. I just did that a little while ago.It seems to have made it stop.I will post in the morning after I start it when it has been sitting all night.Any thing that you can suck the old fluid out with will work(turkey baster mayber?) or just unhook the line on the side of the reservoir.
My theory is that the power steering fluid that I had was just to thick for cold climates and that tranny fluid is a little thinner therefore not working the pump as hard causing it whine and growl.
Hope that helps.Good luck,
-Rob

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Ok changed the fluid no more whinning or belly aching from it.Yee ha!

-Rob

 

[toyman317]

Toyota sells a really good PS system conditioner. Supposed to help the seals and such.

 

[Pete R]

You should also consider adding a good in-line magnetic filter to your P/S system. Take a look at bossproducts.us or broncograveyard.com

Improving the cleanliness of the P/S fluid will give you more miles on trails with fewer problems.

I have been using them for a few years with no problems.

Later.

 

[Tapage]

Actually yes .. the Land Cruiser owners manual claims for ATF type fluid for PS system .. My qhestion is .. why not PS fluid as is . ?

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

I have no clue but p/s fluid seems to make them whine when it's cold out.


-Rob