cold power steering

[3bears]

wow, so the weather service figures , with wind, im at anywhere from -40 to -50. This morning and for the first 15 minutes of my drive , it felt like driving a car with no power steering. It even warmed up for 10 minutes before driving.
My last 4runner I had switched to all synthetic before moving to alaska 3 years ago, I never felt such stiff steering, this one, recently purchased I have no idea what is in it and with the crap maintaince this had, prob has p/s fluid in it and not dex3. Betting the synthetic makes that difference.
Some people even get their power steering lines replaced with custom built artic tuff rubber

Guess Ill be doing a p/s fluid flush in the near future, and clean the resavoir screen while at it, just need to order the O ring and wiat till I can borrow a garage.

currently outside, -22 not including the wind that is blowing....
Luckily this cold spell is only here for a few more days, then back to our normal temps of about -10 to +10

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I use synthetic ATF+4


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[Zingvs]

Damn that is cold as hell.:wow2: Makes me appreciate the 60° days here in Arizona.

 

[Kanoe]

-40 here last week as well with no wind.

I use the amsoil signature synthetic atf and have no worries. Of course that’s in the corolla as the 4Runner is in storage but same thing. 4Runner has it too but she’s sleeping.

At least the days are getting longer.

 

[3bears]

-40 here last week as well with no wind.

I use the amsoil signature synthetic atf and have no worries. Of course that’s in the corolla as the 4Runner is in storage but same thing.

At least the days are getting longer.

thought you would chime in....mean that in a good way.

yep its chilly but days are getting longer
looking forward to warmer weather....

wont do a "flush" yet, but gonna suck it out and put in some synthetic and repeat a couple of times, but wont clean the screen till spring....and wont count as a real "flush" till then.

 

[lawrencesam74]

I need to do a flush as well, what is the PN for the o ring?

 

[3bears]

I need to do a flush as well, what is the PN for the o ring?

havent looked it up yet, but its listed in mtbtm video on doing the power steering flush ( you tube). look up 3rd gen power steering flush.
he also shows how to clean the often neglected screen that when clogged makes the pump work real hard and loud.

 

[Bad Luck]

i need to do a flush as well, what is the pn for the o ring?

90301-11016

 

[96RedRunner]

[MENTION=124615]3bears[/MENTION], I only visit those temps anymore when I lived in them used what the locals used.
DexIII a no-go I'd say, happens for a minute at 20*F after screen clean and fluid exchange in June I start n go.

 

[JLTD]

I have had several vehicles that got more difficult to steer when it was cold. Over time, the power steering fluid gets some impurities which attract moisture… That moisture of course turns into ice when it is cold.

In every case, fresh fluid in the power steering system took care of the cold weather steering issues.

Your idea of flushing, or at least draining and refilling several times, hopefully will take care of the problem.

 

[3bears]

[MENTION=124615]3bears[/MENTION], I only visit those temps anymore when I lived in them used what the locals used.
DexIII a no-go I'd say, happens for a minute at 20*F after screen clean and fluid exchange in June I start n go.

why do you say the dex 3 a no go.....just curious. unless your saying conventional ( non syn) dex 3. Picked up full syn dex/merc today.
wont be able to do a full flush, but hope whatever is in it mixes well, I suspect they have power steering fluid in it, as lots of the maintaince was just plain wrong. ( like the cheapest ac/delco single electrode plugs)

 

[shadow247]

My 99 Had PS Fluid run in it for years. When I finally flushed it (PO had it "flushed" about 5k before I got it) the fluid was nasty and not at all like ATF.

My steering was "hard" when the engine was cold, and would do the same thing. I suggest a few flushes first. Likely the fluid is just super old, hopefully they did not mix ATF and PS fluid.

 

[96RedRunner]

why do you say the dex 3 a no go.....just curious. unless your saying conventional.....

Dex3 conventional, sounds like Syn will do the trick Kanoe's a local.

 

[3bears]

Dex3 conventional, sounds like Syn will do the trick Kanoe's a local.

ok

so while not a full flush, did use a turkey baster to suck out fluid. Start truck, turn lock to lock, shut off, and suck out more. replacing each time. Did it about 4 times and about 3/4 of a quart. Still looking ugly, but too darn cold to do anymore. Hopefully that helps.

 

[96RedRunner]

[MENTION=124615]3bears[/MENTION], yea man every lil bit helps this stage of the game.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Every other oil change I usually suck the tank empty and refill it.


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[lawrencesam74]

90301-11016

Thank you!

 

[lawrencesam74]

So I did my flush the other day, and installed a magnefine 3/8" Power Steering/Transmission filter in between the return line just before the fitting that leads to the reservoir. It was a tight fit and I had to chop the return line by about 4" and had some leakage before I just went in there and just tightened the **** out of the hose clamps I had installed. I think this will be a good add on so that instead of ever pulling the reservoir like Timmy does in the video, I will just replace that filter in a couple of years.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

So I did my flush the other day, and installed a magnefine 3/8" Power Steering/Transmission filter in between the return line just before the fitting that leads to the reservoir. It was a tight fit and I had to chop the return line by about 4" and had some leakage before I just went in there and just tightened the **** out of the hose clamps I had installed. I think this will be a good add on so that instead of ever pulling the reservoir like Timmy does in the video, I will just replace that filter in a couple of years.

On plastic tank power steering pumps I hang a magnet off the dipstick.

 

[Brian.]

It even warmed up for 10 minutes before driving.

Bit of a topic deviation, but stop idling your vehicles cold... cold oil and low pump pressure (idle) don't do an engine good. Put on a block warmer, either the normal stick on pad, or my preference is for a coolant heater because then you have warm heater core too (though it gets cold if you don't have a rad blocked off). Was a must-have for -40 days and a diesel. Of course, those don't help if you don't have power...

I don't envy you right now... spent time in Nome, Bethel, los-Anchorage and Juneau doing Indian Health Service stuff and I get SAD when the sun doesn't get off the horizon.