Power Steering Cooler Location???

[Squidog]

Putting the finishing touches on the power steering plumbing, but have come to a point of where to plumb in the power steering cooler.

I am using a Heidts valve on the steering with my question being do I put the cooler between the rack and the valve or after the valve???

Putting between the rack and the valve simplifies plumbing (cooler mounted to radiator), but it makes more sense to me to put it on the return to the pump so that it cools all fluid?

What have people done with similar setup? Any Pictures?

Again Thanks in advance!

Squid

[Jack Wojack]

I used the Ford Performance parts aluminum radiator that as a cooling circuit for an automatic transmission. I ran my P/S lines through it. Worked out well the fittings on the radiator end tank are on the left side (viewed from engine bay) just over the fittings on the power steering rack .

Jack

[akdreamer23]

Im using the oil cooler in the lower cowling. I have it plumbed in the return line after the heidt's valve and dumping cool fluid in to the return reservoir on the pump.

[akdreamer23]

The low pressure side of the heidts valve (return) from the HB unit and the return from the PS rack are t'd together, then through the oil cooler, then to the reservoir (all low pressure side.

[ROADRACER83]

Originally Posted by Squidog

Putting the finishing touches on the power steering plumbing, but have come to a point of where to plumb in the power steering cooler.

I am using a Heidts valve on the steering with my question being do I put the cooler between the rack and the valve or after the valve???

Putting between the rack and the valve simplifies plumbing (cooler mounted to radiator), but it makes more sense to me to put it on the return to the pump so that it cools all fluid?

What have people done with similar setup? Any Pictures?

Again Thanks in advance!

Squid

Squid: You have to put the cooler between the rack and the pump or in your case the return line to the Heidts valve or from the valve to the pump. That is the low pressure side of the circuit. My read on the valve is that it may actually add heat to the fluid itself because of the design. It recirculates the fluid depending on the valve setting and it will send hot fluid back to the pump. So I would put the cooler between the valve and the pump to lower the fluid temp before it gets to the pump reservoir. You are trying to lower the pump temperature. I'm thinking that the lower the fluid temp in the reservoir the longer the pump will live and the rack will see lower temps also.

Ron

[Squidog]

Thanks guys,

Putting the cooler between the Heidt vlave (low Pressure return) and the pump was my opinion as well to assure that the fluid is the coolest, the issue for me was the plumbing, as I have the vlave and pump near the front of the engine and the cooler near the front of the radiator. Was hoping to limit the amount of lines.

Thanks for the input on ohters location for the cooler, but has anyone put it any where differently then the front cowl/radiator area? Agian the hope was to reduce the amount of plumbing. I guess my better option would be to mocve the valve closer to the radiator???

Its all a big puzzle......but thats what I like...

[CraigS]

I have my cooler hanging in the bottom opening of the "X" brace on the rear surface of the brace. It's probably 25% covered by the brace but seems to work well anyway.

[MPTech]

Do you need a cooler if you aren't planning to auto-x?

Is it needed for all model years?

[JKleiner]

Originally Posted by MPTech

Do you need a cooler if you aren't planning to auto-x?

No.

Jeff

[GWL]

The greater the temperature difference between the cooler and the ambient temperature around the cooler the greater the heat transfer.

As Ron stated, I also believe the Heidt valve adds heat to the fluid and thus the fluid will be the hottest after the Heidt valve on its return to the reservoir.





George

[bobcat]

mounted my cooler just to the right of the remote filter on the x-member. first welded a upper and lower mount with 4 threaded studs which the cooler slips in to.

Bob

[steno]

Removed the remote filter and put a cooler in its place

[rich grsc]

The valve DOESNT add any heat to the fluid. The fluid is heated when it is pressurized by the pump. The valve opens to bypass the fluid, thus lowering the pressure, lower pressure less heat. Say it adds heat doesnt make sense, does cutting the spring add heat?

[GWL]

Originally Posted by rich grsc

The valve DOESNT add any heat to the fluid. The fluid is heated when it is pressurized by the pump. The valve opens to bypass the fluid, thus lowering the pressure, lower pressure less heat. Say it adds heat doesnt make sense, does cutting the spring add heat?

Rich,

I think you and I have had this discussion before and you may be right. I just can't help thinking that the fluid being pushed/forced through a small opening, in the Heidt valve, doesn't create some heat.

I would agree that cutting the spring lessens pressure and lessens heat but only because it is easier to push the fluid through the opening controlled by the spring.

George

[Squidog]

CraigS and Bobcat,

Do you have any pictures of your mounting techniques?

I have the cooler but the only mounting method suppiled was to attache it directly to the radiator. I like Craig S location, but interested on how you secured it.

Thanks on advance.

Squid