Power steering cooler?

[peaktorque]

My 'U' bend is leaking (again ). It leaks onto the exhaust joint whilst resting in my garage during the week and finds its way into the exhaust system and burns off once the exhaust is hot. Quite embarrassing (blue) smoke from exhaust booting it away from the 'infamous' Homebase' traffic lights and down M20 slip road (there's a good high speed roundabout leading to that )

It soon clears once it's burnt off though so I'm happy it's not an angry engine

My fluid is manky brown coloured, despite being changed 7 months ago (when I renewed the hoses). I want it to stay pink.

Now I know that a filter would be sensible but I was thinking that a cooler wouldn't hurt. I was going to get a proper pipe made up at Pirtek with decent joints on the 'U', but maybe I could add a cooler to that pipe work to ahead of the rad (I'm quite handy with copper pipe and benders). That leaking pipe is on the LP side is it not?

I am partial to a trackday or two so the steering does a decent workout and the colour of the PSF does hint at a bit of burning. A lot of modern cars have them (even vans), so they must offer a benefit.

Thoughts?

[NZ fan]

Hi James, That would be a good idea if it was the return pipe back to the reservoir but unfortunately it is not. It is the feed line to the pump hence the diameter of it. Im thinking a restriction in that line (like a cooler and all the plumbing) would starve the pump. However a cooler on the return line from the rack back to reservoir couldn't be viewed as a bad idea.

[Hedgehopper]

I've used this kit and it works extremely well....no leaks at all.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/parts-and-p...

Have also seen posts regarding fitting a Magnefine Auto Transmission filter but can't find a UK supplier.



Hope the above help.

[SteveSPG]

there are a few small coolers that would suit....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-E46-diesel-fuel-cool...

i know chaps have used these before to good effect.

Edited by SteveSPG on Tuesday 8th October 13:04

on mine i fitted a heat exchanger on the rad pipework, so the ps fluid is cooled there. prior to that the pas pipes were rather too hot to touch, whereas now they're ok.

Edited by SteveSPG on Tuesday 8th October 13:07

[peaktorque]

SteveSPG said:

there are a few small coolers that would suit....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-E46-diesel-fuel-cool...

i know chaps have used these before to good effect.

Edited by SteveSPG on Tuesday 8th October 13:04

on mine i fitted a heat exchanger on the rad pipework, so the ps fluid is cooled there. prior to that the pas pipes were rather too hot to touch, whereas now they're ok.

Edited by SteveSPG on Tuesday 8th October 13:07

I like the look of that