Air cooled Power steering?

[2112]

There are quite a few air cooled Power steering "radiators out there.

Anyone try one in a marine application to reduce the heat load on incoming raw water therefore keeping the water cooler for the oil cooler and heat exchanger?
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[Trim'd Up]

I haven't tried it but I am going to if needed. I am not running a steering cooler at all on the new motor. I have only ran the boat for a couple of hours though. I have a transmission cooler laying in the garage I figured I would try before buying a new $100 cooler. I just can't wrap my head around what is so different in a boat vs. a car that requires a cooler at all. The only thing I can think of is RPM's.

 

[Airpacker]

Most modern cars HAVE power steering oil coolers of one form or another. Sometimes an actual small air to oil heat exchanger, sometimes jst a big loop of solid steel line but a cooler none the less.

 

[insanity]

It's not uncommon for some cars to run the power steering through the actual radiator as well. Although that may be more for when it is really cold out.

 

[2112]

I am looking for ways to keep my raw water as cold as possible to get the most cooling for oil and engine coolant. Without running a second set of unattractive and heavy water lines that is. My PS cooler is first in line after the strainer and I am not even sure how much heat it adds but I saw a wide variety of air coolers in the Summit catalog, both with and without fans.

I have often wondered just how hot the PS fluid gets???
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[Airpacker]

I rigged mine so oil cooler is first after the raw water pump, then fuel cooler, then ps cooler then into the engine. Keeping engine temp down doesn't appear to be a problem so far.

 

[2112]

I rigged mine so oil cooler is first after the raw water pump, then fuel cooler, then ps cooler then into the engine. Keeping engine temp down doesn't appear to be a problem so far.

My Oil cooler produces the most heat under hard runs. That is what I am trying to improve on most. I am unsure how much the PS cooler affects this. I guess I need to reroute and find out. :ack2:

BTW, I don't have a fuel cooler but I would have guessed that would come first to keep the fuel coldest and that it would warm the water the least. But What do I know, I can't get my oil cooled fast enough.

 

[insanity]

I am looking for ways to keep my raw water as cold as possible to get the most cooling for oil and engine coolant. Without running a second set of unattractive and heavy water lines that is. My PS cooler is first in line after the strainer and I am not even sure how much heat it adds but I saw a wide variety of air coolers in the Summit catalog, both with and without fans.

I have often wondered just how hot the PS fluid gets???
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Quickest way to find out would be to take an IR therm to the PS pump or even to the lines where they enter/exit the cooler (if you can get to them) after a long run and see what the temps are.

 

[2112]

Good suggestion. I have an infra red unit. :USA:
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[Trim'd Up]

Quickest way to find out would be to take an IR therm to the PS pump or even to the lines where they enter/exit the cooler (if you can get to them) after a long run and see what the temps are.

That was my plan for today. Unfortunately I left the IR thermometer at home.:cuss: I am doing something though. The power steering fluid gets hotter than I like for sure. I can touch it but I don't want to hold my hand to it for reall long.

 

[Airpacker]

My Oil cooler produces the most heat under hard runs. That is what I am trying to improve on most. I am unsure how much the PS cooler affects this. I guess I need to reroute and find out. :ack2:

BTW, I don't have a fuel cooler but I would have guessed that would come first to keep the fuel coldest and that it would warm the water the least. But What do I know, I can't get my oil cooled fast enough.

oooops, sorry, wrote that wrong.

Inlet to strainer to pump to fuel cooler to oil cooler to PS cooler to crossover inlet. I run a semi returnless FI system so the fuel cooler ( a mofidied PS cooler BTW) is a must for me.

 

[insanity]

Anybody ever get any temps? Curious to find out.

 

[sledge]

Cars don't need them because they mostly run low RPMs and aren't turning (loading the steering pump) constantly.

Throw 4000+ RPMs and working the steering wheel into the mix, and you'll likely boil the fluid.

 

[Trim'd Up]

Anybody ever get any temps? Curious to find out.

I never remembered to take my IR with me, but I figured out that running no cooler at all doesen't work out to well. I boiled the PS fluid all over my bilge after a 20-25 minute run between 4500 and 5000 rpm. I just went ahead and picked up a PS steering cooler. I have ran 30+ minutes at 3000-3500 rpms without boiling the fluid but the res. does get pretty hot to the touch.

 

[tunnelvision69]

2112 are you using water pickups in the drives? I had the same problem and the fix was to block off the top three holes on each side of the drive & open up the lower holes as well as angle the holes forward. this dropped my oil temps from 280 to 220-230 on a hard run. engine was not running hot. air was mixing with water & not letting the oil cooler work properly. hope this helps, mike

 

[insanity]

I never remembered to take my IR with me, but I figured out that running no cooler at all doesen't work out to well. I boiled the PS fluid all over my bilge after a 20-25 minute run between 4500 and 5000 rpm. I just went ahead and picked up a PS steering cooler. I have ran 30+ minutes at 3000-3500 rpms without boiling the fluid but the res. does get pretty hot to the touch.

So you learned the hard way? :sifone: That's alright, I've learned a few lessons that way myself.

 

[2112]

2112 are you using water pickups in the drives? I had the same problem and the fix was to block off the top three holes on each side of the drive & open up the lower holes as well as angle the holes forward. this dropped my oil temps from 280 to 220-230 on a hard run. engine was not running hot. air was mixing with water & not letting the oil cooler work properly. hope this helps, mike

I have low water pick ups in sportmaster shorties. I am installing air vents in the sea strainers as we speak. It was also suggested that I "port and polish" the intake holes on the sportmaster like you suggested.

I should know in a couple weeks.

PS I am having a custom transom pick-up made by CPPerformance in case this doesn't work or if I switch to a drive w/o water pick-ups.
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[old377guy]

My Oil cooler produces the most heat under hard runs. That is what I am trying to improve on most. I am unsure how much the PS cooler affects this. I guess I need to reroute and find out. :ack2:

BTW, I don't have a fuel cooler but I would have guessed that would come first to keep the fuel coldest and that it would warm the water the least. But What do I know, I can't get my oil cooled fast enough.

gosh... we just don't have that problem with Chevy engines..:biggrinjester:

 

[2112]

gosh... we just don't have that problem with Chevy engines..:biggrinjester:

Uhm......right:sifone:
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[Trim'd Up]

So you learned the hard way? :sifone: That's alright, I've learned a few lessons that way myself.

Nothing a little soap and water won't take care of. Didn't seem to hurt the pump any. Kinda sucks all over my freshly painted bilge though. :cuss: