Power steering fluid


Last edited by LMDNC5; Jun 23, 2018 at 06:24 PM.
When I got my C5 in 2009, the PS fluid was dark and thick from oxidation and high temperatures.
If you don't change the fluid in the reservoir at every oil change, consider doing that. I use a syringe bulb from the auto parts store and refill with Red Line full synthetic power steering fluid every oil change on my vehicles with hydraulic steering.


Last edited by LMDNC5; Jun 23, 2018 at 07:13 PM.
To fix the overheating, you need to correct the cause: The pump.
Figure this: A Type II pump can flow up to 15 GPM. The stock flow control valve opens at 2.6 GPM at about 900 RPM. Once the flow control valve is open, all the excess fluid is simply recirculated. This constant cycle of pressurization and recirculation superheats the fluid. At max flow, the pump is recirculating 12.4 GPM. Layer on the stress of autox and the system overheats and pukes fluid all over. As a secondary effect, high fluid temperature cooks the seals in your steering rack, leading to premature failure and leaks there.
The fix is a new power steering pump: https://www.turnone-steering.com/col...-corvette-pump
Turn One's pumps flow 10 GPM max and the flow control valve opens at about 1,300 RPM instead of 900 RPM. At max flow, instead of 12.4 GPM, only 7.4 GPM is being recirculated, a 60% reduction. That keeps the fluid much cooler.
This was my 4th gen F-body's pump (same Type II pump the Corvette uses) the first time I autox'd it after my second run:
I didn't have a thermometer with me, but I'd guess the fluid temp was well above 300 degrees F. Not surprisingly, the rack was also leaking.
Two full seasons of autox later, it's never happened again:
Temps never even crest the 160 mark.
Some more reading:
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/060...-pump-install/
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-...ering-secrets/
Last edited by DSC9000; Jun 24, 2018 at 01:00 PM.
Keep in mind that my C5 has the original PS pump in place, 110,000 miles so far. I have accumulated 15 days and about 1,000 miles on the track (my favorite is Laguna Seca).
Before I added cooling mods to the drivetrain I saw engine oil and transmission fluid temperatures as high as 270, coolant 240 after three, 20 minute runs, but have never had any fluid come out of the PS pump.
Another thing to check would be the PS fluid cooler just behind the fans. Make sure the cooler is not blocked with anything and that the fins are relatively straight.






