gq power steering oil cooler

[shorty]

what is a good power steering oil cooler to use for 1988 gqtb42s power steering oil?

[Ben-e-boy]

I just have an ebay cheapy and it is cheap, I only need it because my power steering cuts out offroad, usually in a very deep rut with tyres at 12 psi, why do you need a cooler?

[shorty]

Hi i have managed to boil the hydraulic oil if not boiled it was bloody hot whilst rock crawling the engine temp was ok but power steering lost power just thinking about summer on its way! I understand that the cooler goes on the return line to the pump just wondering if any body had encountered the same problem was also thinking about trying alloy heat soak on the loop pipe that is mounted on the radiator support panel i can get all different types of heat soak at the right price from work! instead of sourcing a finned cooler type.

[Robo]

Try changing to synthetic it drops the temp down alot
Using Transmax z myself.
In both mav and gtr for this no probs

[Ben-e-boy]

Try changing to synthetic it drops the temp down alot
Using Transmax z myself.
In both mav and gtr for this no probs

yes but your mav and gtr will not be put under the same pressure. mine cuts out in ruts or rock where the entire weight of the front end is on the side of the wheels and is on such an angle that I cant full open the door as it hits the ground.

[Robo]

Yep extreme lock to lock or holding lock is demanding on any system.
My mate and I noticed and agreed 10+ yrs ago synthetic was far superior temp wise.
His GQ power steer pipes leading to the std cooler were to just to hot to leave your hand on for any period of time at all.
And that was for on Rd driving alone, forget off Rd.
We both changed to synthetic, him GQ me MK and we both noticed much cooler steer systems.
GQ was now much cooler to touch, and easy to hold the pipes now in a closed hand, wear before you wouldn't dare to close your hand.
I know that this thread is for a cooler but changing to synthetic is a real advantage to reducing heat.
It may not be enough for off Rd , I fully agree, but this is a cheap and effective solution to reducing heat and also worth a try.
Decent Cooler + synthetic together should be close to bee's knee's.
You can even purchase purpose made coolers with elec fan and shroud fitted for such jobs.
Or if you fancy a challenge search web for parts and give a fan+ thermo switch + cooler combo a go.
Noted Gtr in this instance it runs a interdependent dual chamber, twin impeller, pump for steering, so the fluid gets 2x the workout just standing still.
Has a quick steering system and 8" wide rims in standard guise.
Also notice it to is much cooler with synthetic to help out.
So think synthetic can not only help lower temps, + bonus prolong system life span.
Cheers

[shorty]

Thanks for your replys guys i will do an oil upgrade on it to synthetic im addicted to tinkering! so thats another one on the list!

[97_gq_lwb]

Is their a factory power steering cooler available from looking at the lines on a few where they run over to the passenger side it usually has a joiner i thought this was for an optional cooler.

[Robo]

GQ has an alloy pipe that runs in a loop as a cooler between rad support and grille.
not a true finned cooler in a sense, but a sort of one but very rudimentary one none the less.
removing it and plumbing in a proper cooler should be fairly straight forward.

[97_gq_lwb]

Yeah that is the one i was thinking of some of them have a rubber hose fitted on the far end as a joiner i assumed that is where they may have had an optional cooler from the factory.
Or maybe they run cooler tank in the radiator.

[Robo]

Thanks for your replys guys i will do an oil upgrade on it to synthetic im addicted to tinkering! so thats another one on the list!

Me too, can't help it, that's why I put jack of all trades in profile.
if i have learnt something over the yrs at all, is trading ideas/experience is a big help no end.
may be wrong some times, but you can bet someone will be along shortly to put you right and that's why we post and will continue to do so.
Cheers

[shorty]

Got some aluminium heat soak mounted to the power steering return loop pipe behind the grille also drilled some 25mm holes into the plastic grille just to help with getting the heat away gave the shorty it's usual thrashing on the track seem's to be better i will have to wait for summer to see how it survives!