Power steering fluid cooler

[SSpeed]

Hey guys,

Is there any real need for the power steering cooler on 2000 LS1?

Or can i bypass it?

Thanks

[Cutlass]

You can bypass it.

[blue02Z]

why do you want to bypass it?

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

Want to donate that cooler when you take it off, or Sell it to me?

[DIRTY JERZY]

PS cooler was added for the cars with 17'' rims

[devil6rr]

+1 i can use a cooler to!

[Danger731]

PS cooler was added for the cars with 17'' rims

Negative red leader, stock on my 02 Z/28

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

IMHO: its actually not a cooler per say, I think its more of a heater for colder climates, actually if you think about it, the fluid in the radiator is hotter than the ps fluid so....???

[twozs]

what , this thing?? not my car , file photo.... ....... I'm pretty sure they were gone by 01 as my 01 z28 doesn't have one and i got my car new from the dealer with 3 miles on it. they rupture on occasion and contaminate the coolant with PS fluid and visa-versa. so probably not worth the trouble

[Cutlass]

F-body power steering cooler was standard on WS6 and SS models and it was an option to other V8 models.

[pajeff02]

If anyone does replace their P/S cooler -- let us know if you find a one piece hose that fits, in lieu of fabbing up a piece of tubing between the existing hoses.

[Cutlass]

Jeff are you talking about the rad hose or the p/steering hose?

[pajeff02]

Jeff are you talking about the rad hose or the p/steering hose?

The radiator hose. If our cooler ever goes bad and I need to swap a hose in its place, it'd be nice to know ahead of time what works.

[Cutlass]

Jeff, I know its early in the morning...but don't you think a rad hose for a car without power steering cooler is one piece and will fit.

[pajeff02]

Jeff, I know its early in the morning...but don't you think a rad hose for a car without power steering cooler is one piece and will fit.

I was up at 4:25 a.m. to drop the wife off for her weekend bus trip... didn't think this one through. I'll go back to bed now...

[gnomee]

LOL... I was reading through the thread hoping you would end up saying that

No reason to keep the PS cooler if you don't want it.

I imagine the power steering fluid gets quite hot. I don't think its there to heat up the fluid, that would make no sense at all IMHO.

[Firebirdjones]

The PS fluid gets hot from the pump itself, not the cooler. They can actually reach a boil and cause a sticking steering wheel when too hot in road course situations.
The cooler will help with that to some extent. It can do an even better job if you run a cooler thermostat and reprogram the fans.
Antifreeze at 180 is much cooler than 230, which does more than just cool the motor, it also helps an auto trans as well as a power steering cooler in this case.

[666ws6]

I order a set of radiator hoses from Samco and they stated the set is designed to fit without the cooler, but can be cut/modded to fit a cooler. So I debated removing the cooler, but now I think I will keep mine due to what fbjones said.

[KahanaReef]

So, why were they stock on the WS6/SS and only optional on other V8s?

[Cutlass]

I think its a handling upgrade. If your auto cross racing, you're really gonna heat up the fluid.