Power Steering Cooler

**DUBB** · 08-19-2010, 07:50 PM

So after diagnosing my car, found out i have a bad PS cooler (milky ps fluid, oily in coolant).......... after doing lots of searching i have found equally opposing opinions, although GM called it a "cooler" it seems that it might be used to heat the ps fluid. Reason why i'm questioning it is apparently every ls1 fbody in canada was sold with a ps cooler (Not 1 parts store sells the 1 piece rad hose setup w/o ps cooler)

Originally i was going to do what a lot of people did, install aftermaket air cooler and put the 1 piece rad hose in, which im still leaning towards. Either that or just connect the hoses and put the 1 piece rad hose in (wont cool the fluid)

All i dont want to do is more harm by cooling the fluid more than it should be, particularly in the winter. I live in a pretty mild climate of vancouver and it rarely gets below freezing.

opinions required asap as i need to get this done!
you guys rule

**SOMbitch** · 08-20-2010, 05:30 AM

Ditch the cooler!! They all fail sooner or later..... Glad my 98 doesn't have one...

**DUBB** · 08-20-2010, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by SOMbitch

Ditch the cooler!! They all fail sooner or later..... Glad my 98 doesn't have one...

Im leaning towards that as long as its not gonna shorten the life of the pump at all.

**DIRTY JERZY** · 08-20-2010, 08:06 AM

Well the pump wont live long with coolant in it

**DUBB** · 08-20-2010, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by DIRTY JERZY

Well the pump wont live long with coolant in it

That's why I'm fixing it, will be replacing the pump eventually anyways.

**DaddySS** · 08-21-2010, 04:08 AM

I'm anal about these things so if it has a cooler I would replace the cooler. They are available on ebay or through the dealer. BTW 10271554 is the part number for the full length hose.

**Firebirdjones** · 08-21-2010, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by DaddySS

I'm anal about these things so if it has a cooler I would replace the cooler. They are available on ebay or through the dealer. BTW 10271554 is the part number for the full length hose.

I with DaddySS on this. If it had one, just replace it.

Keep the coolant flushed and refilled annually and use distilled water for mixing regardless of how long the manufacture says it can be used. It keeps corrosion to a minimum so things like this don't happen.

**pajeff02** · 08-21-2010, 06:04 PM

+2 for Daddy and FBJ's posts. It's there for a reason. Everything on our car is prone to fail at some point. Once you replace the cooler, it is likely that the rest of the car will expire before you have to do it again.

**bberretta** · 08-22-2010, 12:38 PM

Have to agree- replace it with the cooler. Funny thing is, here I can't find a parts store that has the two piece hose! Dumb arse at the Pontiac parts counter thought I was nuts when I said it has a PS cooler.