When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
OK, now that's cold, like 15* and under I have a squeal in my power steering/hydroboost system(s). It has been this cold in previous years and I don't recall the symptoms. It's the low pitch growl/squeal of a starving oil pump. Do they all do that when it's that cold, or is this symptomatic of a problem? I see three possibilities, pump going bad, oil needs changed and is thicker than it should be or combination of both. Oh, and of course the possibility that it's normal when the temps drop that low. Oil level is good.
Mark, it could be that there is moisture in the system and it did not show its ugly face until it got very cold where you are. I had this happen to me last year when we had 4 days of high teens and low 20's temperatures. The water/moisture in the system froze or something and caused havoc for the power steering and braking system.
I know you don't have the same symptoms I had, which are in the video below, but this is the first thing that comes to mind. I would say flush the system with some fresh fluid and see how it does after that. A fresh fluid flush fixed my issue which was a last ditch effort before I started ordering parts. This was after I spent about 6 hours trying to pinpoint the problem child part.
Thanks, I was thinking that the best first option would be flush since it's probably never been done...unless it's just a normal phenomenon. Moisture in the system sounds logical.
OK, now that's cold, like 15* and under I have a squeal in my power steering/hydroboost system(s). It has been this cold in previous years and I don't recall the symptoms. It's the low pitch growl/squeal of a starving oil pump. Do they all do that when it's that cold, or is this symptomatic of a problem? I see three possibilities, pump going bad, oil needs changed and is thicker than it should be or combination of both. Oh, and of course the possibility that it's normal when the temps drop that low. Oil level is good.
I got advice I think on this forum about five years ago and switched to Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF Oil (3-4 Quarts if flushing). I have no idea what kind of oil the previous owner had put in, but prior to switching the oil my PS pump was extremely noisy (I mean scary noisy!) during startup at around 20F temperature.
It has not been noisy after switching to synthetic, however it has not been any colder then 20F in our area during the last 4 or so years...
I would flush and switch to synthetic as the first step.
Here's a recent thread that is related. A few weeks ago my pump started moaning too and it's been too cold to perform a complete flush. Our temps here in the True North have dropped to around -10*F the past few days and I have had no issue with my power steering pump moaning/groaning like it used to after I put in the 1 oz. of Archoil 9100 in PS reservoir. I'll do the complete flush service in the Spring ... and still use the Archoil at that time.
Here is one of several YouTube videos. Advice would be to use a clear hose line and clear jug so you can see change in fluid color. I used Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF, 5 years ago. Same stuff that’s in my transmission. That way you keep like with like. 2 people makes the job go faster, but not a deal breaker.
If I can find that Archoil I'll give it a shot. I'll watch that video when I get a chance but for now...do you just open one end and add new fluid 'til it comes out clean? That sounds interesting if it is.
Yes, open the hose at the top of the system that goes into the hydro-boost and plumb it into a container. Keep filling the reservoir with fresh fluid as it drops.
Once you are done and see fresh fluid coming out, shut truck off, reconnect hose and then run truck keeping an eye on the fluid level again. It is easier if you have the front end off the ground so someone/you can turn the wheels from side to side, but pressing on the brake will get the fluid going too, just not as much.
Very easy, just a little time consuming. Although, far less time than changing a pump or gear.
If it's squealing, a flush of the system is probably what you need. It helped my system significantly, both in the noise when steering and in how good the brake petal felt.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
