Power steering pump

[EricG]

Looking at my 2nd pump in about 3 years. Both went in same weather conditions sub zero. Started the truck couple of days ago it whined really loud for a few min and stopped no leaks ran for over an hour added some Lucas. Fluid was frothy.... But everything seemed ok. Next morning about -2 started up whined noticed fluid. Left it went to work came home jacked up to try and bleed out the air no whine at all ran for a little while but no power at all. Lowered it down and it's leaking from what looks like the hose or where it comes out of the pump.

Same thing happened about 3 years ago.

Anyone experience this?

Thanks
Eric

 

[Red90]

Try running synthetic ATF fluid. The regular stuff gets really thick in the winter and the pump gets starved from its suction. This is especially true for some of the layouts where the suction line runs half way across the country and back.

 

[EricG]

So what would be the chances of the pump not being shot? Wouldn't it make noise if it was bad? Or am I chasing a ghost here? I thought about switching the hose out where it seems to be leaking before I do the pump.

 

[brianf408]

My pump only went bad AFTER adding Lucas, like the stop-leak gummed up the internals of the pump. Was silent beforehand, screamed and burnt up afterwards.

I ended up replacing it with one of the GM pumps. Bolted right up, super easy and the pump itself was only $60. Runs power steering fluid instead of ATF.

 

[EricTyrrell]

Ever since this storm hit I've heard of several PS pumps going bad. I'd replace it with a good used or rebuilt and synthetic ATF.

 

[Red90]

Find the leak first. If the pump is still working, there is no rush. If it is the hose leaking, fix that.

 

[EricG]

I pulled the hose that I thought was leaking and it doesn't have any holes in it. I'm going to go and get a piece of hose and try a new one. When I lost fluid one time it was coming out around the cap. Should it be air tight?

Thanks

 

[Red90]

No, the cap has a vent. What happens is the pump starves as the suction line can't flow fast enough and at the same time the pump moves what it can through the return. This causes the reservoir to overfill and dump fluid everywhere.

 

[EricG]

Hmmm ok so would the cold thicken the fluid up so it won't flow and its pushing air out causing it to overflow?

 

[KyleT]

Flush it and only use ace fluid or the gm cold climate alternate part number fluid.

D2's will be noisy when really cold. The ATF, power steering fluid or Lucas will kill the pump and make the box leak a lot. They are sensitive to fluid type for some reason.

 

[Red90]

Hmmm ok so would the cold thicken the fluid up so it won't flow and its pushing air out causing it to overflow?

Yes.