noisy auto steering pump when cold

1946 BN IHC · Feb 21, 2023

To the mechanics of the sight.
A couple of years ago the steering pump on our car was replaced. Now when the temperature is 36 deg., or lower the pump whines' Growels Is there a compound that one may put in to stop or at least lessen the noise?
Wm.

Michael Soldan · Feb 21, 2023

I shut one up by adding power steering stop leak. Now you don't have a leak but this product improves the ability of O rings to do their job and stops any internal leaking where there should be pressure , thus improving the performance of the power steering unit.

Mike M · Feb 21, 2023

Try sucking as much of the old fluid out as you can. Then add in new fluid. See if you can try and find a synthetic type fluid.

Steve@Advance · Feb 21, 2023

That's a common problem, especially with the Ford pumps.

Growling because there is air in the system is normal, growling all the time is not, most likely a poorly rebuilt pump.

I dread seeing one come in because there is no real solution I have found. Even the factory rebuilt pumps from the dealer are prone to growl.

It doesn't seem to hurt anything, other than the annoyance of hearing it.

You could try flushing and changing the oil, or find a low mileage pump in a salvage yard, still no guarantee it won't still growl.

Goose · Feb 21, 2023

I can't think of the brand offhand, but I've used a power steering conditioner with good results.

wp6529 · Feb 21, 2023

(quoted from post at 11:58:24 02/21/23) That's a common problem, especially with the Ford pumps.

Growling because there is air in the system is normal, growling all the time is not, most likely a poorly rebuilt pump.

I dread seeing one come in because there is no real solution I have found. Even the factory rebuilt pumps from the dealer are prone to growl.

It doesn't seem to hurt anything, other than the annoyance of hearing it.

You could try flushing and changing the oil, or find a low mileage pump in a salvage yard, still no guarantee it won't still growl.

Interesting to hear, my F350 just started the PS growl when cold. Plenty of fluid, but I guess I'll change it out since it's some 7 years old and fresh fluid can't hurt. Any preferred brand?

Arvin Haslem · Feb 21, 2023

I used to pour 2 or 3 tablespoons of STP oil treatment into the system while the engine was running. It quieted a lot of systems. Be sure you use the thick STP in the blue bottle.

caterpillar guy · Feb 21, 2023

Some of those canisters have a filter inside them. So they need to come off the bracket and then the bolts to the back come out and separate the canister from the pump to get to the filter. Some don't too. Just need to look it up first remove the canister and filter if it has one. You can not get all the oil out, unless you can drain the steering unit itself also.

NDIHC · Feb 21, 2023

Depending on what vehicle it's on you might have a filter in the reservoir that is getting plugged and causing the pump to cavitate when the fluid is thicker in cold weather. The filter is usually a very fine screen that's in the bottom of the reservoir on cars with a remote reservoir. Used to see it on Hondas a lot but have seen it on multiple brands. I've cleaned them with about a 50% success rate with brake cleaner by removing the reservoir and spraying it through the bottom of the filter. Some you can't get at to clean though. In that case or if cleaning doesn't help I just replace the reservoir. They usually aren't super expensive.

Richard G. · Feb 21, 2023

When my 99 Dodge diesel does that, I take a turkey baster and suck out the old fluid and pour in new synthetic fluid.
It will last about 2 years and start growling again when the weather turns cold.
Just make sure you get the wife's turkey baster clean and back in the kitchen before she finds out.

westga · Feb 21, 2023

On my F550 you don't use power steering
fluid but use transmission fluid. Look
it up and make sure you refill with
correct fluid.

Also on the power steering is connected to
your brake master cyl. At least on the
f550 it is .

wp6529 · Feb 21, 2023

(quoted from post at 16:53:11 02/21/23) On my F550 you don't use power steering
fluid but use transmission fluid. Look
it up and make sure you refill with
correct fluid.

Also on the power steering is connected to
your brake master cyl. At least on the
f550 it is .

Yes, Mercon LV ATF, F250-550 should all be the same. I'm so used to hydroboost these days if I look under some car hood and see the vacuum booster it's like what the heck is that POS. Even my old gas truck has hydroboost.

This post was edited by wp6529 on 02/21/2023 at 01:34 pm.

dhermesc · Feb 21, 2023

If it noisy when cold you will want as thin of oil as possible. Mercon V is a tiny bit thicker (15W or 20W) than Mercon LV or Dextron 6 (10W). The cheap version is Valvoline Maxlife that is listed as compatible with Dextron 6/Mercon LV - the gallon jug is about $25 at Walmart if they have it. I just replaced the oil in my Ford F250's ZF5 transmission and changed from Mercon V to Mercon LV (Maxlife) and the shifting difference when cold is huge.

The Valvoline Maxlife in gallon jugs is so much cheaper than buying it by the quart. I've been using it in my Taurus and my wife's Kia van and I've never had an issue with it yet.

Suck out what you can (I use hand lotion pumps when my oil siphons disappear) and refill with new. Good chance it was filled with a generic power steering fluid.

DaveBN · Feb 21, 2023

As already stated it should probably be atf not power steering fluid. You can pull the return line off and stick it in a 1 gallon jug then have a helper start the engine. This will flush the old fluid out. Be careful not to get caught in the fan or belt! Also be careful as that fluid will come out FAST. Shut the engine off as soon as the fluid stops coming out. Refill with your choice of atf. Adding a little Lucas power steering conditioner or Lucas power steering stop leak might help. Lucas is the only brand of mechanic in a bottle that I would ever use.
Or is it your steering gear that's bad causing the pump to whine?
Dave

504 · Feb 21, 2023

NDIHC · Feb 21, 2023

What vehicle???

Geo-TH,In · Feb 21, 2023

Just curious, what year and model?
I have a 2011 Kaw mule with electric power steering.
2018 Cadillac has electric power steering.
Are power steering pumps becoming a thing of the past?

NDIHC · Feb 21, 2023

The brand I work for started changing to electric in about 2006. Most everything was electric steering by 2013 or so.

1946 BN IHC · Feb 22, 2023

the vehicle is a 2009 Volvo xc 70 the pump was an after market replacement put on 2 years ago

Duner Wi · Feb 22, 2023

A compound to lessen the noise might be using the correct fluid the factory recommends.The factory had different recommendations for various years and supposedly even printed some owners manual with wrong info. Might be good idea to talk with dealer with latest thinking.
https://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthread.php?13134-How-to-flush-power-steering-fluid

noisy auto steering pump when cold

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