I had a very weird problem with power steering fluid temperature. When we started the car in the garage first times, I noticed that the fluid was getting hot even when steering wasnÆt used at all, so I installed the original Silverado power steering cooler. It didnÆt look very efficient, but as it was original I expected it to be fine. First offroad û fluid was getting extremely hot, blew steering box input shaft seal out and oil with it of courseà I knew that if I run the engine after that, IÆll kill the pump without fluid, but as it was the first offroad with V8, I didnÆt want to be towed home, so pump was sacrificedà Put a new Chevy pump, new Montero steering box û same problem, too hot. Patch on patch engineering û run the fluid return line also through radiator AT cooler (I had AT radiator) û PROBLEM SOLVED. Do not know the reason still, maybe Chevy pump and Mitsu steering box do not fit together, or something else. The pump is actually universal pump that IÆve seen also on Dodges and Fords with different pulleys and reservoirs. IÆm 100% sure I connected the lines correctly, didnÆt swap them. If anyone has experienced the same problem and/or found different solutions for it, I would like to knowà
I had this EXACT SAME PROBLEM with my 4.3 swap.
The power steering fluid was getting hot enough to lose power steering!!! I stuck a thermometer in it when it got hot once. 260 degrees!!!!!
I put a cooler from a C4 corvette in there, and that crutched the problem some, and helped out, but did not solve the problem totally. My solution came with a GM stering box capable of handling the GM pump. I think the mitsu boxes are too small to handle the flow of the GM pump.
I too, went out on my first offroading trip since my swap, and lost powersteering... boiled out all my fluid, and was going to strong arm it home. Got it to ALMOST off the trail, and the shaft seized, and broke. Of course a Serpentine system cannot opperate - 1 pully, so I had no way to drive myself home. No water pump......... had to get a tow.
You've got a Saginaw pump, and it's considered industry ultimate. It's a VERY good Hydraulic pump, but I think a bit overpowered for your mitsu box. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
