Silicone hose and power steering fluid

agw_01 · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:04

Quick one,

Doing some work on the car in a few weeks... fitting a new rad and re-jigging my front mount. Only problem is my power steering cooler is stopping me from moving the IC back another inch, which I'd like to do.

I'm going to chop the PS cooler and use some hose to link the pipes back together.

I'm just wondering whether the PS fluid will eat away at the silicone hose and should I get some fuel hose instead?

Cheers.

MrMatteh · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:28

cant imagine it would, but doesn't it get hot?

just get some braided lines made up

paradigm · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:36

Mate had problems with hoses and his home-brew PAS system for his e36 325ti. In the end we used reinforced fuel tubing, this was (and still is) fine.

agw_01 · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:48

MrMattheh, how hot does PS fluid get? I reckon silicone hoses would be able to take the heat as they do take the heat of coolant afterall.

El, thanks for that. Did he have problems with silicone hoses? I'm tempted to get some fuel hose. I know several people on RT who've done used fuel hose before.

paradigm · 3 Aug 2008 at 22:57

It wasn't the heat that did it I don't think. PAS fluid is nasty stuff. It just turned the normal hoses gooey.

andi · 3 Aug 2008 at 23:01

agw_01 said:
MrMattheh, how hot does PS fluid get?

About hot enough to need a cooler

agw_01 · 3 Aug 2008 at 23:29

Loads of people have chopped the coolers off with no adverse effects.

I'm going to try and leave a bit extra on though, just to be sure.

GeX · 4 Aug 2008 at 01:24

We had hours of fun with my mates rover 220 coupe PAS system. Issues with it were not heat, just the pressure the system runs at.

Ended up taking the car to PAS specialist in Preesall (not too far from Preston!) and they sorted it out with the proper fittings and it's been fine ever since.

agw_01 · 4 Aug 2008 at 01:34

Got any more info about the specialist GeX? Might be worth giving them a ring.

Jonnycoupe · 4 Aug 2008 at 08:00

~Get the fluro lined stuff if your concerned over the pipe rotting.

GeX · 4 Aug 2008 at 08:22

my bad, wasn't Preesall but;

Mobiltune Ltd

Four Lane Ends Service Station, Fleetwood Rd South, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 5EF
Tel: 01253 855946

Berger · 7 Aug 2008 at 15:58

You could cut the ends off, flare them add some fittings and then add on a small pas cooler recycled from the stock oil cooler perhaps?

paradigm · 7 Aug 2008 at 16:15

Berger said:
You could cut the ends off, flare them add some fittings and then add on a small pas cooler recycled from the stock oil cooler perhaps?

PAS cooler doesn't have to be anything spectacular. All mine is on the BMW is some metal PAS lines, bent through about 4 U-bends. Looks like a really poor attempt at a radiator, but it does the job.

My mates 318ti didn't even have a PAS cooler as standard.

GeX · 7 Aug 2008 at 16:20

thats similar to what the rovers have on them too;