using a PAS pump to pump hot oil

GeX · 20 Feb 2009 at 15:59

PAS fluid is oil. I assume PAS fluid gets hot. Can anyone think of any decent reason why i can't use a PAS pump to pump engine oil about the place?

Ricochet J · 20 Feb 2009 at 16:02

Engine oil is a different viscosity of PAS fluid. The impellar blades have been design such that it can pump PAS fluid effectively at its given power rating. Theirs nothing stopping you from putting engine oil in the pump but don't expect it to work as well as if it had PAS fluid in it.

GeX · 20 Feb 2009 at 16:14

oh i don't expect it to work as well, it just needs to work. am just curious about seals inside it that might not like the heat as i dont know what kind of temp PAS fluid sees

paradigm · 20 Feb 2009 at 16:15

PAS fluid can get very warm in systems without a PAS cooler.

Confused · 20 Feb 2009 at 16:34

Also bear in mind that it's very unlikely that it will "draw" the oil up TO the pump from being dry.

Overlag · 20 Feb 2009 at 16:52

Confused said:
Also bear in mind that it's very unlikely that it will "draw" the oil up TO the pump from being dry.

the pump should never be dry anyway.

Dogbreath · 20 Feb 2009 at 19:12

GeX said:
PAS fluid is oil. I assume PAS fluid gets hot. Can anyone think of any decent reason why i can't use a PAS pump to pump engine oil about the place?

Not considering using a PAS pump for budget dry sumping are you? I had this idea a while back, but I have some doubts whether a typical PAS pump would have enough capacity to keep a sump evacuated.

PAS oil does get pretty hot, some cars have a simple oil cooler for the PAS fluid, which is essentially just a loop of metal tube in front of the radiator.

Lashout_UK · 20 Feb 2009 at 19:26

Get a PAS pump off any sports car (just struck me), like the Corvette C4, they're stonkers and various models also have radiators to dissipate heat. Big contact patch and the necessity to provide enough grunt to keep track through 1g+ cornering at fast speed = overbuilt power steering system!

Dunno how ATF (which is pretty much what it uses) is equivalent to in oil viscocity, mind. Simon?

I put thicker stuff in it too, like really thick (honey consistency) - pumped it no troubles and people run that for thousands of miles on end without issue. Don't know what kind of pressure it's generating though, or how it'd perform with several restrictions, for obvious reasons...

You can get specific scavenge pumps reasonably priced though....for such a critical component I'd be wary about nailing something together when a 'proper' equivalent is availiable.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Formula-Ford-...mp_W0QQitemZ110349854251QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK

For example!

GeX · 20 Feb 2009 at 19:32

Dogbreath said:
Not considering using a PAS pump for budget dry sumping are you? I had this idea a while back, but I have some doubts whether a typical PAS pump would have enough capacity to keep a sump evacuated.

PAS oil does get pretty hot, some cars have a simple oil cooler for the PAS fluid, which is essentially just a loop of metal tube in front of the radiator.

not dry sump, i still have that GT15 turbo on the shelf but am out of useable engine bay space, so am toying with the idea of fitting it at the back. oil feed is easy, but i'm trying to work out a cheap way of getting the oil back. My cinq does not have power steering, but i do have a pump and pulley that fits the 1368cc engine sat on the shelf. All i'm going to do is scavenge it from the oil return and pump it into the top end of the engine.

Lashout - i'm hoping to use the one i already have. I have looked and can get a suitable electric mocal oil pump for around £108+vat BUT end of the day this is a cheap car and just a bit of fun.. and i've spent enough on it already !!

Lashout_UK · 20 Feb 2009 at 19:37

Sounds cool. I'm sure you won't need much to get the oil back to the sump.

Electric PAS pump could be a good solution that doesn't involve pulleys and the like, quite a few of those around. Plus you could control it if required.

GeX · 20 Feb 2009 at 19:41

i had a look at them (PSA ones) and they were going for around £30-£50... which is

like i say, i have a belt driven one and the drive for it ready to fit, so makes sense to use that.

the only thing.. i will need to move my rad to the otherside, but with the air intake at the rear of the car, that won't be a problem.

Dogbreath · 20 Feb 2009 at 20:02

Is there no way you can feed the oil return back into the sump?

GeX · 20 Feb 2009 at 20:07

could pump it into the dipstick hole, i dont want to cut holes in the sump - i did on my old engine but it had a thin steel sump, this one is a cast alloy.. i dont think it'd like being drilled, and they cost too much to replace.