Fluid Cooler: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Jeep Liberty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fig 1: Fluid Cooler & Hoses

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - RETURN HOSE

2 - FLUID COOLER

The purpose of the power steering fluid cooler (2) is to keep the temperature of the power steering system fluid from rising to a level that would affect the performance of the power steering system. See Fig 1.

The cooler used on this vehicle is referred to as a fluid-to-air type cooler. This means that the air flow across the fin/tubes of the cooler is used to extract the heat from the cooler which it has absorbed from the power steering fluid flowing through it. The cooler is placed in series with the power steering fluid return line (1), between the steering gear and the power steering fluid reservoir. This lowers the temperature of the power steering fluid prior to it entering the power steering fluid reservoir where it is resupplied to the power steering pump. See Fig 1.