2002 Ram 3500 Power Steering Howling
11-10-2011, 06:45 PM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: BC, Canada
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2002 Ram 3500 Power Steering Howling
Hi Guys,
I have spent a lot of time trying to get information on the power steering howling in cool/cold weather. I found some posts but like anything else, if you don't use the right wording the result can be a bit meagre. So I thought I would post this as it might help someone else with the same concerns.
After reading about replacing the factory power steering fluid with synthetic steering fluid, I thought it was about time I did the change - my steering would howl in temperatures just below freezing and the colder it was, the more noise it made. However, I found that leaving the truck heater plugged in helped some (for real cold climates ).
I live in central BC, Canada and the weather here can be a bit brutal, so the chnage was long overdue. I bought power steering fluid from Canadian Tire - they didn't have the expensive Amsoil or the likes, so I bought what they had.
Today I did the job and found that it made a big difference.
To empty the PS resevoir I used a syringe - possibly a bicycle pump could be used if need be. The syringe emptied the chamber pretty quick. I was surprised at the colour and thickness of the oil that came out - almost black in colour and as thick as engine oil - maybe a bit thicker or viscous. This is the original oil and I only have 50,000 miles on the truck to date as I have used it mostly during the summer. The replacement oil is clear - not coloured like some of the other brands. I emptied and refilled the resevoir three times in total - about 1/2 quart or 1/2 litre on each fill. Did the run the engine and work the steering back and forth to circulate the power steering fluid. Each time I emptied the resevoir the oil became lighter in colour due to replacement - until the last time where there was just a slight brown colour.
Easy maintenance item to do and well worth doing. My steering is now much easier - not that it was hard before, just easier and lighter to turn the wheels. I will have to wait until the weather gets really cold to see if the change makes the power steering operate quieter and better. My gut feeling says it will be better, but I have been known to be wrong. The difference in the steering fluids can only improve the operation.
HTH someone else.
Cheers
mariner
I have spent a lot of time trying to get information on the power steering howling in cool/cold weather. I found some posts but like anything else, if you don't use the right wording the result can be a bit meagre. So I thought I would post this as it might help someone else with the same concerns.
After reading about replacing the factory power steering fluid with synthetic steering fluid, I thought it was about time I did the change - my steering would howl in temperatures just below freezing and the colder it was, the more noise it made. However, I found that leaving the truck heater plugged in helped some (for real cold climates ).
I live in central BC, Canada and the weather here can be a bit brutal, so the chnage was long overdue. I bought power steering fluid from Canadian Tire - they didn't have the expensive Amsoil or the likes, so I bought what they had.
Today I did the job and found that it made a big difference.
To empty the PS resevoir I used a syringe - possibly a bicycle pump could be used if need be. The syringe emptied the chamber pretty quick. I was surprised at the colour and thickness of the oil that came out - almost black in colour and as thick as engine oil - maybe a bit thicker or viscous. This is the original oil and I only have 50,000 miles on the truck to date as I have used it mostly during the summer. The replacement oil is clear - not coloured like some of the other brands. I emptied and refilled the resevoir three times in total - about 1/2 quart or 1/2 litre on each fill. Did the run the engine and work the steering back and forth to circulate the power steering fluid. Each time I emptied the resevoir the oil became lighter in colour due to replacement - until the last time where there was just a slight brown colour.
Easy maintenance item to do and well worth doing. My steering is now much easier - not that it was hard before, just easier and lighter to turn the wheels. I will have to wait until the weather gets really cold to see if the change makes the power steering operate quieter and better. My gut feeling says it will be better, but I have been known to be wrong. The difference in the steering fluids can only improve the operation.
HTH someone else.
Cheers
mariner
11-10-2011, 10:11 PM
#3
Registered User
The synthetic makes a big difference re: temps.
Mine still let loose a pretty good whine at -17 in MT last winter, but subsided after warming up.
Send some Molson Golden my way, I can't find it down here anymore!!!
Mine still let loose a pretty good whine at -17 in MT last winter, but subsided after warming up.
Send some Molson Golden my way, I can't find it down here anymore!!!
11-13-2011, 05:08 PM
#5
Registered User
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