it was -21 degrees farenheight, what's that noise?

[ChesterRam]

OK this morning it was minus 21 degrees. We plugged in all night. It started but, there was a whining noise for a few minutes till the temp came up. could it have been a power steering pump or was it my injector pump struggling???

Gelling or thick fuel shouldn't be a problem as I put anti-gel stuff in it.

Any ideas what the noise is?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Ted Constantine]

Chris it is most likely your power steering pump. It happens to mine when it is cold. Sounds like a scalded cat. Just to make sure next time you hear it turn the wheel and see if it gets worse. Touching the brakes will hve the same effect.



Does any one know an answer for this?? I wuld like to lessen the stress on my pump.





Ted

 

[**ICEMAN**]

i used a power steering pump conditioner/stop leak that i seen at auto zone last year and haven't heard the cold weather whine since. i took a little fluid out with a turkey baster and added the recomended amount of the conditioner.

 

[Steve Campbell]

Valvoline synthetic

I changed it out last summer, and no scalded cat this winter, it only purrs.

 

[illflem]

Valvoline synthetic will take care of the problem and is compatible with the stock fluid, you need not worry about removing all the old fluid. Remove the old fluid from the reservoir with a turkey baster and add the Valvoline. After doing this three or four times with driving in-between you will be close to 100% synthetic. Will take only a quart and set you back $6.

 

[LSMITH]

Steve and illflem are right, use the Valvoline synthetic.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I flushed mine and put Valvoline synthetic in. The PS pump was nice & quiet when I started up at a frigid +20F a couple mornings ago. Brrrrrrrr!

 

[illflem]

Vaughn, 20+ sounds like tee-shirt weather to me

 

[mike r]

Thanks Guys

You answered a question I've been meaning to ask since last winter but kept forgetting about till I'd go turn the key.

 

[JHansen]

There's a TSB out from DC to replace the factory fill PS fluid with ATF+4... which is synthetic. It's TSB # 19-007-01 and is for information only-which means chances of getting it done under warranty are slim-to-none ! Perhaps if you had a good dealer and they were doing steering-related work anyways (ie. replacing a crappy factory gearbox) they'd flush the system and refill with this stuff.



May help someone out anyways...



Jason

 

[mike r]

Is the Mopar ATF+4 compatible with the stock fluid. It might be easier for me to find around here?

 

[JHansen]

This TSB says that ATF+4 is compatible with "other Chrysler approved power steering fluids, but to avoid confusion due to the fluid color difference, ATF+4 should not be mixed or used as a topping off fluid on systems requiring MS5931 or MS9933" (the other 2 Chrysler spec. P/S fluids I guess). They're using it now as factory fill in the new 1/2 ton Rams, Dakotas, minivans and most cars. Not yet in the heavier Rams... . not sure why-but I can't see it hurting anything to run it-especially when they say that "it provides superior performance at both high and low end temperatures"-even if the TSB doesn't specifically reference the BR series (2500-3500 Rams)... .



I'll have a look in my owner's manual and see what the spec # for the recommended PS fluid is...



Jason

 

[PSL53]

Power Steering noise

I got the same noise at -8. What kind of fluid are you using, when you say Valvoline synthetic. Is it power steering fluid or a special synthetic oil that can be used in the power steering system?

Thanks for the infor. PSL53

 

[LSMITH]

The Valvoline that is being referred to is actaully a semi-synthetic power steering fluid, it is called SynPower I think. . It is in a goldish silver container and is in most parts stores and wally worlds. About $4 a quart around here. Hope this helps.

 

[PSL53]

Thanks

LSMITH

Yes It helps a great deal!!! Thanks for the quick response.

PSL53