PAS cooler / oil cooler ?

[adam172]

Long story short is

Done my first trackday, PAS pump over heated starved the pump and now It needs a new pump....

I'm looking to do allot more trackdays but don't fancy having this problem every time ! ( esp considering it was my first time so was no doubt not pushing as hard as I will be )

How can I help cool the system ? Iv just brought some pipe from a focus which has a much longer metal section, so should help with cooling.

Or

Could I use some sort of oil cooler ?

 

[adam172]

The pipe I have brought not sure if it will even fit will be a bit of an experiment really

 

[NorthloopCup]

You can buy water cooled pas fluid reservoirs. Expensive but they work! Failing that plumb a normal engine oil cooler in on the pas fluid return line. Got to be return line as it's not under any pressure.

 

[adam172]

ok so a standard oil cooler will work and it has to be on the return pipe, correct

thanks for the reply

 

[NorthloopCup]

Yes that's it mate. Only on the return line. Also I'd run some decent pas fluid. That's one of the biggest killers of pas pumps and racks tbh. It's worthwhile changing the fluid regularly if your tracking it alot.

 

[adam172]

what fluid would you recommend?

also does any body know the size of the PAS pipes? ( the return pispes) - also what ones are the return pipes?

 

[NorthloopCup]

The return pipes are the larger diameter pipe.

Look in demon thieves for oil mate. I'll look on mine tomorrow to see what size the pipes are.

 

[Cupman29]

I've done 6 track days Over the summer months and never had any issues with mine and I was pushing very hard. Are you sure the pump was just not on it's way out already or there is another issue causing it to overheat?

 

[adam172]

Tbh the cars on 100k and I have no evidence of it being changed so it may well have been on it's way out. I still feel I would rather help the system keep cool if I can do for the future plus looking at the price of small coolers ect it's not a massive expense.

What fluid do you run cupman29??

 

[FAST_aD13]

Kind of related - A popular Mod for the Accord Type-R's is to upgrade the PAS cooler (once its died) with a Mocal oil cooler as they're cheaper then OEM and offer better cooling.. Can't see why you couldn't do this if your suffering from the kind of failure you described after just one track day.

 

[Cupman29]

Just seems overkill to me.

Was your level ok when cold?

I've never changed the fluid so its the same stuff as the day it was made. I think if you change the pump, bleed the system and have the correct level you'll not have another issue.

 

[adam172]

Level was correct ? May sound over kill but really it's a small expense when changing the pump anyway ? I can't see it being a total was of time tbh..

 

[Cupman29]

Don't get me wrong, any mod for reliability is NEVER a waste of time. If you pay money for a track day and only last a couple hours is a waste of money for a small outlay to prevent it happening again.

 

[Fred@BTM]

PAS pumps always go bang on track, very common, just one of those things!

get it rebuilt from a specialist (BTM are fantasic apparently ) and you get a 2year warranty on the pump!

 

[adam172]

Fred your miles away lol Would you recommend a cooler ? And do you think it would help it on track ?

 

[Fred@BTM]

shouldn't really need one, don't forget no one ever bothers renewing the fluid (it is an arse to do)

 

[adam172]

How much of an arse ?

Iv got the car booked in next Wednesday to get a new pump fitted with belts, system flush ect....

Bur I'm still tempted to get a small 7row cooler to put on after when I do this will the fluid need bleeding or just top up to fill the extra capacity ?

 

[Fred@BTM]

you can add a cooler if you want, will be a bit of a b**ch to plumb in though!

 

[adam172]

So Fred will it need bleeding after ? Of just top it up ?

 

[Fred@BTM]

lock to lock a load of times bleeds it

 

[adam172]

Thanks for all your help very much appreciated, don't happen to know the size/bore of the return pipes do you ?

 

[adam172]

anybody know the size of the PAS return pipe?

want to order a cooler/pipes/fixings tonight really, and dont have the car here

thanks

 

[mr.pink87]

I'll have a look in the shed tomorrow and measure the ID.

 

[adam172]

Thanks mate would be much appreciated

 

[mr.pink87]

ID of the hose returning to the reservoir is about 16mm.

 

[adam172]

ID is internal diameter im guessing?

And thenk you very much

 

[stephen chadwick]

maby a bit late but allot of the DW guys use there diff coolers. as on the s13 they dont do anythink. dw also sell kits to do it

 

[adam172]

yea i see there kits looks pretty good just not sure on the pipe sizes and what fittings i need really? could be trial and error

 

[stephen chadwick]

during the day on there site they have online help. just ask they are normaly spot on and verry fast

 

[stephen chadwick]

http://www.driftworks.com/shop/car-parts/performance-tuning/cooling/power-steering-cooling

bottom corner on the right

 

[adam172]

im guessing a clio wouldnt be there specialist subject lol i will have a nose about there site thanks

 

[adam172]

perfect thanks iv sent them a message

 

[Tony Hunter]

Just out of interest,I was looking at a Pug 306 with a V6 conversion today,and he had a cooler on his PS.
Had it all done by Pug one off in Brackley.

 

[adam172]

Ohhh any pics of it anywere tony ? Sounds intresting

Just brought a 10 row mocal cooler Should do the trick

 

[Tony Hunter]

No sorry,a V6 only just fit's in there believe me.

 

[jinjur]

Can I ask why a track day is tougher on the PAS system?

Not being cheeky, just dont understand how it causes it to fail. Is it the high engine RPM or just the load on the steering/number of rapid corners in succession?

J

 

[Fred@BTM]

heat and load, plus they're normally about 5years old + by the time they hit track = boom

 

[Silent_Scone]

He might be miles away but where else you gonna take it Ad..

Also when are you picking up this bloody bonnet!!

 

[adam172]

OHHH s**t!!!!! my bad about the bonnet I totally forgot all about it lol

Cars getting pump done on Wednesday so I can maybe pick it up Thursday Friday ? Or am I gunna need a van ? Or will it fit in the back of my clio ?? May need to look into this first lol ...

On another note oil cooler and pipe work should have all arrived today will keep this thread updated with how I get on

 

[Silent_Scone]

yeah no probs, it'll be a tight fit, I've not tried