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Two PS Questions

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edcourter

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The power steering pump on my 86 350 may, or may not, have the correct power steering pump cap. I have two questions?

1; There is no dip tube so can anyone give me the correct cold fluid level from cap rim to top of fluid?
2: There is no vent of any kind in the cap, so where does the system expansion go?

It does work but sometimes the fluid is low, shaft and reservoir seals not leaking. Rest of system looks good but fluid is going somewhere? Bilge fair. Thanks
 
It's just your standard-issue Saginaw type 1 pump, so if you want to get a cap with a dipstick, I'm sure a couple moments of googling will find you one for cheap. I dunno about the exact fill, but you definitely don't want it up to the brim....you need a bit of room for expansion so I'd say without the dipstick that you want at least an inch from the top. Is the piston wet with fluid? There's also a heat exchanger in the return line. Check around there.
 
I can tell you from sad, personal experience that--if that oil cooler is clogged to any degree--you'll blow lines and oil all over. And it gets clogged super easy since it's a tube within a tube design with very tight clearances.

Jeff
 
edcourter said:
The power steering pump on my 86 350 may, or may not, have the correct power steering pump cap. I have two questions?

1; There is no dip tube so can anyone give me the correct cold fluid level from cap rim to top of fluid?
2: There is no vent of any kind in the cap, so where does the system expansion go?

It does work but sometimes the fluid is low, shaft and reservoir seals not leaking. Rest of system looks good but fluid is going somewhere? Bilge fair. Thanks
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... The oil level needs to be 'bout 2" to 2, 1/2" below the top,...
Any cap from any saginaw P/S pump will work,....
The caps are fairly loose fittin', 'n vent themselves,....

If yer loosin' oil, 'n there's no leak into the bilge,....
Chances are the P/S Cooler freeze cracked, 'n is allowin' the oil into the motor's coolin' water,....
 
I picked up a Doorman replacement, and it had a small vent groove bypassing the gasket. The filler hot line was just below the filler neck bottom.

The seals, if good might take the hot level pressure but why would you risk it. Of course, everything Marine is different and the replacement cap could be wrong? I'll know in June, Thanks All
 
Post Note: When tightening the Power Steering belt, be aware that the tank body is medium gauge sheet metal. Prying between the engine and this tank will distort the front iron pump seal.
 
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