Thread: Auto Radiator Trans cooler for Power Steering?

My aftermarket aluminum radiator came with auto transmission cooler built into it, P11 has a power steering cooler but it gets in the way of the intecooler/piping. I'm contemplating on if it would be a good idea to just use the radiator as a PS cooler.

Now the problem is, coolant is probably hotter then the the power steering fluid, but on the bright side the volume would increase quite a bit.

Here is my previous setup, I have since then used that intercooler piping on the B15, and probably will flip the intercooler upside down for reduced complexity in IC piping.

and the question is?

My initial thought is that the integrated auto transmission cooler in the aftermarket radiator would make the power steering fluid hotter. The added volume would not really benefit you if its all significantly hotter. Interesting thought but I would stick with the isolated cooler and maybe you can mount it over in the pass side fender well so it doesn't block the intercooler.

I wouldn't assume the P/S fluid is colder than the coolant under normal operating conditions. Take some temp readings and you'll have your answer as to if it is a good idea or not?

I'll use my infrared thermal gun to check the temps of the fluid in the reservoir once I go for a drive on the Sentra then

Check P/S temps at one of the high pressure hard lines by the engine pulleys. After some parking lot maneuvering.

PS fluid can easily hit temps over 200ºF. I think the Camaros and Trans-Ams of the 00's had a PS cooler that used engine coolant to regulate temps, so this is a viable idea. I say give it a try and see what happens. Do you autox or track the car at all?

Well it was snowing, so Sentra hasn't moved to test these out.



Sweet, good to know! I do autox and will probably end up tracking the P11 at the convention. Otherwise B15 is really for that, but B15 has a spot for auto trans cooler in the radiator too .

Drove the car a good bit, measured the fluid inside the reservoir around 110*F, the outside of the canister was warmer, 120*F's. Tried to measure the high pressure lines (the exposed metal lines) where not much hotter then canister itself. Sounds like 180-200*F coolant temps is not a good idea for the PS pump.

On an a/t, car like mine with CVT, tranny-oil should not get hotter than 80 C, otherwise the CVT goes into limp-mode. That is why it has an extra/tranny-oil cooler apart from the extra passages in the coolant-radiator. You could also consider the CVT-factory oil cooler, which sits on the bumper suport at the driversside of the car. It´s connections look a lot like the ps-oil lines connections btw, same kind of hose also. It don´t know whether it would be in the way of the IC however.

It looks like this and can be had a lot cheaper btw.

Nissan Primera Camino 1998 Oil Cooler for Automatic 6433050 | eBay