Fluid Cooler: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Dodge Intrepid, 2004 Chrysler Intrepid, 2004 Chrysler Concorde, and 2004 Chrysler 300M. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The purpose of the power steering fluid cooler is to keep the temperature of the power steering system fluid from rising to a level that would affect the performance of the power steering system.

The cooler used on this vehicle is referred to as a fluid-to-air type cooler. This means that the air flow across the tubes of the cooler is used to extract the heat from the cooler which it has absorbed from the power steering fluid flowing through it. The cooler is placed in series with the power steering fluid return line, between the steering gear and the power steering fluid reservoir. This lowers the temperature of the power steering fluid prior to it entering the power steering fluid reservoir where it is resupplied to the power steering pump.