'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Ok, so I keep seeing these pictures of engine bays and everyone has this metal piece in the radiator hose line right underneath the TB (the larger line that goes into the radiator, not the smaller ones that feed the TB), my car doesnt have this, neither to any 98's i've seen. What is it?!

XtinctZ28

iTrader: (57)

It is a power steering fluid cooler. Didnt come on F-bodies until later (Not sure what year).

oneBADDz

iTrader: (26)

my 99 has it, my friends 98 doesn't, maybe there's the answer?

StoleIt

iTrader: (3)

SS and WS6's (maybe Formulas and B4C's) got them. Power steering cooler. Basically runs the power steering fluid by the radiator fluid to cool it down.

99camarosupersport

iTrader: (6)

Whats the advantage of cooling your power steering fluid?

oneBADDz

iTrader: (26)

ah, mine's a B4C also, I should have thrown that in there

NHRAMAN

iTrader: (1)

My 99 ws6 has it--cools the fluid if you are turning alot---Autocross/Twisty roads..... [when power steering fluid gets hot, it makes it more difficult to turn]

99camarosupersport

iTrader: (6)

what i suspected, but i actually didn't know that the heat of power steering fluid would make a difference.

NHRAMAN

iTrader: (1)

It does..but I am unsure of how exactly.....ask in the ADVANCED SECTION if you are interested....probably heat changes the Viscosity of the Fluid or something...you would think heat would make it thinner..then again maybe it doesn't work well thinned out.

99camarosupersport

iTrader: (6)

That's true it could work better with more viscosity (maybe it's kind of like oil?) really unsure of how the power steering system even works to be honest with you.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Ahh! I never knew what one looked like. Thanks for the info!

whyte95ZRida

iTrader: (5)

Another thing is if it gets hot enough to start boiling. The power steering will make a vapor that will compress in the p/s lines and it won't turn as well.

99camarosupersport

iTrader: (6)

could someone post a pic? i'm curious as to if i have it....

dailydriver

Yes, this is why serious f body road racers even add an aftermarket air-to-fluid cooler into the system. Without it the fluid will actually boil out of the reservoir and onto the track, getting them black flagged and kicked off (as well as not turning very well).

BTW; it was an option on even base LS1 cars from '00 on (it's the ONLY option I have on my Z28).

1FST99Z

iTrader: (9)

mines a 99 trans am, not WS6, and it has the oil cooler

98 Raptor TA

iTrader: (9)

my 98 TA (non ws6) has it, but the previous owner did some autocrossing so he hay have added it.