| dguthmann |
Someone asked this question in another thread, but it never really got answered.
Does anyone know why Acura wants to install a power steering cooler with the towing package? My mechanic has the hitch from his old MDX that he is going to sell me. So I still need to install the coolers. I know I still need a transmission cooler, but do I really need a PS cooler? |
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| deltajetfixer |
| Because towing increases the underhood temperature (engine working harder/burning more fuel) and Honda/Acura thinks the power steering performance might degrade if its cooling wasn't augmented. |
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| renov8r |
The thinking goes like this -- increased load == increased effort to steer. Increased steering effort == more work for PS pump to do == more heat in PS fluid.
The nature of hooking up a trailer also means more steering 'inputs'.
Will your PS fail with out one? I would not want to find out...
BTW I wonder if ANYBODY besides vicpai has had a containminated PS cooler??? |
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| deltajetfixer |
quote:
Originally posted by renov8r
The thinking goes like this -- increased load == increased effort to steer. Increased steering effort == more work for PS pump to do == more heat in PS fluid.
The nature of hooking up a trailer also means more steering 'inputs'.
I agree with your second statement.
Regarding your first: What happens to the weight on the front wheels when a tongue load is applied downward on the trailer hitch?
The wheels are now "unloaded"...SO...
Wouldn't it go: DEcreased load==DEcreased effort to steer. DEcreased steering effort==LESS work for PS pump to do==LESS heat in PS fluid?
:2:
I'll stick with my original reply...:D |
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| Caseus |
In general would I tend to agree with deltajetfixer, towing is going to create more heat in the engine compartment, and Honda may have identified the PS system as a possible weak link.
However, there may in fact be some direct impacts on the PS system. Positive tongue pressure will somewhat unload the front wheels making the front tire patches smaller, in turn making steering MORE difficult for the driver. The driver will have to provide greater (and more frequent) steering inputs to get the desired vehicle response.
Bottom line: Too much heat ---> PS failure ---> crash! :(
So get the PS cooler! imho :) |
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| mcclendons |
Caseus has it right, both underhood temps and steering effort create the need. If it is a good trailer, there should not be much weight on the tongue (although it is a leveraged weight)...so it should not pull much weight off the front. Typically a trailer creates an increased need to steer 9as mentioned below), as it loads and unloads the hitch, sways etc. Also, when breaking and turning, there is typically a much greater load on the steering......and of course this is when the steering is working the most.
Bottom line, IMO, is that the Acura PS is marginal anyway. I've seen some reports of problems not related to towing. The extra heat in the engine bay, combined with the increased steering movement and strain when stopping/turning, all make a marginal situation worse
Why chance it... |
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| shootist |
| The problem with underhood temperature got worse with the '03's. One stage of the catalytic converters were moved up to the exhaust manifolds, right off the engine. |
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| XStatic |
quote:
Originally posted by deltajetfixer
Regarding your first: What happens to the weight on the front wheels when a tongue load is applied downward on the trailer hitch?
The wheels are now "unloaded"...SO...
Hopefuly you balance the load on the trailer so there isn't much of a downward load on the tongue. If you end up with your front wheels "unloaded" you can make the vehicle unsafe to drive. |
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| xcel |
Hi All:
___From someone that hauls trailers, this is a good question. I don’t have an answer for you directly but I can tell you that there are quite a bit more steering corrections needed when hauling vs. when not and that is probably the reason.
___By the way, I hauled a loaded landscape trailer about 20 miles round trip to the Midwest Group Meet a few weeks ago. The X did not like towing from my seat of the pants perspective. That and this was the first time I only averaged ~ 12 miles/gallon in any vehicle I have ever owned … ever. (There was that one time in an XR4Ti at 100 + across the state of Iowa about 17 years ago ;))
___I hope that those of you that own X’s and tow with them have had better experiences than I did in my one time pull but the X was wandering, struggling to accelerate the load, and the X’s suspension/chassis felt like it was not ready for the task at hand. Tongue height was ~ equal to the height I tow from with the Chevy and Nissan trucks so I don’t think the loading/weight distribution was the problem either? I just did not feel comfortable towing the trailer and gear which altogether was in the 3500 # range w/ an ~ 300 # tongue weight with the X.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi All:
___I hope that those of you that own X’s and tow with them have had better experiences than I did in my one time pull but the X was wandering, struggling to accelerate the load, and the X’s suspension/chassis felt like it was not ready for the task at hand. Tongue height was ~ equal to the height I tow from with the Chevy and Nissan trucks so I don’t think the loading/weight distribution was the problem either? I just did not feel comfortable towing the trailer and gear which altogether was in the 3500 # range w/ an ~ 300 # tongue weight with the X.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
I towed about half that load (roughly 1200-1500) in a UHaul with no problem at all at freeway speeds and hilly terrain. But thanks for the warning. I don't anticipate ever towing much else except maybe a light boat or bicycles. Glad to know the limitations from someone who's been there. |
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