I had an '84 Vanagon that I installed power steering on and I have also done that for many others. The difference in fuel economy was negligible. No way was there a loss of 3 mpg. Based on the size of the belt, is unlikely that the power steering can even consume a constant 3 hp. When the steering is unloaded, the pump is mostly just pushing the oil around at low pressure. It is only when the wheel is turned and the vehicle is moving slowly where some real effort is needed does the pump get loaded and start requiring some real torque to create some pressure. Many vehicles are now going to "electric power steering" but most of these systems completely eliminate the hydraulics. The basically use a servo motor to assist with turning the steering shaft. Except the controls, makes for a simple, low cost solution. Dennis -----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Mike Miller Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 4:42 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Retrofit Electric Pumps Perhaps what is meant is that power steering since it's ON all the time on the average consumes more power than the AC? Mike
On 2/19/08 1:28 PM, "Bill Collins" <wb6otg@INTREX.NET> wrote: >> They claim:" the hydraulic steering system in your car siphons off >> somewhere between one to three miles per gallon from your vehicle's >> performance and consumes more energy than your car's air conditioner? > > If it really consumed more power than the air conditioner, I'd think the PS > pump would have as large a belt and as solid a mounting as the A/C compressor. > It clearly doesn't. > > Bill |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.