Power Steering without a cooler

cityRaccoon

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Again and this time quite serious.

We were planning to get rear breaks done and broken stud today. And suddenly power steering pump started to rattle. Nothing new, we have a leak, mechanic said it is rack and pinion, so I fixed it with stop leak (Lucas). So I added some fluid and we head towards mechanic. Halfway just after few miles pump started to rattle again. So I added more of it.

At garage they found a "cut" on return line (maybe I am wrong), fluid goes by this line after the cooler. The line was rubbing against subframe or arm and got cut through (It must be some brackets to hold the line I guess). Mechanic suggested to bypass the cooler. That was cheap and fast solution.

We sorta going to dump this car in December. My question is how important this cooler is? Will fluid boil? How should I drive (assume like a granny)? How safe it is?

I tried to google and it isnt many results coming up...
 
the fluid could overheat but how long that would take or under what condition is hard to tell. The fluid wont boil but it will loose it's lubricating ability and cause parts such as the rack and the pump to fail. why cant you replace the hose?
 
the fluid could overheat but how long that would take or under what condition is hard to tell. The fluid wont boil but it will loose it's lubricating ability and cause parts such as the rack and the pump to fail. why cant you replace the hose?

I asked mechanic for the quote and answer was:
1. It is about 4-5 hours labour, need to drop the engine and all that jazz
2. Car doesnt have any value, not worth it

If it is really dangerous and/or car would last till Dec than we do it
 
i have no idea what kind and how much driving you will do between now and December. I wouldn't think it is dangerous but I have no way of knowing if the fluid will deteriorate to the point where the rack or pump would be damaged and fail. I would also get a quote from another shop.
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It would be interesting to see the actual before and after temp. Isn't it just a 4 foot piece of tubing ? Even if you lived in the south I doubt it's going to be a problem.
 
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