I have a new radiator and it has the 1/4" NPT hookups for a tranny cooler but my car doesn't have an automatic. Can I route my power steering fluid through it? I know I can do it but would the high radiator temp make the PS fluid too hot?

 

Yes it will get real hot.
But flush out the pump and box and put in ATF as P/S fulid I use it.
ATF is made to take heat better than P/S fulid.
I'm thinking of dooing it when I get a trans cooler.

 

Yes, but please make sure you do it on the RETURN line, not the high pressure line or....... POW!

Some 3rd gens already have a PS cooler (sorta). Many I have found have a long loop of metal return line that goes up in front of the radiator and makes a loop and back to the pump. I doubt it works very well but it would make finding a place to tap into to run aftermarket unit in front of your radiator super easy!

 

Yes the 85' Iroc Z's have the metal loop but the 85' V8's don't.
The return line is thin and the high pressure is about 3/4 inches thick and looks like a A/C compresser discharge line don't cut the thick one.

 

Has any one ever did this? Will the trans cooler inside the radiator heat or cool the power steering fluid? I guess that answer depends on whether or not the power steering fliud (with no cooler) gets hotter than the operating temp of the radiator fliud? Does anyone know the normal temp of power steering fluid? Thanks, Shimaze

 

Oil in general, be it engine, trans., PS, or differential, needs to run at temps. above the boiling point of water. Normally operating temps. for oil are in the range of +220*. So the radiator should work very well as a cooler. Of course you don't really need a cooler unless your doing something like road racing where you have huge racing tire on the front and are turning constantly.

And as far as having done this. On my 97 one side of the rad. is used for engine oil cooling and the other is used for PS, from the factory.