PS Reservoir for 5.0 Explorer Serp Conversion

[widowmaker77]

I gotcha . I had to lower mine to get he hood to close, then when I put an explorer style ac compressor on I had to rearrange it again. So I’m looking at doing something different. I like the dual return super duty one in the pic above. I’m also running Astro van hydroboost

 

[ntsqd]

I have Lee's.

Pretty pricey but nice:

Ford Explorer 5.0L Reservoir Kit

Lee reservoirs are much more than a tank for holding fluid. Our power steering reservoir uses a unique design to keep the fluid perfectly still. This results in zero cavitation and reduces air in the oil which keeps operating temperatures lower. Our pressurized cap keeps oil in and dirt out...

leepowersteering.com

Just noticed that they committed a terrible sin in one of their pictures. They put hose clamps on Push-Lock/Barb-tite socketless hose ends, which risks cutting the hose liner. Those hose ends don't need a clamp to be good for up to the burst pressure of the hose itself.

I have two of the Lee reservoirs (primary on the Wagon, back-up on the FSB), and they work great.

 

[betzgb]

I ended up going the route of the Lee system reservoir. Incredible products and incredible people! They customized the location of the PS box return barb for me to make it work better with my setup. Can't recommend a vendor more than the guys at Lee.

 

[ksagis]

I ended up going the route of the Lee system reservoir. Incredible products and incredible people! They customized the location of the PS box return barb for me to make it work better with my setup. Can't recommend a vendor more than the guys at Lee.

Can you do me a favor and take some pictures of the inside of the reservoir - I'm curious what is done to smooth out the flow from the return disturbing the flow going out. I'm guessing it's some kind of screen or something.

 

[ba123]

Can you do me a favor and take some pictures of the inside of the reservoir - I'm curious what is done to smooth out the flow from the return disturbing the flow going out. I'm guessing it's some kind of screen or something.

There is a baffle on the top and not sure anything below it but you can’t see.

 

[ksagis]

There is a baffle on the top and not sure anything below it but you can’t see.

Is the baffle you mention below where the returns enter the rez? i.e. straightening the flow in the vertical direction before the fluid finds it's way to the outlet / pump?

@ntsqd, I seem to recall that you posted on some thread someplace that you build a rez for power steering - you have any guidance if I even built one?

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Figured I’d throw an additional option into the mix, bmw 335d power steering reservoir with a 3d printed mount. These are nice because they have an internal filter and are dirt cheap to replace.

 

[.94 OR]

Figured I’d throw an additional option into the mix, bmw 335d power steering reservoir with a 3d printed mount. These are nice because they have an internal filter and are dirt cheap to replace.

$8-40 on RockAuto
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...445227,steering,power+steering+reservoir,7378

 

[ksagis]

Thanks for tip on BMW rez, I might buy one, but now that I think about it, maybe easier to source an explorer rez since basically would be remaking it in metal with dual returns.

@lars, you posted in #3 of this thread on building your own, did you do anything special on fluid management from the returns before it goes to pump?

From the Lee website on their system:

"Lee reservoirs are much more than a tank for holding fluid. Our power steering reservoir uses a unique design to keep the fluid perfectly still. This results in zero cavitation and reduces air in the oil which keeps operating temperatures lower. Our pressurized cap keeps oil in and dirt out."

 

[.94 OR]

Integrate cooling fins to the BMW res?

 

[ksagis]

.94 OR, That's a sexy part, does it come in different diameters? Looks like the BMW tank is plastic so heat transfer is gonna be pretty crappy.

Surfing around CB a bit ago I came across this thread that shows an internal baffle on Jaime's tanks but it looks to be above where the inlets and outlet are located so still wondering about internal baffles.

Feels like a cruciform on top of a perforated mesh (with the returns entering above these features) would work well (similar to what we do on tanks in aerospace)

Edit: another topic that seems to be some debate - vented or pressurized. Lee is pretty clear on running a pressurized cap. Several folks have used the custom from Jaime and I see in this thread that it looked like his was vented. Except for the high angle issue, people have seemed super happy with it. Any opinions on vented or not?

 

[lars]

Thanks for tip on BMW rez, I might buy one, but now that I think about it, maybe easier to source an explorer rez since basically would be remaking it in metal with dual returns.

@lars, you posted in #3 of this thread on building your own, did you do anything special on fluid management from the returns before it goes to pump?

From the Lee website on their system:

"Lee reservoirs are much more than a tank for holding fluid. Our power steering reservoir uses a unique design to keep the fluid perfectly still. This results in zero cavitation and reduces air in the oil which keeps operating temperatures lower. Our pressurized cap keeps oil in and dirt out."

Sheesh, that was a long time ago. Mine is overcomplicated but in a way it's undercomplicated. Mine really just is a tank for holding fluid, though I incorporated a sorta-baffle horizontally that divides upper and lower in the hope of stilling the fluid at least a little bit. The cap I used is vented. My power steering system is pretty basic. Explorer pump, stock except for an AN adapter on the output. Hydroboost. 4x4x2 steering box. Junkyard stacked plate cooler from some Ford truck, application lost to time. Never had issues in 20 years, pump doesn't whine, happily pushes 35" tires around corners.

 

[ksagis]

Appreciate the feedback lars, our setups are roughly the same except I have a ram as well. Sounds like the extent that you did was adding a horizontal sorta-baffle. I'm guessing you put the returns above the baffle and the outlet was below the baffle?

I'm thinking of implementing a cruciform (basically a cross) to take out velocity coming in, with a perforated baffle below the cruciform to encourage the fluid vertically towards the outlet (returns above). Good to know that that you did vented cap with good results, thanks for sharing that.

 

[lars]

Appreciate the feedback lars, our setups are roughly the same except I have a ram as well. Sounds like the extent that you did was adding a horizontal sorta-baffle. I'm guessing you put the returns above the baffle and the outlet was below the baffle?

I'm thinking of implementing a cruciform (basically a cross) to take out velocity coming in, with a perforated baffle below the cruciform to encourage the fluid vertically towards the outlet (returns above). Good to know that that you did vented cap with good results, thanks for sharing that.

Just found some old pics (2009). All ports below baffle, which was even with the bottom of the notch in back. Which was there to clear the lines coming off the Sanden AC compressor that I was using for OBA at the time. The weld at the front is also baffle level. Ignore anything else you see in the engine compartment photo, as almost everything has changed.

 

[ntsqd]

Is the baffle you mention below where the returns enter the rez? i.e. straightening the flow in the vertical direction before the fluid finds it's way to the outlet / pump?

@ntsqd, I seem to recall that you posted on some thread someplace that you build a rez for power steering - you have any guidance if I even built one?

I did. It is closer to working, but I'm not convinced that it works correctly yet.

I ran a bore scope down into a Lee reservoir. The box return has a tube extension that was butted into a cross-tube in a 'T' shape. I'm not convinced of the lack of cavitation, but I put it back on every time I make a revision to my own reservoir and it works. I didn't build my own to be cheap, I built it to learn how to build them, and I'm closing in on that. Biggest piece of advice if you're going to build one it do not vent it. That might go against what seems like should be done, but do it anyway. Easiest way is that Lee used to sell their cap and bung. If they still do, buy that one.
Can find some pics of mine during assembly/fabrication in the Snowball link in my sig, as well as what parts I used. Once I get it fully sorted out and working I'll build a new one using all of the lessons learned. The 'candy cane' vent tube shown in those pics will not be duplicated.

 

[toddz69]

Lee now uses sealed caps in their reservoirs but they have a bleed line near the top of the reservoir.

https://leepowersteering.com/collections/reservoirs/products/stg-custom-reservoir-builder

Todd Z.

 

[ksagis]

Lee now uses sealed caps in their reservoirs but they have a bleed line near the top of the reservoir.

https://leepowersteering.com/collections/reservoirs/products/stg-custom-reservoir-builder

Todd Z.

Seems to me the bleed line is just a vent tube like an overflow on a radiator rez to make sure it goes to a desired area versus hot headers? Or is it meant to pull a vaccum during bleeding and then becomes an overflow tube?

 

[ntsqd]

Lee now uses sealed caps in their reservoirs but they have a bleed line near the top of the reservoir.

https://leepowersteering.com/collections/reservoirs/products/stg-custom-reservoir-builder

Todd Z.

Hum, that's not helpful. In my research I came across the thread started by a guy who makes hyd. steering systems for crawlers and bouncers who made me realize that pressure in the reservoir is a good thing. It increases the hydrostatic head on the pump, which helps counter cavitation.

 

[ksagis]

I did. It is closer to working, but I'm not convinced that it works correctly yet.

I ran a bore scope down into a Lee reservoir. The box return has a tube extension that was butted into a cross-tube in a 'T' shape. I'm not convinced of the lack of cavitation, but I put it back on every time I make a revision to my own reservoir and it works. I didn't build my own to be cheap, I built it to learn how to build them, and I'm closing in on that. Biggest piece of advice if you're going to build one it do not vent it. That might go against what seems like should be done, but do it anyway. Easiest way is that Lee used to sell their cap and bung. If they still do, buy that one.
Can find some pics of mine during assembly/fabrication in the Snowball link in my sig, as well as what parts I used. Once I get it fully sorted out and working I'll build a new one using all of the lessons learned. The 'candy cane' vent tube shown in those pics will not be duplicated.

Thanks for tidbits, let me check to be sure I understand, you saying from running a boroscope down a Lee rez that the only feature of note was a T fitting inside the rez where the return was “dumping” into the rez?

If so, seems like a good a idea, maybe would be a good complement to my cruciform idea.

I’ll dig in your build pics, thanks

 

[ksagis]

Just found some old pics (2009). All ports below baffle, which was even with the bottom of the notch in back. Which was there to clear the lines coming off the Sanden AC compressor that I was using for OBA at the time. The weld at the front is also baffle level. Ignore anything else you see in the engine compartment photo, as almost everything has changed.

View attachment 966774 View attachment 966775 View attachment 966776

Returns below the outlet, now I have something new to think about. Hmmmm.