Powersteering Pump Reservoir Vent?

[Izzy]

I have a PSC Reservoir to hold the powersteering fluid for my hydroboost/PS pump setup. The PSC reservoir cap has a vent hole in the top. Should this vent hole be plugged, vented to a second bottle, or left open?

 

[Izzy]

Any thoughts?

 

[Apogee]

My brother runs a PSC remote rezzy with filter and installed a pushlock fitting for polyurethane tubing, and runs it to a central filtered vent/catch can for all of his other vents. That said, you could just install a small brass vent/filter and call it good...might be what I do. How often do you put the truck on it's side or top?

 

[Izzy]

I never put the truck on it's side and if it happens, it not intentional

Didn't know if this was a pressure issue or not. I have noticed it is spewing some fluid on occasion as it's messy around the reservoir now.

 

[bigjhoov]

You can just attach a hose and let it vent to the ground, or attach it to a catch can.

PSC sells a fancy vent that holds 6psi of pressure on the system, but they're about $75.

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/remote-anti-splash-reservoir-w-6-relief.html

 

[ntsqd]

I'd be really tempted to try one of these:
https://www.mcmaster.com/#about-exhaust-mufflers/=15auoag

I use them on ARB solenoids to keep dirt out of them too.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The simple answer is...
Just leave it open. Never seal it, thermal expansion will make ugly things happen.
Now given people wanting to overly complicate things in the thought they are somehow making it better, thinking that they are going to be driving it underwater, or a single spec of dust will cause the system to seize in two seconds can have you running remote vent lines and filters that are not needed.

 

[ntsqd]

One spec of dirt may not be too big of a deal, but over time that will become thousands of specs and that is a big deal. If it can easily leak PS fluid it isn't well baffled enough to keep dirt out either.

Flip side is with a long hose to a remote filter the breathing will be overly constrained.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Filter needed? Find me a single OEM application with a filtered power steering vent. If it were that big of a deal you would see filters on factory applications.

 

[ntsqd]

Raise and Call: Find me an OEM PS reservoir that isn't baffled well enough to keep the fluid from spewing in normal use. I never said a filter was required.

 

[Apogee]

To be fair, if you have the PSC reservoir with the filter in it, then there isn't any need to add another. Hydroboost can really benefit from the filter since contaminants/shrapnel from the steering gear seams to prematurely cause failure more often than not in my experience.

 

[pbwcr]

Venting is required. If you do not control what come out the vent it can get kinda messy at times. Recommend connecting that vent hole to a hose to the ground or to a small catch container.You probably wont have much fluid in any case. Mine just goes to the ground. An open vent with no filter should work fine. Nothing will get into your system via an open vent hose.
PaulW

 

[ntsqd]

To clarify, the reason that I've used those pneumatic mufflers is to provide baffling to an otherwise poorly or un-baffled vent. They may look like they're a filter, but they are not really intended to be used that way. They are used in industrial automation to keep pneumatic noise down. If enough dirt can get into ARB solenoid exhaust ports to give them a bad reputation for sticking then enough dirt can get into a poorly baffled PS reservoir to cause trouble. I prefer the tidiness of the mufflers over a road draft tube, but either works.

 

[Izzy]

Thank you all for the answers and clarification. Now I know!!