Running PS pump with no fluid

[recoiljunky]

Will it hurt my Explorer power steering pump to run it with no power steering fluid? My newly built 398 will be ready to fire up by Saturday but I probably still won't have my high pressure power steering hose. I'll need to run the motor for the standard 30 minute break in time.

Will it burn up the power steering pump? This pump is on a serpentine belt, so I can't just unhook it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[broncnaz]

Probably will burn it up. Id at least connect the inlet and outlet with a lenght of hose to keep oil running through it. Just keep watch that the hose doesnt blow off due to the pressure.

 

[thegreatjustino]

I would just wait until I had everything I needed to do it right. Cutting corners and jumping the gun is never a good thing.

 

[raleigh_bronco]

Yes, pumps create vacuum as they rotate. It's all about volume change and differential pressure created as the vanes or gears rotate, yadda yadda. Anyway the pump rotates it will be sucking air and compressing air which causes cavitation. Cavitation will erode the pump body and damage the rotating member. Don't try it.

 

[Broncobowsher]

As stated, not good for it. Especially new pumps. Used pumps that are already broke in tend to do better. But by better I mean it will last the few seconds it take for the pump to take a prime, not half an hour to break in a cam.

If you have the old cut off hose you can splice that into the return of the resivior and be OK. Low pressure hose is OK for that, as long as you are just circulating oil and not putting any load on it.

 

[recoiljunky]

Darn, that's what I figured.

Hurry up Summit / UPS Man!!!!

 

[mr.n]

Id at least connect the inlet and outlet with a lenght of hose to keep oil running through it.

x2

U-pull yard should have a cheap quick temp solution

 

[Buldozer]

Never run pumps dry is my policy even though I have seen literature that advises otherwise in certain circumstances. The short circuit hose idea is a real good solution.

 

[av bronco]

If you have to hear it run(ive been there) just leave the belt off, you still got your alt belt turning the water pump.

 

[recoiljunky]

FedEx driver brought half of the parts I need to make my hose, UPS man is taking his own sweet time. I hate it when Summit splits up shipments.

This is the only thing holding me up from firing up the motor I started on back in May.

Since it's a serpentine belt I can't just unhook the PS.