Is this the power steering unit?

[BusDreamerRick]

Hello! Currently parked off the highway, due to a leak on our 1990 International skoolie with the dt466 (auto. mechanical) 3800 with the md436 transmission. So I was able to identify the leaks location and it’s coming from the bearing on this whatever this unit is. Whatever goes in there is definitely low at 80celsius as it says on the dipper. When the accelerator is pressed it makes the bearing leak whatever runs through it.

I’ve made it like this from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz like this apparently and really just need to know what to put in it for the remainder of the trip back home. I’m definitely replacing this thing as I can’t In Santa Cruz.

I’ve seen in the net that you could use 15w-40 engine oil as power steering fluid if it’s a power steering thing. Anyone had any experience with that? If not, what would you recommend?

Again can anyone identify what this unit does? What it’s called? And possibly the best way to go about fixing it?

The odometer reads 610k Miles, but the engine has been rebuilt by the forest service so I couldn’t give you much history.

The picture is taken on the right side if your standing infront of the bus.




Thank you very much!

 

[sportyrick]

Power steering pump, just find a reman and change it out, change the high pressure hose for sure and/or the low pressure hose also. Blowing the high pressure hose with a hot engine will burn your bus to the ground. After a while the seal goes bad but it needs to be changed before that, probably every 10 years or there about or every couple hundred thousand miles, both high pressure hose and pump. Most the time if I am going in there to do that I change the water pump at the same time. These are the things that will shut you down out on the road for days. Also keep a mental timeline on your alternator and starter age, another pair that u need to keep in mind for PM but they are easier to change out on the road. On my way back from Skooliepalooza my alternator went out in Los Cruses NM and it was only 3 years old, can't predict that.

 

[cadillackid]

yeppers powered steering pump.. they are easy to get.. that one looks like a pretty standard saginaw unit.. NAPA stores wit ha machine shop can make you a new high pressure hose pretty quickly.. the IH dealer will charge you a fortune for it..



the new pump will come without a pulley, you can usually do the tool rent / borrow from NAPA or auto-zone for the powered steering pullet remover installer and its an easy job to move your old one over..

 

[BusDreamerRick]

Power steering pump, just find a reman and change it out, change the high pressure hose for sure and/or the low pressure hose also. Blowing the high pressure hose with a hot engine will burn your bus to the ground. After a while the seal goes bad but it needs to be changed before that, probably every 10 years or there about or every couple hundred thousand miles, both high pressure hose and pump. Most the time if I am going in there to do that I change the water pump at the same time. These are the things that will shut you down out on the road for days. Also keep a mental timeline on your alternator and starter age, another pair that u need to keep in mind for PM but they are easier to change out on the road. On my way back from Skooliepalooza my alternator went out in Los Cruses NM and it was only 3 years old, can't predict that.

Thanks for the info! Scary to think this thing could blow up the whole operation! Will get it taken cared of ASAP! What is a reman btw? I looked up “reman” and just got ramen restaurants near me lol!

Yeah, i have an extra alternator, but I’ve never had to deal with a power steering pump. I’ll definitely swap out the hoses when I get it replaced. Is it someone I need an oil tray for?

 

[BusDreamerRick]

What does replacing this thing look like? There’s no tension pulley for the belt. I’ve worked mostly on gas so this is a whole new thing for me. Any YouTube videos you’d recommend would be incredible! As I’m doing this all myself lol!

 

[BusDreamerRick]

So I’m somewhere with better reception, the thing is still totally leaking, you guys know if it would be okay to put in that “leak stopper” power steering fluid penzoil stuff in there?

 

[cadillackid]

on the cars ive had with those Power steering units.. there is a slide bolt behind the pulley or just outside of it you get wit ha skinny wrench or a socket.. theres a pivot bolt you also loosen then you can push the pump forward and drop the belts off... unbolt the lines (I use actual line wrenches for the high pressure line as they are usually pretty tight..).. then take the 2 bolts out and the pump comes off..


using a power steering pullet puller you pull the pulley off (new pumps dont come with them typically).. that same tool usually has an installer to put it on the new pump.. bolt it on.. put the lines on and the belts and use a pry-bar CAREFULLY (not against the reservoire) to pull back on the belts to tighten them.. and tighten the bolts rest of the way down.. with dual belts they need to be decently tioght but they definitely dont need to be banjo string tight or you will rip the bearings out of the pump.

 

[sportyrick]

Reman means remanufactured.