Grand Caravan FWD V6-3.8L VIN L (2001)
Power Steering Fluid Cooler: Description and Operation
DESCRIPTION
All models of this vehicle are equipped with a cooler for the power steering system fluid. The power steering fluid cooler is located on the front
suspension cradle crossmember reinforcement. There are two different size coolers offered depending on options. There is a standard 6-inch and an
8-inch for vehicles equipped with the heavy duty cooling package.
OPERATION
The purpose of the power steering fluid cooler is to keep the temperature of the power steering system fluid from rising to a level that would affect the
performance of the power steering system.
The cooler used on this vehicle is referred to as a fluid-to-air type cooler. This means that the air flow across the tubes (and fines surrounding them) of
the cooler is used to extract the heat from the cooler which it has absorbed from the power steering fluid flowing through it. The cooler is placed in
series with the power steering fluid return line, between the steering gear and the power steering fluid reservoir. This lowers the temperature of the
power steering fluid prior to it entering the power steering fluid reservoir where it is resupplied to the power steering pump.