[JacobAziza]

golly, one random comment turns the whole topic...

I finished a cross country trip yesterday.
2004 Toyota Matrix, AT
EPA 30mpg highway.
Before we (girlfriend and I) were getting about 30mpg combined, after installing a scangauge, but no mods.

Before she set off to VA (where I already was) she deleted power steering and added grill blocks. I also added rear wheel skirts during the trip back to CA.
Averaged about 40mpg (still need to calculate the exact number) over about 3000 miles and 9 days.
How much was due to being mostly highway driving, how much to minor aero and how much to PS? No idea. We'll have to see what happens now that we are back to mostly city driving.

But I can say its a 2700 lb car empty (plus 2 people, and 3 months worth of clothes and books and stuff for school and a big cooler of food), front wheel drive, with the original PS rack still installed (just drained of fluid) and the only time there is any noticeable resistance is parallel parking. Even then, its more annoying than it is challenging (including for Jessica).

In my 5500 lb truck I did actually install a gearbox with manual steering ratios, but obviously a much larger vehicle. I'd say turning effort is roughly the same in both.

I do think the power steering pump on a clutch is a brilliant idea.

I just learned all about hydraulic theory in mechanic school.
A hydraulic pump uses the exact same amount of force at all times, whether it is under load or not! When you aren't turning, its resistance is just as high as when you are, its just that the excess pressure, instead of pushing on the steering rack, pushes on a relief valve and cycles back to the reservoir.
Its hard to imagine a bigger waste of energy...
Well, maybe using 25-30% efficiency internal combustion engines to power our cars :P