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Old 08-04-2008, 01:41 PM   #7 (permalink)
Gregte
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 117

GMC Sonoma - '94 GMC Sonoma
90 day: 36.97 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryland View Post
...as long as that power steering pump is turning it is doing at least a small amount of work and the less friction you have the easier it will turn and the less gas you will use..
Yes, this is why I was contemplating changing to synthetic. The question is, how MUCH less gas will you use, i.e. how long till you realize a payback?

As you mentioned, even when the pump is not developing power to steer the wheels it is still continuously pumping. It seems that it would be beneficial if that fluid were multi viscosity since pumping it continuously in cold weather is going to waste even more gas. Or better yet, maybe improvise a way to use the engine heat to heat the steering fluid in the winter.
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