Can power steering fluid be too cold?

[Gibbon]

I have a 1JZ in a MA61 - I've been meaning to put in an oil cooler on the low side of the power steering to help with cooling. Reading through the TSRM, it mentions that the fluid should be around 80c.Living in Canberra, it gets pretty cold in the mornings - so my question is, would it cause any issues if the power steering fluid got too cold?Thanks

[schnitzel]

in australia too hot yes, too cold very unlikely as we are using it as an hydraulic rather than a lubricating fluid in power steering

[George]

My steering box whines loudly when it's below -20 C outside and the car has been left to cool down to ambient temp. Maybe that's due to some sort of cavitation when for instance vane pump can't manage increased density of the fluid. However apart from the sound I still have no other issues.

[allencr]

when it's below -20 C outside
Most months of the year?
-20C! Its gotta be almost like glue, how does the automatic trans stuff react? Thanks.

[George]

allencr not really, up to 20 days per year, and for a couple weeks it can stay say -25 or so. On the countryside it's not unusual to be some -25 at night and 0 in the day in spring time. Trans fluid heats up to 40 in coldest days, that's below optimum range but still ok. Driving wise, nothing unusual, anyway in such a weather everything you want is to get from A to B, both A340 and A650 serve well for that )

[maj]

I've never had any issues with power steering fluid in ACT, nor have I seen any different fluid being sold suited for colder climates on our shelves.

Based on those factors I'd say you shouldn't need to worry about cooling or fluid type. As mentioned power steering is hydraulic, not lubricating.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't get *that* cold here! Just our houses are built poorly.

[Gibbon]

Thanks all.

I'll see how this works out.