The 1500 psi is only between the high pressure side of the pump and the PS
rack. After coming out of the rack it is low pressure. Thus the plastic
reservoir holds it quite nicely. Many hydraulics run at 1500-3000 psi, some
higher. Normal stuff for hydraulics.

Probably a bigger problem with the PS system is that the oil is not filtered
and most of us rarely change the oil. Vane type pumps (the kind that are in
the Van) need very clean oil. The pressure relief valve allows the pump to
"idle" and spin but not pump as the pressure reaches a certain level  (or
perhaps the flow gets reduced, I am not clear on this). I would suspect
dirty oil would be harmful to the pressure regulating valve, as it would to
the seals in the entire PS system.

Keep it clean, don't worry about the pressure sounding high. It's normal.

Myron Lind
Harrisonburg, VA
1982 Diesel getting mechanical TDI

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of s w
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 11:47 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: PS pump pressure testing?

> Bentley says that the appropriate pressure should be
> around 1500 PSI!

just a question, maybe a dumb one at that...but i just
have to ask...how is it that our little plastic power
steering resevoir's can handle that pressure? assuming
that in a sealed system the pressure would be the same
throughout...anybody???

=====
Scott Wilson
85 GL Westfalia

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