I had an '84 Vanagon that I installed power steering on and I have also
done that for many others. The difference in fuel economy was negligible.
No way was there a loss of 3 mpg. Based on the size of the belt, is
unlikely that the power steering can even consume a constant 3 hp. When
the steering is unloaded, the pump is mostly just pushing the oil around
at low pressure. It is only when the wheel is turned and the vehicle is
moving slowly where some real effort is needed does the pump get loaded
and start requiring some real torque to create some pressure.

Many vehicles are now going to "electric power steering" but most of these
systems completely eliminate the hydraulics. The basically use a servo
motor to assist with turning the steering shaft. Except the controls,
makes for a simple, low cost solution.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Miller
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 4:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Retrofit Electric Pumps

Perhaps what is meant is that power steering since it's ON all the time on
the average consumes more power than the AC?

Mike

On 2/19/08 1:28 PM, "Bill Collins" <wb6otg@INTREX.NET> wrote:

>> They claim:" the hydraulic steering system in your car siphons off
>> somewhere between one to three miles per gallon from your vehicle's
>> performance and consumes more energy than your car's air conditioner?
>
> If it really consumed more power than the air conditioner, I'd think the
PS
> pump would have as large a belt and as solid a mounting as the A/C
compressor.
> It clearly doesn't.
>
> Bill