Explorer PS pump location

[mickphatmac]

I relocated my power steering pump reservoir kind of low to clear the hood and I was wondering if since the outlet is lower then the pump if that will cause a problem?

I can take better pictures if you need to see exactly what I’m talking about.

[Digger]

Just guessing here, but if the fluid level is still higher than the pump inlet, you should be okay.

[Jesus_man]

My only experience with this is in regards to Hydro assist, which requires a significant amount of volume. But the rule of thumb is to get the outlet of the res as close to and above the inlet as possible. Now, with standard PS, you might be ok, but I would make sure the res is as high as you can get it. The other difference is, usually you find out your setup isn't adequate when you are on the trail and working the system hard. On something that is street driven, it doesn't get stressed as much.

How far center to center would you say is the difference?

[Kinder]

A lot of folks have struggled with this problem, the usual outcome to moving the res down and dropping the inlet hose is a burned up pump. The fluid level seems to have little influence as a cavity develops at the inlet to the pump with the hose coming in from below. If your are running a stock hood and little to no body lift then swapping out the res for something you can mount higher seems to work, a common spot is on the firewall, up as high as you can get it & don’t let the return hose sag down below the inlet.

[ZOSO]

Mine is like this along with a "t" line from the hydroboost. I have had zero issues with my pump.

[mickphatmac]

All good info!
I too was looking into possibly mounting a different reservoir higher towards the rear of the engine bay to get more of a downward slope.

Stock hood
NO Body Lift

[Rox Crusher]

mountimg the reservoir on the firewall is a good solution for a street rig.

I don’t have any pics of mine handy but that is what I had for a while

I found that while wheeling the ol girl it would starve the pump whenever the nose was pointed up even slightly.

I relocated the reservoir closer to the pump and oriented it so the output line / feed to the pump is pointed towards the firewall. Now when pointed up the fluid is still getting to the pump

Yes, pump probably starves when facing downhill

I agree with kinks observation about the feed line as well. Even if the fluid level in the res is higher than the pump inlet, if the feed line isn’t long and has a big drop in it, I think it develops a air pocket