Can I drive with no power steering fluid ?

[Warstud]

A month ago I had to park my winter ride in the driveway and drive my summer vehicle because the winter ride started leaking power steering fluid . Since the P.S. resevoir is empty...... can I drive it into the garage (which is about 30 ft away ) without damaging the PS pump ?

 

[hrv]

 

[andyd]

30 more feet isn't gonna hurt the pump any more than it already is.

 

[dishdude]

Can you remove the belt or add some fluid so it isn't spinning dry?

 

[Vitamin Yoda]

Yes, you can, but you shouldn't.

 

[Vitamin Yoda]

On second thought, why not fill it with some ATF or 0W-20 motor oil? Or any motor oil if push comes to shove? Anything would be 1000x better than running it dry.

 

[vavavroom]

Sure, you still have Armstrong steering.

 

[JHZR2]

I suspect you’ll foam up what’s left in there. I know once I was flushing PSF in a car with an open reservoir, and I let it go a bit low. And it made a LOT of bubbles in just a fraction of a second.

I know that people run their suspension pumps dry on old Mercedes cars. And the pump is split between PS and rear suspension. FWIW.

I think you’ll just get a foamy mess.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Only if you drive straight and don't turn the wheels at all

 

[atikovi]

A month ago I had to park my winter ride in the driveway and drive my summer vehicle because the winter ride started leaking power steering fluid .

Why park it, just remove the belt if it doesn't run the alternator or water pump. I drove a Saturn for a month without power assist and it had EPS. Talk about getting an upper body workout.

 

[Hall]

Remove the belt and drive it.

Fill it up and drive it. It can't leak that much in 30'.

 

[vavavroom]

When I was 18 I went from 165s to 225s on a car without P/S. Parallel parking was initially a bit taxing until my arms began compensating. Popeye had nothing on me.

 

[SC Maintenance]

technically running a hydrualic pump dry can seize it up. Pretty quick. In 30 feet - likely not, but why chance it. Any ATF should get it that far. Just put enough in so you have something.

 

[D60]

Yeah just max out the reservoir with p/s fluid or ATF then drive it in

 

[Lubener]

A month ago I had to park my winter ride in the driveway and drive my summer vehicle because the winter ride started leaking power steering fluid . Since the P.S. resevoir is empty...... can I drive it into the garage (which is about 30 ft away ) without damaging the PS pump ?

Maybe 15 feet but not 30.

 

[Plawan]

Just fill the reservoir up with power steering fluid and move it the 30ft. Then fix the leak and refill and bleed the air out.

 

[Jetronic]

Why park it, just remove the belt if it doesn't run the alternator or water pump. I drove a Saturn for a month without power assist and it had EPS. Talk about getting an upper body workout.

for 30ft you don't need the alternator or water pump either

 

[demarpaint]

30' shouldn't be an issue driving straight. If I had to turn the wheel I'd top it up.

 

[hrv]

Push it.....

 

[Kira]

Got it....
Add an inline filter....fill it with MMO....drop in "dealership only" PS rejuvenation pills....and seal sweller!