Loud Whine in 7.3L SD

[jsa75]

Hello all.. I own an 02 7.3L with 288,000 miles. Recently I have noticed a loud whining noise eminating from the engine compartment. It is noticable when I am idling or driving slow, especially when I turn the steering wheel or when I push the brakes. What has gone wrong?

 

[BIG JOE]

Hello all.. I own an 02 7.3L with 288,000 miles. Recently I have noticed a loud whining noise eminating from the engine compartment. It is noticable when I am idling or driving slow, especially when I turn the steering wheel or when I push the brakes. What has gone wrong?

Off the top ? I'd say yer PS pump is low on fluid or... with 228K on it... It's about to go bad ?

Joe

 

[atk]

Off the top ? I'd say yer PS pump is low on fluid or... with 228K on it... It's about to go bad ?

Joe

X2

 

[jsa75]

I topped it off with just a little bit of fluid and the whine isn't as bad... Hopefully the pump isn't about to go..

 

[BIG JOE]

I topped it off with just a little bit of fluid and the whine isn't as bad... Hopefully the pump isn't about to go..

You may wana try this... ?

Check the fluid level. Start it up. Turn the wheels FULL left and right til they reach FULL turn. Bump them against FULL left & right, then back to center. Shut it down down. Check the fluid again.. Add if needed. Check it again in a few days doing the same procedure.

JMO but, Historically... Ford PS pumps are Very sensitive about the fluid level being full, or maybe even a >bit< over the full mark (?).

 

[fgtex]

Just a question...Did you use Auto Trans Fluid or Power Steering Fluid? The first time the fluid level was low, I used PSF w/o reading the manual. The noise did not completely go away until I put in ATF.

 

[jsa75]

Just a question...Did you use Auto Trans Fluid or Power Steering Fluid? The first time the fluid level was low, I used PSF w/o reading the manual. The noise did not completely go away until I put in ATF.

I put in PSF.. I can barely hear the noise now. This may be an ignorant question, but why would I use ATF?

 

[bushpilot]

I put in PSF.. I can barely hear the noise now. This may be an ignorant question, but why would I use ATF?

cause thats what PSF was...or used to be...and most cars w/ ps
used to have it stamped right on the reservoir cap "use atf..."

 

[BIG JOE]

cause thats what PSF was...or used to be...and most cars w/ ps
used to have it stamped right on the reservoir cap "use atf..."

What BP sez.

PSF and ATF are basically.. One and the same: Hydraulic oil.

It's just a People thing.

For the person who does their own maintenence, It's kinda hard for us to put Automatic Transmission Fluid.. in our Power Steering Pumps, unless the Owners Manual sez to use ATF.. and that's a "Man Thing": We don't need no stupid DIRECTIONS......that then, creates a market "Niche" for PSF.



PSF mixes with ATF, and Vice Versa.

 

[sagebel]

Switching to Synthetic fluid stopped my PS whine. Mine has also been flushed the last two years due to blowing a PS hose.

Scott