Hello everyone!

I've searched and searched, and I can't find the information I'm looking for.

I live in Fort McMurray, Northern Alberta. We routinely get dumped in the deep freeze 3-4 times a year, sitting at -40C and colder for 1-2 weeks at a time... so yes, 8 weeks per year, its cold as sin.

Last cold spell, I lost control of my 2007 Dodge Ram when the PS failed. Luckly I was pulling into a parking stall and was able to avoid hitting anything.

Long story short, the Dodge dealer replaced the Rack/Pinion assy under 'goodwill' waranty, even though I am 3,000kms over my drive train wty. I've spoken with quite a few people and this appears to be more common than I realized. My salesman, a close family friend, and 2 others at work had theirs fail in the last cold spell! And the rental place had every one of their Dodge products down due to this! I was warned when I bought the truck to warm it up when its cold, but I did.. 45 minutes worth of it.. and it failed only after driving for 20 minutes when I did a hard corner.

Now the dealer has advised me that I have a 1 year P&L warranty on the Rack and Pinion. I'm scared spitless however that this is going to happen again. My wife would not have been strong enough to control the truck, and I have an 11wk old daughter. So, more than ever, I'm thinking safety. We often travel a 400km stretch of highway with few services, that breakdowns are often a catalyst to a life and death situation.

Anyhow, I've been reading that Synthetic PS fluid (Amsoil) or Full Synthetic ATF would help prevent the issue from happening again, due to its ability to resist becoming extremely viscous at those temperatures. Speaking to some 'vets' of the area, they do this to their trucks.

The questions I'd like answers to:
1- Am I right by thinking Synthetic fluids would help?
2- Would Mopar still Warranty the rack if I did this?
3- Isn't this a safety issue that should have a recall?

Please help!

 

for sure put synthetic in. I know amsoil flows to -54 or so. check out the specs on the one you put in. they should love you for putting synthetic in, the dealer changed my trans oil to synthetic for me.

 

Same thing happened to me, except mine wasn't replaced under good warranty...just under the goodness of my freakin wallet...lol.
I'm not too sure about these freakin trucks, but they really don't like the extreme cold thats for sure, but nothing does. I was just told that when it is that cold, make sure the truck is warmed right up, upon leaving the parking spot give it a little left and right to make sure the fluid gets moving on both sides of the racks, and try not to do any full right or left turns after decelling from a high speed (from a highway). Also, a winter front definetely helps, I just got one and my truck warms up faster... Just a thought.

 

But would putting synthetic in void my new 1 year P&L warranty do you think?

 

dont know about voiding but in them temps i would change it even if it voided the warrenty.

 

Just make sure the synthetic you put in meets or exceeds the DX minimum requirements, SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS, and just to be sure, call the dealer that changed the rack and ask them. If its going to save them having to install another rack and PS pump under warranty, he might even offer to do it for you--who knows?

 

I take it your making this statement as in safety vs. liability.... which is the direction I'm heading...

It's -25C tonight and we are supposed to be headed into the deep freeze again... no final word from Dodge on this yet...