Crappy power steering hoses.

[Rex in OTZ]

So far to date Ive changed mostly pressure hoses and one return hose, all problems seem to happen in cold temps, we let the rigs warm up depending on who's driveing they useally get babied, like cramping the weel over sharp without moving, seems the OEM & NAPA brand material's just cannot handle anything cold for any length of time
From 2003 to date this is what Ive changed and on what vehicle.
Our winters we mostly drive on hardpacked snow.
2002 Dodge Durango 5ea pressure hoses, one return hose
3 of these hoses were Dodge Mfg, 2 were NAPA, the one on it now is a custom by Alaska Rubber.
2000 Ford ranger 2ea pressure hoses One ford one NAPA.
1999 chevy Suburban 4pressure hoses.  2 chevy, 2 NAPA, last Custom Alaska Rubber.

[Graybeard]

Maybe you need to find a warmer place to live. I've never changed one in roughly 50 years of driving.

[Lloyd Smale]

where the heck do you live? I live as far north in Michigan as it gets and we have below zero weather routinely in the winter and ive never had a power stearing hose break either.

[Dee]

Somethings going on besides the weather, and you here have three makes of vehicles, with the same problem. I would say someone is working the power steering to the extreme, possibly while the vehicle is sitting still. OR! Perhaps the fluid type or fluid levels are wrong. I haven't had to change 5 pressure hoses in the 45 years I've been driving, and I have put some serious miles on some vehicles in the past, and in some extreme weather.

[Rex in OTZ]

Fellers down to Polar Auto (Kotzebue AK) say the common problem's with Dodges is #1 the power steering pressure hose leaking, #2 is the windshield wiper motor, #3 is the tank mounted fuel pump.
As we have a closed road system we dont get over 35MPH, we do have problems with the exhaust systems vapor condenseing up and blocking off the muffler with Ice.

[Dee]

My son was stationed at Fairbanks for about 4 years. He told some stories about the cold that most down here couldn't fathom. You seem to have a theory about the Dodge, what about the same problem with the Ford and Chevy?

[Rex in OTZ]

The Fords and Chevy's all have there share of problems involving the cold, depends on what your willing to put up with, some the new computerized chevy's have engine problems that Chevy Tech's are still trying to iron out, involving
fouling sparkplugs, the new 2007 and up chevy's have power steering pressure hose problem as related by Dealership tech's, the word from the North Slope Oil fields is the chevy power steering hoses are total junk, theyve been sending the bad hoses to Alaska Rubber and build up new cold rated hoses useing the old hose metal ends, frozzen shut doors (all brands) stemming from the gas saving aerodynamic's of the Body work this also affects the windshield wipers of the Dodge and the New chev's the snow & ice packs in the well's the wiper arms are located in,The ranger had the steering gearbox seal go out, leaking drive train shaft seals, auto locking hubs sticking, electric systems involving timers and servos/motors/relays just not working (dodge heat selector servo rarely works below 10degrees)
Electric windows and door locks, electric seat adjusters, Cab lights, the list goes on and on.
Weak chevy starts its not the battery its the starter all I can do is buy buy another starter.
Ford ranger broke a sway arm stabilizer tie rod snapped due to the cold when the tire went over a  clod of snow (-36F)
New rigs one cannot mount a nice block heater because this tells the computer not to choke during startup and will fill the battery trying to start and get it to stay running, thats whay I mounted a heating pad on the oil pan instead.
Run as many frost plug heaters as one can get away with, then round out with heating pads, and battery blanket.
A heated garage isant economical for most folks (Heating oil $4.641/per gal)

[Lloyd Smale]

even down here ive shared the wiper problem on the chevs. My 06 has gone through two wiper motors due to me being to lazy to clean the snow out of the wiper blade well.

[KP]

Rex,

I blew out the pressure side of my F250 my first year in Fairbanks, I think that was 2005. The temp was only around -20, really not that cold. The dealership upgraded the hoses and the PS fluid with Arctic Grade stuff. Now that could have been total BS, but I never had it blow out again. As you know this past winter wasn't too bad, but a couple of winters ago we hit -50 or colder a few times.

KP

[Rex in OTZ]

Auto hoses that work great in Opa Locka, FL dont cut the mustard in the Arctic.
What is as flexable and resiliant in the mid states set up hard and crack/fracture in the cold.
Seems some power cords rated for outdoor cold dont stand up.
Have one ACE hardware brand auto cord ($38) that has so many splits in the weather sheathing its total junk (unsafe) after one season bought in November and unuseable by Mid march.
The funkiest thing that happened was one morning I went out and started the Durango (2002) to let it warm up (after unplugging) when I returned I found the powersteering pump growling (dry) I found all the Powersteering fluid (This particular model uses ATF) laying on the ground/hardpacked snow.
I assumed the pressure hose had puked again (dident) I replaced the Pressure hose only to discover that the return hose was spewing a stream ATF as fast as I could pour the stuff in, who ever heard of a return hose going bad ever?? they shouldent carry any pressure at all its just the return flow back to the pump resivour, I guess theres always a first time, since living in alaska, Ive learned not to be shocked by much
be it a temp swing of -43F at 8pm to +36F the morning after, having plastic shatter like temperd glass, tires that roll down the road with a flat spot from sitting over night, being able to peel frozzen W40 motor oil off hard packed snow like its cooed tar off gravel. Ive never had it so cold the spit froze before hitting the ground, it shure felt like it a few times.

[Rex in OTZ]

Interesting observation while to the store shopping that day was +11F, A new Polaris ATV (sportsman 400)pulls up streaming a trail of oil, I mention to the lady (new health care worker) operating the ATV (Northern Air Cargo shipping tag still wired to handlebar) that she was leaking motor oil, upon looking I noticed the side of the plastic oil resivour is missing (behind the Lt front wheel), seems that the crank case vent iced up pressurizeing the whole engine, the weakist point was the cold plastic resivour, which fractured and blew off the side, I said she shouldent run it, Not listening to me she hopped on and drove it back home, go figure?