As seen in Speedboat Magazine’s
July 2021 Issue.

Power Steering Remote
Reservoir

Dear Bob:

I am installing a full hydraulic steering system
on a Formula 312 FasTech with twin 502 cubic inch carbureted motors. I currently do not have a secondary reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. I was wondering if the Teague Custom Marine power steering extension tank (#TCM BIL210-EXT) could replace the secondary reservoir? If so, can it be installed on the stock MerCruiser power steering pump?
Danny Laviolette
Alberta, Canada

Dual power steering pump reservoirs plumbed to a common remote tank.

If you are running a single power steering pump, the original Saginaw-style pump with the tin integral reservoir tank may have enough capacity. The TCM BIL210-EXT is only designed to add capacity to the TCM BIL210 billet power steering reservoir that can be installed on the Saginawstyle pump.

Above from Left to Right: Mercury power steering pump modified with fitting disc welded to tank, Stock MerCruiser power steering pump, IMCO fitting adapter for stock Mercury power steering tank.

If you are installing a full hydraulic steering system with two power steering pumps (which I recommend), you will be required to install a remote reservoir tank that connects the two pump reservoirs together. It is also a good idea to have a remote reservoir on the single pump installation. The remote reservoir needs to be installed higher than the top of the pump(s). If you have the tin style reservoir tanks, they can be removed, and a circular plate welded on the top that has female pipe thread in order to install fittings for hoses that are routed to the remote reservoir.

TCM power steering extension tank installed on required billet reservoir.

Alternatively, you can install the TCM BIL210 billet tank that has a fitting adapter. IMCO Nevada makes an adapter that goes on to the tin reservoir and seals with an O-ring. In order for the IMCO adapter to seal, there can be no distortions or dents in the reservoir top tube below where the stock cap goes.

For applications that use pumps with plastic reservoirs (mostly later models), a remote tank is necessary to tie the two pumps together. With this application, the two return lines are routed through the power steering oil coolers and then to a remote reservoir. The two pumps then draw fluid from the remote reservoir.

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