No hits in the B14 section. Maybe someone in the general forum knows the answer.

I have seen multiple threads about how problems with power steering can affect mpg on B14s. What I am unsure of is:

- How do you detect if the PS is killing my mileage?
- How do you know if the problem is caused by the pump or the rack?
- What is the usual fix?

PS fluid level is fine. I do feel the steering bind occasionally at low speeds. Highway I can get 30mpg highway, but I must be dropping below 15mpg around town. I already changed the plugs, wires, etc... and I am going to replace the front O2 sensor. Ideas?

It's actually pretty simple, if your PS pump is locking up, then it is adding extra drag to the Crank pulley, thus the crank pulley has to work harder to give the same amount of juice to the AC, Water Pump, and Alternator.

Here is what you can do, take the belt off the PS, and try to spin it by hand, if it doesn't spin easily something is wrong and you need a new pump or new pulley.

Now to explain the City/Highway deal

On the highway you go at the same speed, and same engine revolutions, thus its pretty constant.

In the city it constantly has to work on spinning the PS pulley up, thus uses more power/mpg