Why is my power steering locked up in cold weather when I start my Lincoln Mark VIII ?
I just had the same problem with my newer Ford truck.The fluid gets all thick and is harder to pump in cold weather so it takes longer for it to get through the system.However,the belt could also be slipping a bit as well on start up because of the extreme cold.To fix mine all i did was drain the system and completetly flush it out and put a full sysnthtic transmission fluid in it.Yes i said transmission fluid.Power steering fluid and transmission fluid is basically the same.I also put a new serpentine belt on it with a “cog” design on it to reduce slippage during cold weather.I havent had the problem since.I’m not kidding about the transmission fluid.Get yourself some good Mobil 1 full synthetic Dexron transmission fluid and fill up your power steering system after you haver drained it.This will help! The belt is up to you but i think it will help you as well if your belt had a cog design on it.I believe Dayco and Goodyear both make a design like this.Dayco’s brand is called “poly-cog
