What Causes Power Steering Fluid Leakage?
2 Answers
Turn to the main reasons for power steering fluid leakage as follows: 1. Improper driving by the driver. 2. Damage to the power steering pump. 3. Excessive addition of power steering fluid. To prevent the power steering fluid from becoming dirty or deteriorating, it is recommended to replace the power steering fluid every 2 years or 30,000 kilometers. Here are the methods for changing the power steering fluid: 1. Start the car and use an oil extractor to remove the old fluid completely. 2. Inject new power steering fluid and turn the steering wheel back and forth to allow the new fluid to penetrate and clean the system. 3. Remove the fluid from the power steering reservoir again and inject new fluid while turning the steering wheel.
Last time I encountered a power steering fluid leak issue, after checking for a long time, I found it was due to the aging seal ring of the steering pump. That rubber ring hardens and cracks over time, allowing fluid to slowly seep out through the gaps. Also, oil leaks often occur at the pipe connections, especially at high-pressure pipe joints - aging rubber hoses or loose clamps can both cause seepage. The most troublesome is when the internal oil seal of the steering gear fails, which can only be discovered after disassembly. It's crucial to fix leaks promptly - once I delayed repairs and ended up burning out the power steering pump, doubling the repair costs. Remember to regularly check the fluid level in the power steering reservoir; a low level should raise immediate concern.
