What to Do When the Car Steering Gear is Leaking Oil?
4 Answers
If the car's steering gear is leaking oil, you should immediately stop driving the vehicle. First, open the engine hood and check if the steering oil reservoir is damaged. If not, inspect the oil seals of various components to ensure they are intact. Contact a professional repair shop promptly for repairs. The steering gear is part of the car's steering system and can affect the vehicle's driving safety, so it must be taken very seriously. The steering systems used in cars can be divided into four categories: mechanical steering gear, mechanical hydraulic power steering system, electro-hydraulic power steering system, and electric power steering system. The steering gear is one of the important components of a car's steering function, ensuring the safety of the vehicle's operation.
Last time my friend's Lavida also had a power steering fluid leak, it felt like the steering wheel suddenly became heavy, making turns particularly strenuous. In my opinion, when this happens, you should immediately check for the leak point. Loose hose connections and aging rubber seals are the most common causes of leaks, especially for cars that are five or six years old. Open the hood and look down from the power steering fluid reservoir—if you see oil stains at the pipe connections, first try tightening the clamps. If the leak comes from the seal on the steering gear housing itself, be mentally prepared. Replacing the seal is quite complicated: the entire steering gear has to be removed, and the half-shaft tie rods need to be detached. Labor costs alone can run several hundred yuan. Don’t try to save money by delaying repairs—if all the power steering fluid leaks out, the steering could completely lock up, which is extremely dangerous on the highway!
Just dealt with a customer's X-Trail steering gear oil leakage issue a few days ago. Minor seepage is actually quite common, especially when the rubber seals at the power steering hose connections age. I recommend thoroughly cleaning the leaking area with engine degreaser first, then observe for a week to see if it continues. If it's just minor seepage without dripping, you can periodically top up the power steering fluid as a temporary solution, but you'll need to frequently check the fluid level. If oil drips form coin-sized stains on the parking spot, immediate repair is necessary. Pay special attention to the high-pressure hose connections, as metal fittings on older cars' hoses are prone to corrosion and perforation. Replacing a hose costs just around a hundred bucks, but replacing the entire steering gear assembly could run into thousands. Whatever you do, avoid dismantling and repairing the steering gear at those roadside stalls - this component requires professional equipment for proper resetting.
Hey, power steering fluid leakage is no small matter. First, feel the steering wheel - if turning feels like stirring thick paste, there's a 90% chance the power steering fluid is leaking. Pop the hood and check the steering fluid reservoir level; if it's below the minimum mark, don't drive the car. Locating the leak requires some know-how: older cars often leak at the steering gear boot due to rubber deterioration, while newer models commonly seep at the electronic power steering motor connections. For temporary fixes, you can wrap some sealing tape as an emergency measure, but don't drive more than 20km to the repair shop. Remember to use genuine OEM seals for replacement - aftermarket parts might leak again within six months. When testing after repair, repeatedly turn the steering to full lock to bleed air from the system, otherwise the steering wheel may vibrate.
