Your kia sephia power steering end seale is leaking how do you fix this problem?

Answer 1

A quick fix for a leaky power steering end seal is to add Transmission Fluid, in sufficient quantity, to the Power Steering fluid until the leak is eliminated or reduced to a minimum. This process works for heave leaks or slight leaks.

Mechanism of action: End seals function as the name suggest to seal power steering fluid in two chambers on opposite sides of the power piston in the steering rack housing. When a driver is steering to the right the pressure in the chamber to the right of the power piston is increased by a diversion of fluid from the left side of the piston, control by a special valve system and aided by continuous fluid pressure provided by a pump. As the pressure in the either chamber increases the fluid forces against the end seal of that chamber and in turn pull the power piston in the direction of that end seal. The end seals maintain snug contact with the cylindrical power steering housing preventing leakage of the power steering fluid. Worn end seals or housing would result in the light power steering fluid leaking through the breach in seal between end seal and housing.

Leakage prevention: Power steering fluid is a light (not Viscous) fluid and can easily pass through any breach in contact of end seal and housing. An increase in viscosity of fluid will reduce the fluidity of the power steering fluid; hence the rate of fluid leaking through the mechanism will be reduced. As the viscosity is increased the volume of fluid leaking will be further reduced. However the capacity of the pump in the system as well as the ability of the valves responsible for the transfer of fluid from one chamber to the next must be taken into consideration. It may be argued by some that transmission fluid is too heavy (viscous) a fluid for this system and would cause a breakdown of the pump and a malfunctioning of the transfer valves. This however is not the case for though power steering fluid is lighter than transmission fluid the power steering fluid when in the system it functions under great pressure created by the pump, so much so that a pressure release mechanism is built into the pumping mechanism to ensure that too high pressures aren't reached as the revs of the engine increases as most pumps used for this purpose are driven by the cars engine. I hope I haven't lost you so far but all that is being said here is that a light fluid under great pressure has the same results as a heavier fluid under light pressure. With the pressure release valve set to release at a given pressure, either fluid used in the system will only operate at that set pressure as the release mechanism will come into play eliminating any excess. No stress to pump or valves resulting from use of either fluid.

Conclusion: If your car has developed a leak in one or both of the power steering rack housing end seals and you are without the finances to replace or repair it or if you have intentions of scrapping the car but will like an addition five years out of it. The correct power steering fluid/transmission fluid combination required is problem specific with heavy leaks requiring a higher concentration of transmission fluid. I know I have been using transmission fluid/power steering fluid combination and moor heavily on the transmission fluid for the past five years.