a low - drag seal arrangement for a thermal management valve including a housing having a chamber and at least one bore for flowing a fluid medium through the at least one bore between a location exterior of the housing and the chamber of the housing . a rotor is configured to rotate within the chamber of the housing relative to the bore . the rotor moves between a closed position where the flow of fluid medium through the at least one bore is blocked , an open position where the fluid medium flows through the at least one bore and an intermediate position where the flow of fluid medium through the at least one bore is partially restricted by the rotor &# 39 ; s position relative to the bore . the low - drag seal arrangement also includes a face seal piston positioned within the at least one bore and configured to move axially within the bore .