Mysterious Power Steering Fluid

[Andy JB]

Has anyone any experience of power steering fluid vanishing from their res?

My P/S rack was fully reconditioned last year and the car has done less than 1k miles since. There are no leaks on the garage floor yet when i check the reservoir after a short run its always at minimum.

Surely if it were leaking it would be seen by a pool of fluid & even if it leaked while being used there can't be that much esacping in 10 miles !!!

Anyone found this & potential causes?

[mb450]

I think the pas rack seals can leak check the rubber boots on your rack - you might find the missing fluid.

[That Daddy]

mb450 said:

I think the pas rack seals can leak check the rubber boots on your rack - you might find the missing fluid.

squeeze the rack bellows if they are full of fluid its bad news i am afraid(rack internal seals gone),also when the pinion seal leaks(input shaft from steering column) it will only loose fluid with the car running(hence no fluid under car when standing)and thats not so bad to rectify.

[nikman]

That Daddy said:

mb450 said:

I think the pas rack seals can leak check the rubber boots on your rack - you might find the missing fluid.

squeeze the rack bellows if they are full of fluid its bad news i am afraid(rack internal seals gone),also when the pinion seal leaks(input shaft from steering column) it will only loose fluid with the car running(hence no fluid under car when standing)and thats not so bad to rectify.

And if the bellows/boots dont seem to contain fluid or appear inflated with it, you may have dumped it on the road in a turn somewhere.