Power steering leak?

A have a 2022 Tacoma that will be three years old in November…

About two weeks ago I realized the power steering fluid level was at the cold low fill line (I’d never touched it before), so I topped it up to the cold max line.

Then I recently checked the level and it seems to have gone down about 1-2mm. (The two photos I added are the first week and the second week after I added fluid. It’s clearly well below the cold max line and there’s a tiny difference in levels between the first and second picture as well).

The boots are just barely dark on the bottom… is this likely a power steering rack leak? I’m taking to the dealership on Monday for them to look at.

Want to figure out how hard I should push them to fix it (if it’s actually a leak) before my bumper to bumper warranty expires in two months.

Thanks!

 

Yeah, it’s leaking

Not sure about power steering, but usually for fluid loss they will top it off, document, place a tamper seal and ask you to come back in a set period of time. Then they can provide that info to Toyota to approve warranty work. Since there is visible leaking, not a mystery where it’s going, they may be able to skip that.

The big question is, are you lifted in the front?

 

Thanks for the good info. Nope, I’m all stock!

 

Yep, that's a leak. I have the same issue.

 

Was it cold when you added the fluid to begin with?

 

Yeah it was cold. Out of curiosity, how much time must pass after engine shutoff for a power steering fluid check to be considered “cold”?

 

thats subjective. i was thinking if it was a little warm when you filled it, it was slightly expanded. id consider checking it before you start the truck. it runs and warms up the level will be different

 

See my posts about Mazda ATF that helps with the PS seals. It matches the required spec.

 

I had a power steering leak in the rack before on a previous rig. No visible signs of leaking fluid at first glance...just a low reservoir.
After removing one of the clamps from the bellows to inspect the seals, fluid came pouring out.
The fluid leaking from the seal was captured in the bellows.

Cheers

 

Update:

Took truck to dealership, they performed a “master tech inspection,” which they told me found no leaks.

I asked the guy at the desk why the power steering boots were dark on the bottom, and he said he’d go ask the master tech.

I made a phone call then came back and he was on the computer and told me he was ordering a new power steering rack…

So I’ll be getting a new rack and install covered under warranty.

Good: “master tech inspection” was free, they decided the rack was leaking after I pointed them to the symptoms

Bad: the “master tech inspection” did not occur, was not done correctly, or they were purposefully trying to put off any assessment of the rack as leaking

 

WTF is wrong with techs anymore? That's the problem with anything 'free'. Nothing good ever comes 'free'. Glad to see you caught them not doing their job!

 

They don't care Toyota is paying for it so they will tell you what you want to hear.