Power steering running low but can’t find any fluid?

Hey everyone, I recently replaced the steering rack in my truck and for some reason I’m having to top off the reservoir every 3 days. It’s really annoying. Well I decided to finally find the leak, checked up and down both lines, pulled the boots on the new rack... nothing. Nothing coming from input shaft on the rack.... I’m clueless where to look. I can’t find any evidence but I’ve already ran through about 3 bottles since last month. Anyone had this issue??

 

Possible air working out of the system dropping the fluid level causing you to add more .

If your not finding a leak .

 

I'd probably slide under and inspect the area while having someone turn the wheel for me.

 

Power wash the front end of the truck (engine). A 3 bottle leak has to be leaving a trail.

 

I’m not sure. You think it would still be working out air even after a month or so? I have no idea what to do at this point I seriously don’t see anything which is crazy to me

 

I tried that yesterday, no fluid squirting or leaking anywhere. I checked up and down each hose, I did find some fresh fluid under the intake manifold.. but I’m thinking this was from a previous spill because I had a bottle tip over on me there once

 

I’ll try that today, I’m so confused I’ve never had something give me such a hassle on a vehicle

 

I never found any on mine either, until I sat in the driveway and turned the wheel lock to lock about 80 times. Then I had a puddle on driver side of my driveway.

 

Gonna try this too lol.

 

It worked great.

 

Where did it end up coming from?

 

I don’t recall. This is on a 215k mile Trailblazer I’m nursing along until it dies. No plan to change the rack out so I just keep an eye on it.

 

Gotcha, just tried what you said spun the wheel about 90 times actually lock to lock and literally not even a drop under the truck, the reservoir hasn’t even moved.... wtf is wrong with this truck lol

 

Well that’s good.

Resevoir isn’t leaking?

 

I don’t think so. I never see any fluid on top of it or around it

 

Unexplained fluid loss could be due to a faulty PS "idle up" valve/switch.

Tacos used two types, electronic and vacuum. Not positive on years/engines.
The part in question lives at the PS pump at the high pressure line connection. If it has wires it's the electronic version, these don't suffer the problem. If it has two vacuum lines, investigate further. Pull the lines (hoses) and look for any presence of fluid. Both lines and the switch should be bone dry. If there is wetness present the switch has failed internally and leaking into one of the lines. This fluid ends up in the intake and gets burned, leaving no "apparent" trace.

The switch senses pressure and allows a bit of idle speed increase to counteract the increased load on the engine from the PS pump when turning the steering at idle or near idle speeds.

 

Ahhhh! I have the one with the vacuum lines. The left is wet.. is there anyway to test and see if it’s getting sucked through? This would make a lot of sense

 

if it's wet it's getting sucked through. both lines should be dry.

 

Thank you! That probably explains why I’ve found fluid under the intake manifold.. I thought maybe it’s bc I spilled a bottle up there before , but I guess not.

 

That is some awesome knowledge right there! Thank you so much for your input; it's people like you willing to read through and give detailed answers that make this forum such a gold mine.