People,

I add fluid to reservoir, and within just a week it goes down to below "min" level. NO leakage visible. car had 130,000 miles. 2001 EX civic.

Can it be, with our cars, that the steering rack is already failing, and the fluid seeps past the seals, only to pool in the rubber boots? Thats the only thing I can think of. Oh- there is some whining noise when initially starting the car, and driving for say, the first few minutes. Then, whining dies down a bit.

Thanks

 

Fluid doesn't just disappear. It's got to be going somewhere? Either on the ground or its pooling somewhere like you said. What you could try doing is putting some fluorescent dye in the power steering reservoir and then after a week take a fluorescent light finder and see if you can see where it's leaking. Because its leaking somewhere.