Loss of Power Steering Fluid

Howdee Peeps.

05 TD4 HSE 5dr

I'm usually pretty good with checking my fluid levels however last week I was rather taken aback to find two of 'em had dropped considerably with the freezin' cold weather - oil was down to the lower pip (easily corrected) however my normally-dependable Power Steering Fluid had dropped right down to leave about an inch in the tank. No signs of any red streaks or puddles on the drive or in the work's car-park so I can't for the life of me imagine where it disappeared to. Mate reckons there might be a puddle in the engine tray! Can't see or feel anything on the main pipes leading from the tank.

Topped it up to Max and it stayed there fine for a day before dropping back to Min. I reckoned this was just settlement. Topped it back up to Max and it's been fiine since.

Any ideas why it would suddenly drop like that, and where the chuffin' flip it would go to?

Would I need to go to a specialist to get me pipes felt?

Check all pipe joints including the cooler. The high pressure pipes and steering pump joints you can check while holding on full lock each way for maximum pressure. If nothing is evident there then check the gaiters on the rack itself as rack leakage could be collecting in there.

Splendid, thanks. I was wondering if the pressure was constant or if it increased with more lock, so I'll have a check, cheers.

Power Steering pump has gone, apparently. Some fluid dripping into the tray. £250 to replace inc labour, fluids (I assume Power Steering Fluid, not tea for the Mechanic) plus testing.