Power steering tank wont hold fluid and leaks out beside driver tire

Ok most likely it's coming from your steering rack around the inner tie rod end so either replace it or get a new one

You need to check all power steering hoses, hose connections and power steering pump for leaks. It's probably coming from one of these areas.

I don't have a diagram for you,but the plastic tank holds on the pump by the lines,behind the tank is a large O-ring,try tightening the lines a little but gentle.Typical Ford power steering issue besides the steering box leaking

You are likely seeing auto trans fluid. It is often used as a substitute for power steering fluid. You say it's leaking badly so someone probably got tired of paying for power steering fluid and switched to the much cheaper ATF.

with power-steering it could be one of three problems. 1- power steering pump could be going out ( normally with the pump the car will whine but will not normally leak and still hold fluid) 2- a leak in your power steering lines ( and can normally be resolved with new lines or sometimes you may be able to bypass and clamp the leak on the line) 3- you may have busted the O rings in your powersteering pump and that will actually cause the pump to leak

hint- alot of people will tell you that you may also use transmission fluid for power-steering this is true you can its that same thing as power-steering fluid just a different color (but dont put power-steering fluid in a transmission, but at the same time if you plan on replacing the pump i would use transmission fluid due to it being cheaper but it will cause the O rings in the power-steering pump to go out quicker to cause a worse leak) so i would recommend to locate the leak first before using trans fluid due to if its in a line you wont have to replace the pump but if its already the pump this is the cheapest fix until repaired

power steering fluid

Did you notice any leaks from the power steering? If you did not notice any leaks, the only place for the fluid to go is in the bellow boots(the accordion boots on the rack and pinion system). Go underneath and if no leaks are obvious, take a small screwdriver and poke a small hole in one of the boots. If fluid comes out, you're looking at replacing the rack and pinion. This would also explain the excessive play you're feeling in the steering.

The tank has a green reservoir cap usually. The cap will also tell you if you are to use hydrualic oil to refill. The brand name is Peltosin and is sold at CarQuest etc. It is expensive, about $15-$20 per liter. You do NOT want to mix power steering fluid (ATF fluid) with hydrualic fluid. Make sure you know what your car requires and make the adjustment to the level as you need. Don't over fill, and keep the fluid from spilling on any painted surfaces etc. Wash with soap and water immediately if you happen to spill. The low level can be the cause of the hard steering, but also make sure the belt is tight and in good condition. It is a good idea to check tire air pressures too. Keep them above 30psi om 14" wheels, and higher as the wheel size increases. If you have 15" or 16" use 34-36psi for better handling and less burden on the power steering system. If the fluid is leaking out on your garage floor, you have a bad hose or pump seal, but the steering rack seals could be leaking. If any of these are the problem, get tha leak fixed asap, and keep the reservoir full so that you don't burn up the pump.

Hi,
Keep fluid in it so you can drive normally, though it leaks... I don't know how fast it's leaking.
You'll need to determine the leak source:
1. Leaking hose connection
2. Punctured/damaged Hose
3. Punctured/damaged power steering pump
etc.
Once identified, you can proceed with a plan for repair.
I hope this helps... Good luck!

that could be the rack and pinion leaking. as far as the noise goes, it is more than likely the same thing. have your local mechanic check it out because if its the power steering pump its cheaper to fix that than it will be to have the rack replaced.