MLG TAKES DELAY FOR HYD FLUID PROB. DEPARTS AND NOTICES LOW INDICATION FOR HYD FLUID. RETURN LAND.

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WE ARRIVED AT GATE TO TAKE FLT TO MEMPHIS. THE MECH INFORMED US ON HIS INSPECTION HE FOUND A HYD LEAK IN THE TAIL SECTION OF THE ACFT. THE CAPT WENT OUT TO SEE THE WORK IN PROGRESS. THE MECH INFORMED HIM HE FELT THE FLUID WAS OVERFILL FROM THE APU ENG OIL. THE CAPT POINTED OUT TO THE MECH THAT OUR COCKPIT GAUGE INDICATED SLIGHTLY ABOVE REFILL. THE CAPT AND MECH BOTH LOOKED AT THE SIGHT GAUGE ON THE RESERVOIR AND THAT CONFIRMED THE COCKPIT GAUGE. AT THIS POINT; THE CAPT INFORMED THE MECH HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE ACFT UNLESS HE COULD ASSURE HIM THERE WAS NO LEAK IN THE SYS. TOTAL TIME DELAY WAS APPROX 1 HR. THE MECH INFORMED US THERE WAS NO LEAK AND THE FLUID WAS REPLENISHED. NORMAL PUSHBACK AND AREA DEP. AT APPROX 15000-20000 FT; WE NOTICED HYD LEVEL WAS DOWN TO THE REFILL LEVEL AGAIN. WE CONTACTED MAINT BY VOICE; AND WERE ADVISED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND WERE RECOMMENDED TO HAVE EQUIP STANDING BY. WE ADVISED THE FIRST FLT ATTENDANT TO CONDUCT A SHORT PREPARATION OF CABIN. OVERWT LNDG AT 101000 LBS FLAPS 40 DEGS WAS UNEVENTFUL.