Slave cylinder leak

[CaptainSlow]

Does the clutch slave cylinder leak onto the floor? The reason I ask is that my Eunos has been parks up in the garage for a couple of weeks. Checking it today there were a couple of small puddles in the general are underneath the slave cylinder, the liquid was thicker than water and had a bitter taste. The clutch itself is still operating ok but has gone very light, is this a symptom?

[Mazdamender]

Yes it can if the seal is gone,it can be checked very easy by removing the drivers side wheel for any leaks,a new one should cost no more than £20 and take 20>30 mins to change and bleed off.

[Risotto]

As above, it's not a big job to change it - there's a link to a step by step guide in the 'Common MX5 faults' sticky.

[CaptainSlow]

hmm thinking it could be the brake master cylinder now, the bottom of the servo is very grotty. I'm thinking it may be weeping from the cylinder and running down the servo and then dripping onto the inner wing, this in turn is training down engine and onto the wishbones and floor. Is this a common fault?

[MX-5 Lazza]

If it's leaking that much there would likely be a clear trail. The master cylinder reservoir tends to get a bit grotty anyway - I think brake fluid is thin enough to leak a tint amount, just enough to pick up dirt & grime even past a firmly secured top.

[CaptainSlow]

Well I think it had weeped in the past at the paint on the bottom of the servo can be scrapped off. However I'm having second thoughts on the source of the liquid on the floor as that is crystal-clear and the brake fluid looks a dirty brown colour.

[Salgar]

mmm, tasting brake fluid sounds like a poor idea.

But yes as others have said, take the front right off and just prod the boot on the slave cylinder with a stick, if any liquid pours out anywhere then it's definitely the slave cylinder which is very common and easy to fix.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Simple test - does the clutch fluid need topping up? If not then it probably isn't leaking
Also test the brake fluid level.
And engine oil...

Finally - are you sure it's from your car?

[CaptainSlow]

Levels on both are fine and so is the coolant and washers, the liquid is clear v strange.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Are you sure it isn't engine oil? It would look clear if it was only a few drops.

[CaptainSlow]

Yeah I have recently painted the garage floor and the liquid is clear and doesn't leave any stain.

[Mazdamender]

Have you got a damper leaking???thats clear.

[CaptainSlow]

I don't appear to, also the liquid is under the car right in the middle just behind the engine/gearbox meet.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Gearbox oil? You can easily identify that from the smell...