Hmmm, fluids squirting out of the bonnet...

[Matt UK]

Bit of a strange one..

Used the Passat to get to the station and going round a left-hand mway slip road at a 'running a tad late' pace, noticed that fluids were 'leaking out' from the gap between the bonnet edge and the front wing!

By the time I stopped it had gone / dried and I can't really think what it would be be. At first I thought it was windscreen washer fluid and that I'd left the cap undone, but the washer bottle is on the other side of the engine bay.

Car is running fine, but I'm interested to know what it could be and wht it is happening.

[S10 GTA]

Could it just be trapped water from all the rain?

[Vitorio]

Check all fluid reservoirs, put a piece of paper underneath the car when parked to spot leaks.

But if it was high up enough for you to spot from behind the wheel, it might have been some rainwater stuck in a small pool which got flung out from the sideways Gs of taking the roundabout at speed.

In which case, check your water removal passages, standing water will quickly turn a car into swiss cheese

[Bill]

S10 GTA said:

Could it just be trapped water from all the rain?

Have a smell of it. Anything engine related should be easily smelt.

[trashbat]

Just (rain)water that got dislodged once you picked up speed, no? If you were losing fluid under the bonnet it wouldn't exit there would it? Unless under serious pressure or leaking from somewhere upwind like the radiator.

Otherwise I would be looking to see what happens when steering - PAS fluid - and checking the levels of everything.

[djglover]

the drains could be blocked with leaves and water pooling there

[J4CKO]

Bet this thread title will bring some traffic to PH that wasnt after a car forum....

[Matt UK]

Had a quick check under the bonnet and there is no standing water I can see - plus it's the sort of car where the bonnet is opened every week to check the levels.

Weird thing is, the fluid seemed sort of 'frothy', hence why my first thought was windscreen washer fluid.

[Matt UK]

J4CKO said:

Bet this thread title will bring some traffic to PH that wasnt after a car forum....

I've just read it back to myself

[Justin Cyder]

djglover said:

the drains could be blocked with leaves and water pooling there

IIRC Passats were known to be prone to having the plenum chamber blocked by leaves & consequently pooling water under the scuttle. If the car is running normally & the reservoir bottle level is where it should be, then clear any leaf debris & get on with it.