Oil Leak (i think?)
Discussion
Ive decided to post on hear for a wider audiance.
I have posted this issue before
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... issue&mid=70703
Ive run out of ideas as what the problem is i have replaced the master cylinder and behind the box all joints appear dry and reseviour level is constant.
I know it sounds daft but oil seems to be coming from the top of the tunnel just above the air vent.
Don't know if it's oil or brake fluid but it is RED
This is testing me to put it politely
Thanks for any help
I have posted this issue before
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... issue&mid=70703
Ive run out of ideas as what the problem is i have replaced the master cylinder and behind the box all joints appear dry and reseviour level is constant.
I know it sounds daft but oil seems to be coming from the top of the tunnel just above the air vent.
Don't know if it's oil or brake fluid but it is RED
This is testing me to put it politely
Thanks for any help
Could the colour be a red herring?
The interior is red; could the fluid be acting as a solvent and picking up colour from the interior?
Have you tried tasting it? What does it taste of? Antifreeze usually tastes sweet. Is it oily or not?
Do you have air conditioning and does it work properly? There is a pressure switch; if the A/C is leaking then it should disable the system. But parts of the A/C are likely to be in that area.
Sometimes the contents of air conditioning systems can be red. There’s gas, but also oil that lubricates the compressor and possibly a leak detection dye. The contents of my Griffith A/C are red in natural light. If an A/C system has had leak detection dye added then this shows up under ultraviolet light. Mine appears blue under UV light.
The interior is red; could the fluid be acting as a solvent and picking up colour from the interior?
Have you tried tasting it? What does it taste of? Antifreeze usually tastes sweet. Is it oily or not?
Do you have air conditioning and does it work properly? There is a pressure switch; if the A/C is leaking then it should disable the system. But parts of the A/C are likely to be in that area.
Sometimes the contents of air conditioning systems can be red. There’s gas, but also oil that lubricates the compressor and possibly a leak detection dye. The contents of my Griffith A/C are red in natural light. If an A/C system has had leak detection dye added then this shows up under ultraviolet light. Mine appears blue under UV light.
Uncle Fester said:
Could the colour be a red herring?
The interior is red; could the fluid be acting as a solvent and picking up colour from the interior?
Have you tried tasting it? What does it taste of? Antifreeze usually tastes sweet. Is it oily or not?
Do you have air conditioning and does it work properly? There is a pressure switch; if the A/C is leaking then it should disable the system. But parts of the A/C are likely to be in that area.
Sometimes the contents of air conditioning systems can be red. There’s gas, but also oil that lubricates the compressor and possibly a leak detection dye. The contents of my Griffith A/C are red in natural light. If an A/C system has had leak detection dye added then this shows up under ultraviolet light. Mine appears blue under UV light.
Thank you very much indeed!!The interior is red; could the fluid be acting as a solvent and picking up colour from the interior?
Have you tried tasting it? What does it taste of? Antifreeze usually tastes sweet. Is it oily or not?
Do you have air conditioning and does it work properly? There is a pressure switch; if the A/C is leaking then it should disable the system. But parts of the A/C are likely to be in that area.
Sometimes the contents of air conditioning systems can be red. There’s gas, but also oil that lubricates the compressor and possibly a leak detection dye. The contents of my Griffith A/C are red in natural light. If an A/C system has had leak detection dye added then this shows up under ultraviolet light. Mine appears blue under UV light.
You may have hit this on the head
I went to gaydon on sunday when i got there i checked the floor and it was dry.
On the way back it started to rain big time so i shut the windows and put the aircon on i also used the aircon on the way home from work.
I also get water sensor alert on the screen i have replaced the thermistor but it still shows up but engine has not overheated and fans work.
Tonight i jacked the front up and had a good nosey and all is dry underneath i found the earth point and replaced the washer and nut only slightly rusty.
And no i haven't tasted it as the thought of antifreeze did'nt occur to me and yes agreed it should taste sweet.
So i will run the car for a week or so without the aircon to see if it remains dry then test it again with the aircon on.
The aircon works in fact it's bloody freezing.
Thanks mate.
There is no reason you would have power steering fluid in the car (other than in a bottle. The steering shaft has no direct contact with the fluid.
On that last picture it looks to have been sprayed against the side or has it run down? is there any trace of oil under the car, garage/drive floor?
Brake/clutch fluid is nasty stuff and may well take the colour out of the carpets/vinly but with that much after 10 miles you should see the level dropping in the tank.
Does it feel oily or like water?
ETA, i doubt there are any aircon pipes within the cabin that are pressurised (which would contain gas/dye or fluid).
On that last picture it looks to have been sprayed against the side or has it run down? is there any trace of oil under the car, garage/drive floor?
Brake/clutch fluid is nasty stuff and may well take the colour out of the carpets/vinly but with that much after 10 miles you should see the level dropping in the tank.
Does it feel oily or like water?
ETA, i doubt there are any aircon pipes within the cabin that are pressurised (which would contain gas/dye or fluid).
Edited by BGB autosport on Thursday 2nd July 10:22
BGB autosport said:
There is no reason you would have power steering fluid in the car (other than in a bottle. The steering shaft has no direct contact with the fluid.
On that last picture it looks to have been sprayed against the side or has it run down? is there any trace of oil under the car, garage/drive floor?
Brake/clutch fluid is nasty stuff and may well take the colour out of the carpets/vinly but with that much after 10 miles you should see the level dropping in the tank.
Does it feel oily or like water?
The liquid is oily and yes i would expect the level to drop but so far not.On that last picture it looks to have been sprayed against the side or has it run down? is there any trace of oil under the car, garage/drive floor?
Brake/clutch fluid is nasty stuff and may well take the colour out of the carpets/vinly but with that much after 10 miles you should see the level dropping in the tank.
Does it feel oily or like water?
But it is a small amount but fine sprayed i now have a red left trainer.
Been under the car with a torch and had a good poke around all is dry underneath.
As all is dry around pedal area maybe gearbox leaking in the car from top of tunnel but as i have said dry underneath.
Gearbox has been out a month ago for clutch seals.
Thanks
Could be gear box but i dont see how it could spray inside the car and certainly not onto you trainer without you noticing!, i would expect it to run not spray plus you would have oil on the box its self and it would run down and drip on the floor under the car. Try popping the gear stick cover off, thats the only part which pertrudes into the car, if there is no oil there its not that.
Where is the heater air intake?
Could something be spraying in / near there and making its way via the heater air ducts into the cabin?
The aircon might be a slight red herring in that any airborne droplets would be condensed by the cold aircon evaporator radiator, whereas without it they just drift in the air.
Could something be spraying in / near there and making its way via the heater air ducts into the cabin?
The aircon might be a slight red herring in that any airborne droplets would be condensed by the cold aircon evaporator radiator, whereas without it they just drift in the air.
Problem Resolved 
After taking the car to Power to see if they could fix it there reaction was leaking M/C i argued my corner as it can't be as i have replaced everything they removed the leather and said this material must be holding the fluid.
I got the car home and layed it on the garage floor overnight the leather was dry.
Next morning the leather was swimming in fluid
So Power were spot on!!
The liquid was draining from the top of the leather when it was stuck to the tunnel causing me to beleive i had a leak and as i have described you dry the leather then it comes back as if it sweats it out.
What a palava.
Now bought a new peice as this is'nt going to dry.
Pictures of the leather this morning.
Since found out the previous owner knew he had a clutch master cylinder problem but failed to tell me.
Just need to resolve these misleading fault codes and i will be a happy bunny.
After taking the car to Power to see if they could fix it there reaction was leaking M/C i argued my corner as it can't be as i have replaced everything they removed the leather and said this material must be holding the fluid.
I got the car home and layed it on the garage floor overnight the leather was dry.
Next morning the leather was swimming in fluid
So Power were spot on!!
The liquid was draining from the top of the leather when it was stuck to the tunnel causing me to beleive i had a leak and as i have described you dry the leather then it comes back as if it sweats it out.
What a palava.
Now bought a new peice as this is'nt going to dry.
Pictures of the leather this morning.
Since found out the previous owner knew he had a clutch master cylinder problem but failed to tell me.
Just need to resolve these misleading fault codes and i will be a happy bunny.
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