fluid leak....

[peteA]

Found a fluid leak under the front of my cerb - bugger!

It was/is across the full width of the front of the car. The leak looks like a milky / oily fluid that has part evaporated and left a tacky/oily residue...?

What is it?

Car ran OK...all the usual fluids are fine...thinking its an air con leak perhaps...

Thanks in advance.

[stuthemong]

steering fluid? Check the level.

AC fluid is a gas, so shouldn't pool.

Could even be coolant from the rad/thermostat area.

[peteA]

stuthemong said:

steering fluid? Check the level.

AC fluid is a gas, so shouldn't pool.

Could even be coolant from the rad/thermostat area.

Cheers - will check tonight....

[caduceus]

This is a strange one. Milky?

Power steering fluid should be red in colour. If its black, you've got seal problems.
Engine oil, obviously golden or brown.
Gearbox, again, red.
Coolant - Blue (normally), but can be pink.
Air con, sometimes can have a vivid green residue in the system. Did in mine anyway.
Brake/clutch fluid, should be clear. Again, if black, seal problems.

Unless you've got an oil leak, that is mixing with something else that is giving the milky residue. Hope its not mixing inside the engine...

Edited by caduceus on Thursday 17th September 00:55

[jammy_basturd]

Windscreen washer fluid?

it being milky might be a red herring. If it's dripped down the engine it could easily picked up from oil and grime.

[peteA]

caduceus said:

This is a strange one. Milky?

Power steering fluid should be red in colour. If its black, you've got seal problems.
Engine oil, obviously golden or brown.
Gearbox, again, red.
Coolant - Blue (normally), but can be pink.
Air con, sometimes can have a vivid green residue in the system. Did in mine anyway.
Brake/clutch fluid, should be clear. Again, if black, seal problems.

Unless you've got an oil leak, that is mixing with something else that is giving the milky residue. Hope its not mixing inside the engine...

Edited by caduceus on Thursday 17th September 00:55

Cheers for that...went through the same process in my head on the way home last night about the colour of the fluids, etc.

Checked the engine oil fine (level fine and no sign of water), steering fluid OK, coolant OK (and no sign of any oil), brake fluid looks OK, gearbox oil was just done by SSCC and location wise is no where near the leak...

starting to think it may have been water in the nose from washing the car that has picked up 'crap' sitting in the well under the radiator and slowly drained out?

or

The leak isnt from the car...?

Drove the car this morning and all seems well.

[Allandwf]

If it's any use, mine leaks from the nose for days after washing, not a lot just drips, depends if it's parked on a slope , because driving it seems it's pushed back towards the radiator and misses the little drain holes at each side. I thought I had a leaking radiator when I first got mine.

[peteA]

Allandwf said:

If it's any use, mine leaks from the nose for days after washing, not a lot just drips, depends if it's parked on a slope , because driving it seems it's pushed back towards the radiator and misses the little drain holes at each side. I thought I had a leaking radiator when I first got mine.

Thanks Allandwf - makes your heart sink when you a puddle on the floor and assume the worst....but a nice feeling when you realise (hope) that its nothing serious!

I regularly check the usuall fluids but will keep an eye on all the fluids for the next few weeks just to be sure.