Mystery leak!

".jdb." (brockmjd) 08/26/2016 at 08:47 • Filed to: None

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OK, Oppo hivemind, what the hell is going on? Taking my car to the shop today. It’s leaking, but - and I’m frankly embarrassed to admit this - I’m not sure what. Leak is somewhere on the driver’s side inboard of the front wheel. (The stain on the ground is just behind the front wheel, but it looks like there’s a good amount of wet down there, so it’s tough to see where it’s coming from without the car on a lift). I thought it was oil, but I’m not sure. It’s oily, but has no discernable smell at all. When I’ve had even small oil leaks before, if it’s enough to drip onto a surface, it’s enough to smell very much like oil. So if it’s not oil, not ATF, not coolant, definitely not brake fluid..what the hell could it be?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 08:51

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PS fluid? Windsheild washer fluid? Condensation from your AC leaking onto an oily garage floor?

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 08:53

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Knowing your car would help. Sounds like oil leaking from the tranny cooler hose, which is common on Fords. Otherwise, if not engine oil, it's probably PS fluid.

jimz > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 08:54

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if it’s right near the wheel, it could be PS fluid leaking out of the end of the rack, or your shock/strut blew out a seal.

OPPOsaurus WRX > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 09:05

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dab it up with a paper towel. what color is it? My vote is power steering fluid if your right in everything else your saying.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 09:05

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My money is on AC condensation

Dave the car guy , still here > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction 08/26/2016 at 09:17

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Ding Ding Ding,exactly my thought. No smell, no color = water

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 09:51

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if it’s not PS fluid, it's probably A/C condensate..

Wagon, semi manual, not brown, turbo because volvo > .jdb. 08/26/2016 at 11:38

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What is the make, model year and engine displacement? Rhd or lhd? If it is not ac condenser drip there are 3 likely culprits. Some power steering fluids do not use color additives, as jimz mentioned it could be a blown strut leaking oil. Or if you have a skid plate they may have wiped it up a bit and you have some degreaser dripping off. It is less likely but possible that whoever put oil in your car may have spilled a bit when filling and it is just dripping off the side of the block. Can you take a picture of the puddle with a common sized object in the frame to give a size reference? If possible dab a paper towel in it for a color reference. Next step is to check your fluid levels and go back to the shop and ask them to take a look. Most shops ask that they be allowed to examine the vehicle to see what is going on.

.jdb. > .jdb. 09/08/2016 at 00:18

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Update: I’m an idiot. There was some residue on the engine from an old leak. The oil spots on the driveway were old and from the previous tenant. Carry on.