Oil leak
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Oil leak
I have a oil leak in the area beneath my radiator. It's a clear oil, at first I thought it was water. I noticed it after being parked for an hour, there was a nice size wet spot on the concrete. Then my next stop was another hour. Again another nice size spot. Came home and parked it, went out to check the spot and it was much smaller. So I am guessing it's just about empty. I plan to bring it to the shop tomorrow to have it fixed, but I am worried that the drive there may do more damage. What I really what to know is, can I drive it to the shop without doing more harm?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Is it an auto car? Could be tranny fluid where hoses connect to either tranny lines or the back of the back of the radiator...all of which would be on the passenger side of the radiator. 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Consequences if driven
Yes it's an automatic, and yes the leak is on the passenger side. Could I drive it to my mechanic without having/causing trouble? He's 40 min away.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Kenosha Wi
My guess is it's going to be the power steering that's low, all other fluids are colored,
if you can, crawl under it and look for any wet spots, the source of the leak should be the area just forward of where it starts to get wet
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Hi BMV
Running any of the fluids to low is not a good thing. They are all simple enough to check. Leaks general start out small and get worse.The others asked if your car was an automatic? That fluid is red that why I was guessing power steering fluid its clear. The power steering pump is located below your alternator it has a cap on it. Twist the cap counter clockwise and pull it out. The cap has a stick attached to it with fluid level marked should say Cold and a higher level says Hot
I am typing to slow. I missed your post about the auto trans and passenger side as well. What color is you coolant?
Running any of the fluids to low is not a good thing. They are all simple enough to check. Leaks general start out small and get worse.The others asked if your car was an automatic? That fluid is red that why I was guessing power steering fluid its clear. The power steering pump is located below your alternator it has a cap on it. Twist the cap counter clockwise and pull it out. The cap has a stick attached to it with fluid level marked should say Cold and a higher level says Hot
I am typing to slow. I missed your post about the auto trans and passenger side as well. What color is you coolant?
Last edited by Roco71; Apr 9, 2014 at 08:48 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
ATF is red
P/S fld is often times red (often people use ATF)
Coolant should be green
W/S fluid is blue or green typically
Brake fluid is clear-check your reservoir
Bottom line, check all of your fluid levels-wipe the area clean, then re-check to see if you can find it's origination point (just because you see it on the floor in a certain area, doesn't mean that is where it originates from).
P/S fld is often times red (often people use ATF)
Coolant should be green
W/S fluid is blue or green typically
Brake fluid is clear-check your reservoir
Bottom line, check all of your fluid levels-wipe the area clean, then re-check to see if you can find it's origination point (just because you see it on the floor in a certain area, doesn't mean that is where it originates from).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
ATF is red
P/S fld is often times red (often people use ATF)
Coolant should be green
W/S fluid is blue or green typically
Brake fluid is clear-check your reservoir
Bottom line, check all of your fluid levels-wipe the area clean, then re-check to see if you can find it's origination point (just because you see it on the floor in a certain area, doesn't mean that is where it originates from).
P/S fld is often times red (often people use ATF)
Coolant should be green
W/S fluid is blue or green typically
Brake fluid is clear-check your reservoir
Bottom line, check all of your fluid levels-wipe the area clean, then re-check to see if you can find it's origination point (just because you see it on the floor in a certain area, doesn't mean that is where it originates from).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Search for fluids
I really need to change my user name to Corvette Kathy, so that it's obvious that I am a female and have limited knowledge in this area. I tried to get under my car yesterday. I didn't get very far. The cars to low, and my chest area is to high. ☺️ I'll get out my manual and to see what and where to fill my fluids. Thank you so much for your time and knowledge. I can't tell you how much it means to me. I love my car and never want to be without it, so I have a feeling that over time, I'll gain much need knowledge.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Hi BMV
Running any of the fluids to low is not a good thing. They are all simple enough to check. Leaks general start out small and get worse.The others asked if your car was an automatic? That fluid is red that why I was guessing power steering fluid its clear. The power steering pump is located below your alternator it has a cap on it. Twist the cap counter clockwise and pull it out. The cap has a stick attached to it with fluid level marked should say Cold and a higher level says Hot
I am typing to slow. I missed your post about the auto trans and passenger side as well. What color is you coolant?
Running any of the fluids to low is not a good thing. They are all simple enough to check. Leaks general start out small and get worse.The others asked if your car was an automatic? That fluid is red that why I was guessing power steering fluid its clear. The power steering pump is located below your alternator it has a cap on it. Twist the cap counter clockwise and pull it out. The cap has a stick attached to it with fluid level marked should say Cold and a higher level says Hot
I am typing to slow. I missed your post about the auto trans and passenger side as well. What color is you coolant?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
ATF is red
P/S fld is often times red (often people use ATF)
Coolant should be green
W/S fluid is blue or green typically
Brake fluid is clear-check your reservoir
Bottom line, check all of your fluid levels-wipe the area clean, then re-check to see if you can find it's origination point (just because you see it on the floor in a certain area, doesn't mean that is where it originates from).
P/S fld is often times red (often people use ATF)
Coolant should be green
W/S fluid is blue or green typically
Brake fluid is clear-check your reservoir
Bottom line, check all of your fluid levels-wipe the area clean, then re-check to see if you can find it's origination point (just because you see it on the floor in a certain area, doesn't mean that is where it originates from).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 28
From: Burkburnett TX
You sure its oil? Could be the clearish yellow universal antifreeze. Could just be condensation dripping from your A/C if you had the climate control going. Check all fluids, top off, then go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Hi BMV
It sometimes takes a bit of work to find a fluid leak when you are looking at the car, let alone trying to do it over the internet never seeing the car. If its a fluid my car has leaked it.
If you run your P/S pump total out of fluid it will most likely over heat it and burn it up. However if it leaked all of its fluid within a day I would think that would be somewhat of a alarming amount of fluid on the floor.
It sometimes takes a bit of work to find a fluid leak when you are looking at the car, let alone trying to do it over the internet never seeing the car. If its a fluid my car has leaked it.
If you run your P/S pump total out of fluid it will most likely over heat it and burn it up. However if it leaked all of its fluid within a day I would think that would be somewhat of a alarming amount of fluid on the floor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
If you sop up some of the liquid with a clean white kleenex then you can identify the color better.
Antifreeze from the radiator can also have a oily texture to it.
You could taste it.
Bitter sweet is antifreeze. Anything else tastes real awful.
Not the best way, but i've had every fluid from a vette in my mouth one time or another working on it. None of them would be good on a burger.
Antifreeze from the radiator can also have a oily texture to it.
You could taste it.
Bitter sweet is antifreeze. Anything else tastes real awful.
Not the best way, but i've had every fluid from a vette in my mouth one time or another working on it. None of them would be good on a burger.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Yes, it is definitely my car. I always park as far away from other as possible and I saw it drip a few times and last night when I got under it as much as I could, I felt it was wet there, and there was a wet spot on my concrete. So at least I do know that much.