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First question, do you think old oil could hide oil leaks and then when you change the oil you realize oil is leaking everywhere??
I had a leak and was unsure where it was coming from. I cleaned things up a bit and found a line that looked like it was leaking but when I traced it forwards and backwards I realized it was a power line from battery box to starter. I cleaned up the area and loosened the wire from the side and started car. Now it is leaking pretty quick. Not a stream but not a small drip either. I am really unsure what is behind this box and wanted to see if you all could help. I looked through the forum first and checked AIM so I did not ask a stupid question. I was unable to find anything matching or showing the area. I did not see any bolts to loosen to remove and really did not want to remove and be really surprised by anything. Here are some pictures that I hope helps out. This box is on the passenger side right next to the transmission. In the area that I think is usually filled with exhaust pipe. The car is a 1970 with manual transmission. I marked an arrow on one picture to the hole that is leaking oil.
Thank you all!! This is the front side of this box area under the car on the passenger side. This is the power cable from battery to starter and the leak located under that wire. I loosened the cable and tried to clean up so that it was visible as possible.
I do not have AC. It looked like oil, but that is what was confusing me. I did not see any reason for oil to be in that location. I will run it again and make sure, but it looks and runs and smells like oil. I will go out in the garage and double check and get back with more information.
Ran the car, let more leak out. It is brown like oil, has the consistency of oil, and smells like oil. I am not sure it is coolant. It does not have that sweet smell. Confusing.
Is the only way to verify this involve pulling the RH dash? I already have the center console out.
Last edited by DuxDogs; Aug 20, 2023 at 06:16 PM.
Reason: further investigation
First question, do you think old oil could hide oil leaks and then when you change the oil you realize oil is leaking everywhere??
This is the front side of this box area under the car on the passenger side.
By "box area" you're talking about the part marked by the yellow arrow above, yes? If so, that is just part of the transmission tunnel/floor pan of the underbody. There's no fluid in that at all unless you have a huge oil leak inside at the gauge and it's running down behind cluster, shift console and under the carpet somehow. Is there a strong odor of oil inside the passenger compartment?
I'd wager that you have a leak high up on the engine near the distributor and it's finding its way to the battery cable and running down to that box as a drip point.
What I think you're calling a "box" is the firewall heat and splash shield. There should be one on the driver's side too.
Is the battery cable "wet" forward of where it's dripping? The only thing I can think of if it is oil, is that maybe the right side valve cover's leaking and dripping on the battery cable at the starter, and then the oil's following the cable to it's lowest point and dripping there?
Could it be antifreeze? While antifreeze doesn't smell the same as oil, it does have an oily feel. The heater core is just above that area and the hoses come through the firewall just above the firewall shields. Take a look around the hoses and see if they're wet. Any chance your passenger side rug's wet? If the heater core's leaking the carpet could be wet, and antifreeze on the floor under the carpet could be dripping through the battery cable clip mounting hole?
Yes, the "box" is the heat and splash shield. Yes, there is one on the driver's side too. The battery cable is not wet forward of this place. I was not sure where it was coming from so I cleaned off everything and made sure it was at least dry.
The carpet is dry. I will check those hoses. I am assuming the dash needs to come out to access all of this? Is there a way to access the hoses without pulling vents and heater box?
How many drips per minute does the leak exhibit? Get a clear baking dish (don’t tell your wife) and shoot a pic of the fluid. One possibility is a leaking valve cover. Have you checked the area of the block at the aft end of the cylinder head?
OK. Cranked car up again. Got caught with baking dish and was handed a mason jar instead!
Drip after running for a few minutes turns into a pour. Tried to send video but too large of a file so I am posting a pic. Next, someone said earlier about wet carpet, I checked again....it felt dry. So, this time I pulled it back.......Dang it!! A puddle!! this is the drip from the side. This is showing steady flow of fluid Collected fluid in mason jar Pulled back carpet - wet underneath
Remove the passenger dash – just a few screws on the face and where the gauge cluster attaches. You need to inspect the rear of the oil gauge and the heater core area.
OMG!!! @Greg that was it!! The oil gauge line was leaking!!! I didn't even think of that because I had just replaced it maybe 3 months ago. It must have gotten pinched or something.
My ‘71 has copper line with no leaks (knock on wood), but there is evidence under the center console of a previous leak, so that tells me copper was a good choice.
Some guys will tell you that the vibrations will eventually crack copper line, but I haven’t seen that.
If it really bothers you, you can put in an electric sending unit and electric gauge from a later model C3 and eliminate any chance of oil inside the cabin.
Mystery Leak
