19 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHclean oil leaking front of engine
Leading reported evidence
Clean area and will
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
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1
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Leading evidence: 'Clean area and will' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check leaks and keep' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
What is curious about this is the oil is clean and clear as I have just changed the oil and filter.
At first I thought I may have overfilled or spilled oil while changing the oil and filter, but the oil drops have increased in size and frequency since I noticed the first drop.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
and get it swapped quick as the impellers can sheer off and then you have no idea where they will go...get it out!
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Suggestion
You'll have to clean and then check for leaks and keep checking.
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Suggestion · Original poster
I wiped it clean last night with a dry rag, drove to work and back and then some, not one drop.
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Suggestion · Original poster
I was able to change the water pump (not easy for me especially accessing one bolt), replace belt, check pulleys (all ok) and have the satisfaction of accomplishing an otherwise impossible task.
At first I thought I may have overfilled or spilled oil while changing the oil and filter, but the oil drops have increased in size and frequency since I noticed the first drop.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I was able to change the water pump (not easy for me especially accessing one bolt), replace belt, check pulleys (all ok) and have the satisfaction of accomplishing an otherwise impossible task.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
19 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T112012Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Ok I've held off as much as I can, I searched and searched but can't find the answer to my dilemma. My 2000 996 that has 32000 miles has developed a oil leak near the center of the rear bumper which is I believe the front of the engine. What is curious about this is the oil is clean and clear as I have just changed the oil and filter. At first I thought I may have overfilled or spilled oil while changing the oil and filter, but the oil drops have increased in size and frequency since I noticed the first drop. Is my car doomed or did I make a simple mistake that can be corrected. The best I can tell is that the leak is coming from the center of the engine, perhaps near the pulley, but as I say the oil is clear as though it came directly from the bottle.
Please Help.
Joe c.
I will take off air box and filter tomorrow in daylight as well as take pics. Interestingly the oil leak is directly surrounding a oil return tube at bottom of engine. I have cleaned the area and will check in am.
Thanks Joe
When did you last change the oil/filter? The oil can stay fresh looking for a while depending upon how you drive and the condition of the engine. And a small amount of oil that you saw may not have been enough to show any color/discoloration from use anyhow.
Thus the oil leak could be coming from the front main seal. The RMS gets all the press but the FMS can leak too. Rarer but it happens.
Another source of the oil is the oil filler tube is cracked. You add oil, some leaks out. The tube may not leak bad enough yet to affect the engine much -- no real sign of an intake air leak and no CEL -- but it can be cracked nonentheless.
You'll have to eliminate it.
There are other fluids that look like oil that can leak from teh front of the engine. Power steering fluid for one. However, I've never seen a car with many miles on it that the power steering fluid didn't look a bit dirty. But the same as with engine oil applies to power steering fluid. There may not be enough of it to show its content of dirt/discoloration.
You'll have to clean and then check for leaks and keep checking.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Well this is embarrassing what I thought was oil I now believe is coolant. I am trying to post a picture of the area. I wiped it clean last night with a dry rag, drove to work and back and then some, not one drop. Please take a look and tell me what you think, is it coming from the water pump, hoses, both or......
Thanks Joe
As usual the help and advice on this forum is incredibly accurate and helpful. I was able to change the water pump (not easy for me especially accessing one bolt), replace belt, check pulleys (all ok) and have the satisfaction of accomplishing an otherwise impossible task. Thanks
Joe C.
