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YOUR RESEARCHSpring Leakfest!
Leading reported evidence
Check pentosin level, and it is in the zone
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I even checked my pentosin level, and it is in the zone for the "cold" level.
Leading evidence: 'Check pentosin level, and it is in the zone' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'line or a connection or something' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check )' (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
I don't know why I didn't try this sooner, but I just used a long thin plastic tube to siphon some washer fluid out of my washer tank.
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Suspected cause · Original poster
If brakes are leaking, it's probably a line or a connection or something.
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Suspected cause · Original poster
I'm actually somewhat glad that it's likely the pump - it's one of the few components that are actually covered by my extended warranty!
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Suggestion · Original poster
Coolant still continued to leak a little so I've got it booked in to my indy for Tuesday - he just said to check the coolant level before I drive off in the morning to make sure it hasn't fallen too far.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Is it possible to have a leak in one of these systems but still have the levels check normally due to some kind of blockage in the specific fluid system?
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My 2003 C4S has been running great, etc., running at usual temp, no codes, no issues. A few weeks ago, I noticed a minuscule coolant leak on my driveway (I have the "electric pink" coolant) (
see my coolant leak thread here
), so topped up the coolant and changed the cap. Coolant still continued to leak a little so I've got it booked in to my indy for Tuesday - he just said to check the coolant level before I drive off in the morning to make sure it hasn't fallen too far.
This morning I go to check it, and lo and behold, there's a new leak, lucky me! My garage, like most, slopes to the back and at first I was concerned that it was coming out of the engine area - but that is dry as a bone. I have been able to localize it by finding the "wet spots" at the bolts under the driver side lower door moulding. Clearly this is some kind of a line running under the driver side of the car.
Based on my first-hand advance knowledge of my coolant leak, I am sure this is not coolant (wrong color and texture) - its watery, mostly clear (but yellowish) and does not feel oily. Does not have a noticeable smell - just "watery". Feels a little like the Pentosin in texture, but does not smell the same.
So, my candidates are:
1. Brake fluid (although the level in the reservoir seems fine from a visual check)
2. power steering fluid
3. air conditioning fluid
Ideas please...
Oh, and one more footnote to this is that yesterday I inadvertently hit a small bird that didn't fly up quickly enough - my wife said this was bad karma - I guess you can call it "chickadee's revenge"...
so this is in the middle of the car? front or back of drivers door?
IIRC the AC lines run up the passenger side - but I havent looked that closely at that area for a while and dont recall what all is in there...but yellow? sure you didnt drop a Mountain Dew in the car
is there a battery overflow that comes out there somewhere...IIRC there is an exit behind the drivers tire from the battery area.... maybe its water mixed with battery or some tree leaves in the drain?
Hi - it's near the front and the middle of the driver's door. I know the sunroof drain comes out down there, but I've never seen a discharge like this happen.
Based on a quick visual scan of the pictures in Adrian Streather's book, there's a ton of lines that run under the U.S. driver's side... Big ones would be brake lines and cooling. Can't find any pictures of where the A/C system runs, though. My coolant level in my overflow tank is fine. My brake fluid also appears fine. I even checked my pentosin level, and it is in the zone for the "cold" level. Is it possible to have a leak in one of these systems but still have the levels check normally due to some kind of blockage in the specific fluid system?
I'm just so tired of chasing leaks...
Is this a continuous leak? or just a mess you've found?
If it's still dripping/leaking...the one of the sources you metioned will be decreasing. So measure the usual suspects and see which one is decreasing. Might take a few days to get a measurable amount...depends on how quickly it's leaking....
If it's is just a mess...you might have picked up something on the road...someone might have poured their drink on your car (seriously...I've seen people do it and I've had a rotten apple and a banana peel left on the roof of my C4S....freakn jealous people)
With that small amount in the pic. your levels may look fine even though it is leaking. I would just keep an eye on everything. If it is coming from the AC system lines it is probably AC Dye that they use to trace leaks. That's actually what it looks like to me.
Good Luck!
Good point. Here's the list of all possible fluids it could be in the car, in decreasing order of their capacities (thanks to owner's manual and Streather for measures and
this helpful site
):
1.
Fuel
- 16.6 gallons / 63 litres: Light translucent liquid with slight yellow tint, smells like gas! (duh)
2.
Coolant
- 5.95 gallons / 22.5 litres: Slimy and thin bright pink (newer) or green (older).
3.
Tip S Transmission (ATF)
- 9.51 quarts / 9.0 litres: Medium to heavy and oily; Red.
4.
Engine oil
- 8.7 quarts / 8.25 litres: Medium and oily, Brown or reddish-brown.
5.
Windshield washer
- 6.02 quarts / 5.7 litres: Color varies, smells sweet.
6.
Tip S Differential (ATF)
- 1.32 quarts / 1.25 litres: Medium to heavy and oily; Red.
7.
Power Steering (Pentosin CHF S11)
- 1.3 quarts / 1.27 litres: Light and thin, and green (according to Pentosin website)
8.
Brake fluid reservoir
- 0.48 quarts / 0.45 litres: Thin and slick; clear to slightly brown.
Other possibilities of discharges the car can make include:
A. Cooling system runoff
B. Air conditioning leak (not sure how this would leak, I thought freon would just evaporate?)
Based on the above, I think my possible candidates are 5 (washer); 7 (power steering) or 8 (brake fluid) - or 2 (coolant, if it has been debased for some reason)
I put a small cup under the car and was able to catch some. Here's a picture - it may not come through very clearly, but it has a slight green tint, kind of a light chartreuse. It is odorless, and feels light and slightly oily:
Based on the above, and the location, I think I can rule out coolant. My top pick for it is power steering fluid, the Pentosin CHF S11. A smear test on paper with pentosin from the dipstick revealed similar characteristics.
Anyone else have any ideas based on this color/appearance?
Well, I just went for a drive to get ingredients for supper, had a nice drive - all seemed totally normal. A/C blew like a deep freeze.
When I got home, I checked the Power Streering dipstick - and it is definitely down from where it should be from the "hot" arrow. So, I thought I had narrowed it down to power steering!
But, then I tried ivangene's suggestion and drew out some brake fluid, and I'll be darned if it doesn't look exactly the same as the stuff pictured above - although maybe a little lighter in color (but the quantity I drew out is less, granted, but it's still pretty darned close). But the brake reservoir level has not fallen. What gives? However, checking the various diagrams, it's easy to see that there are tons of brake lines that travel in that vicinity.
Based on the relative cost of the issue, I think I'd rather that it be the brakes (as long as they don't fail on me while I'm going highway speeds) than the steering. If your rack is leaking, it's a replacement issue. If brakes are leaking, it's probably a line or a connection or something. I'd prefer the latter.
so can you withdraw some power steering fluid out of the filler/check tank and see what color it is?
the only other wierd thing is "maybe" clutch slave and its squirting against the tunnel and down the wall? Again if the brakes were bled and not the clutch the colors could be slightly differant. just grasping at straws since I cant see the car up in the air...that maybe what you need is to get it up and have a good look
Not sure what you mean by clutch slave - this is a tip car... But the good news here I guess is that I already had it booked to go in on Tuesday - not an easy feat at this time of year at my city's best indy! I called last week when I thought the coolant leak was the only issue.
Also - just to add to the details, if I listen quietly by the driver side fender, I can hear something slowly dripping (drip-drop) sounds fairly high up in the fender (like, over the wheel).
Thats exactly where the reservoir is. Could it be a leak on the back side of the take and running down towards the front of the car?
The old test for A-freeze used to be taste it on the tip of your finger. If it tastes sweet than it is a-freeze not sure though that it applies with pentosin.
Well, it leaked all night again - and I continued to catch it in a cup - and by this morning I collected about 100 ml.
Still no noticeable drop in the brake fluid reservoir, or in the coolant tank. The power steering reservoir still shows at the "cold" level. Still no idiot lights coming on warning me of a decreased level in anything, either.
That being said, I think I have a new candidate for the leak - I now believe that it could very well be the window washer reservoir tank. Thank goodness it's going into the shop tomorrow!
with Pentosin you have to slurp from a spoon with napkin tucked into shirt, then ask "Pardon me, would you happen to have......."
if it leaked that much then it must be the washer system otherwise something would be very low...
Well, I've got a confirmed diagnosis now - it's my washer fluid that's leaking!
I don't know why I didn't try this sooner, but I just used a long thin plastic tube to siphon some washer fluid out of my washer tank. It is exactly the same color as the stuff I've collected. Additionally, as ivangene mentions, for it to have lost the amount it has, it would have to have been something with a large reservoir!
Anyway, this is good news as I believe that of the possible causes I had it down to (brakes or power steering), fixing the washer tank or pump are cheaper. It's probably the pump, according to all the posts, these tend to leak all the time.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP EVERYBODY!
