Identify the leak

sn0pea · 02-13-2011, 01:16 PM

I have this strange and inconsistent leak coming from my car. Seems to be oil but I am n00b. It hardly leaks when I'm on a flat surface but it look like right as my car starts to back down the hill of my driveway it dumps a bunch of oil. Does that give any indicate of where my leak may be coming from and whether it is oil? I'll post pics very soon

http://img16.imageshack.us/i/img0484yo.jpg/

http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img0485m.jpg/

You can see in the second how as I start to back out it leaks more.

Bartman619 · 02-13-2011, 03:54 PM

try getting your car on a lift or jack it up in order to trace the leak. Looks like motor oil, but I could be wrong. check your oil level and power steering levels. check for leaks around your valve cover gasket and oil filter housing.

KyLu II · 02-13-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartman619

try getting your car on a lift or jack it up in order to trace the leak. Looks like motor oil, but I could be wrong. check your oil level and power steering levels. check for leaks around your valve cover gasket and oil filter housing.

This. If it ain't motor oil it could be tranny fluid, there had been some reports of bad gaskets...

josephbet01 · 02-14-2011, 09:02 AM

You need to get under the car and take off the plastic shielding to get a good look at where the leak is coming from (it's just a handful of screws), but if you wipe some fluid off the floor with a white paper towel and it has a red tint to it - it's transmission fluid. Transmission fluid is very thin. Motor oil will be thicker. From the looks of it I say tranny fluid. If it just starts "dumping" oil once the car is on an angle it may be a the fill plug on the rear of the transmission.

Check the easy fluids first - power steering and brake reservoirs under the hood. Monitor the fluid levels and make sure they don't move.

Post an update when you know what the problem / solution is.

02-13-2011, 01:16 PM	#1
sn0pea Captain 48 Rep 842 Posts Drives: Black 325i 2006 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OK iTrader: (1)	Identify the leak I have this strange and inconsistent leak coming from my car. Seems to be oil but I am n00b. It hardly leaks when I'm on a flat surface but it look like right as my car starts to back down the hill of my driveway it dumps a bunch of oil. Does that give any indicate of where my leak may be coming from and whether it is oil? I'll post pics very soon http://img16.imageshack.us/i/img0484yo.jpg/ http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img0485m.jpg/ You can see in the second how as I start to back out it leaks more. __________________ 2006 325i: Matte Black Grills, AG m310 19's (19X8.5et35 & 19X9.5et33 - 235/35/19 & 265/30/19), Amber Covers, Magnaflow with black tips, Blacked Emblems, M3 Replica Bumper and Vorsteiner hood!
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02-13-2011, 03:54 PM	#2
Bartman619 Captain 25 Rep 701 Posts Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SDCA iTrader: (2)	try getting your car on a lift or jack it up in order to trace the leak. Looks like motor oil, but I could be wrong. check your oil level and power steering levels. check for leaks around your valve cover gasket and oil filter housing.
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02-14-2011, 09:02 AM	#4
josephbet01 Private First Class 6 Rep 112 Posts Drives: E93 328i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: York, PA iTrader: (0)	You need to get under the car and take off the plastic shielding to get a good look at where the leak is coming from (it's just a handful of screws), but if you wipe some fluid off the floor with a white paper towel and it has a red tint to it - it's transmission fluid. Transmission fluid is very thin. Motor oil will be thicker. From the looks of it I say tranny fluid. If it just starts "dumping" oil once the car is on an angle it may be a the fill plug on the rear of the transmission. Check the easy fluids first - power steering and brake reservoirs under the hood. Monitor the fluid levels and make sure they don't move. Post an update when you know what the problem / solution is.
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