Help - leaking somewhere from engine

**danlat1415** · 25th June 2010, 19:13

Hi guys.

For the past few weeks I've noticed a few drip marks on my driveway from underneath the car.

I didn't think much of it, but over time, the mark on the driveway is getting larger, because whatever is leaking is not evaporating (water etc).

I'm not sure what's leaking or where from.

The leak is on the driver side front, about a foot from the edge of car, and about 1/2 foot to a foot back from the front of the car.

Does anyone have any ideas what it may be?

My thoughs are it may be:
brake fluid, engine oil or radiator coolant, petrol? (not too sure on how engine works etc).

I've not got any warning lights on the car, and it seems to be running fine, but as it's loosing liquid from somewhere, the liquid won't have an endless supply - so I though it best to investigate now before I get any trouble.

I've got a 1.8 Petrol engine if this helps.

Thanks
Dan

**clightowler** · 25th June 2010, 19:16

Originally Posted by danlat1415

Hi guys.

For the past few weeks I've noticed a few drip marks on my driveway from underneath the car.

I didn't think much of it, but over time, the mark on the driveway is getting larger, because whatever is leaking is not evaporating (water etc).

I'm not sure what's leaking or where from.

The leak is on the driver side front, about a foot from the edge of car, and about 1/2 foot to a foot back from the front of the car.

Does anyone have any ideas what it may be?

My thoughs are it may be:
brake fluid, engine oil or radiator coolant, petrol? (not too sure on how engine works etc).

I've not got any warning lights on the car, and it seems to be running fine, but as it's loosing liquid from somewhere, the liquid won't have an endless supply - so I though it best to investigate now before I get any trouble.

I've got a 1.8 Petrol engine if this helps.

Thanks
Dan

If i remember rightly the power steering pump is in that area. does the liquid smell at all? best thing is probably to get the engine steam cleaned around that area and look to see what pops up.

**Exclusive BV** · 25th June 2010, 20:39

I've got the same motor as you. apart from the brake fluid ressy, there is nothing in that corner iirc.

On our zafira though, water collects under the wheel arch lining and slowly drips out under it's own steam. not had this on mine yet

**crespo** · 25th June 2010, 20:51

There are plenty of places for water to run under a car just because it drips from the left does not mean the leak is on the left. Touch the substance to see what it is and have a sniff. It could just be a simple little leak in the radiator that can be sorted with a bit of radweld.

**Exclusive BV** · 25th June 2010, 21:31

Yeah that undertray thingy can be a pain if your driveway is on a slant it will disguise where the leak is coming from.

**pinnacare** · 25th June 2010, 22:53

Check and monitor all fluids , ..coolant, brake fluid, Engine oil, ATF, Power steering fluid behind the driver's side wing. or it could even be the screen wash .

**John LE** · 25th June 2010, 22:57

Have you been using your air con alot? Condensation forms on the outside of the pipes etc and can drip down after the car is parked up

**Jezzy** · 25th June 2010, 22:58

On some Vec-C's the power steering bottle is at the back of the engine rather than under the O/S wing.

**n_hudson** · 25th June 2010, 23:17

Originally Posted by john.robertson2

Have you been using your air con alot? Condensation forms on the outside of the pipes etc and can drip down after the car is parked up

That was my first thought.

**danlat1415** · 26th June 2010, 08:19

Thanks for your replies guys:

air con (condensation) - no I haven't had this on because it hasn't worked for about 3 years and I haven't got round to getting it sorted. winding window down was a temporary fix.

screen wash - this is on the passenger side in my car, next to battery

engine coolant - this does mysteriously go down slightly over time, but that's filled right at the back of the engine, so not sure if it'd leak near the front driver wheel.

power steering fluid - I know this is located just infront of the driver wheelarch. I had to top this up about 6 months age because the warning light came on that.

engine oil - I'm checking this, this morning so not sure yet.

brake fluid - where is this located? Had full brakes replaced about 1-2 months ago. Not a kwik fit, so hopefully they should be fine - but where would I check this to see if something isn't connected right?

ATF - what's this?

Thanks
Dan