Whats leaking???

[socal_eazye]

My 1995 Talon TSI FWD has been leaking for the last three weeks , and I have no idea what the hell it is and it leaks pretty bad. Now I'm going to try my best and describe it as best I can tell me if you need more info. The leak is on the driver side of the car, and seems to allows drip down directly in front of the tire. The origin of the drip seems to be somewhere around the buttom area of the valve cover? Or at least it puddles around that area. The liquid seems to have a greenish hue to it, I don't believe its water it evaporates at a very slow pace. It also leaks lots of this fluid but all my gauges are normal and I never overheat, allows at half or below half in terms of engine temp. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[flashburn02]

It looks like dilapidated axle grease. Its goopy enough that I'd call it grease but liquid enough that I'd call it oil. Look under the car and check the rubber boots on your axles. Make sure that there are still metal bands around the rubber boots.

Also the power steering pump is on that side of the car. If you have the car running, and you rotate the wheel all the way to either extreme the pump should make a big squeal or spray larger (very noticeable) amounts of oil everywhere if it is bad. It also is a fluid that evaporates very slowly.

Good luck, let me know if you try either of those two things.

 

[Cs4g63]

Check the power steering hoses and lines for leaks, and even check to see if the resevoir has a leak.
Since its in the area of the oil cooler/ filter bracket you should check that as well.

 

[Splitpi]

Check the power steering hoses and lines for leaks, and even check to see if the resevoir has a leak.
Since its in the area of the oil cooler/ filter bracket you should check that as well.

I agree it looks like it is coming from above the oil filter housing.

 

[Indyxc]

If it's leaking on that side of the engine and green it's most likely the water pump. You could touch a bit to your tongue, and if it's sweet it's coolant, and probably the water pump. However, don't be drinking it as it is very poisonous.

 

[socal_eazye]

How would I go about checking the oil cooler and housing? Were is it located by?

 

[daren_p]

How would I go about checking the oil cooler and housing? Were is it located by?

The person who posted this may be refering to the external oil cooler that 1g's have but being a 2g it's built into the oil filter housing (I'm sure you know where that is). If you didn't move the car in the drip on the ground pic, I don't think it would be the axles as the drip looks to far forward. Power steering pump & oil filter housings are good spots to start. What does the fluid look & smell like?

 

[socal_eazye]

The liquid has the constancy of water, although it is thicker. The liquid is clear, has a slight greenish tint to it but overall it is a clear liquid. In terms of its smell nothing overpowering in fact I can't really say it has any real distinct or noticeable smell to it. I haven't taste it as suggest, little scared to do so... And it evaporates at a very SLOW pace and what ever it is it drips alot of fluid I leave huge puddles all over the place, i would think by now what ever it is that is is almost gone but everyday theres a new puddle. I can't even park in my drive way any more.

 

[Turblown]

I have a 1g, but that looks/sounds like a Power Steering leak to me. Along with the suggestions above, check your power steering fluid level and make sure that it is not leaking at the banjo fitting on the power steering pump (common leak found on the pressure line). If the power steering fluid is low you may want to try Lucas Power Steering Fluid - Stop Leak and/or replacing the o-rings in the banjo fitting.

 

[Indyxc]

I have a 1g, but that looks/sounds like a Power Steering leak to me. Along with the suggestions above, check your power steering fluid level and make sure that it is not leaking at the banjo fitting on the power steering pump (common leak found on the pressure line). If the power steering fluid is low you may want to try Lucas Power Steering Fluid - Stop Leak and/or replacing the o-rings in the banjo fitting.

Power steering is generally red.

If it's green, slowly evaporates, that eliminates most possibilities. Does it leak pretty quickly when the car is running? I'm pretty sure it's your water pump. Nothing else has enough volume of liquid in a car to make a serious puddle each day. Oil is easy to distinguish, the rest of the systems simply don't have enough fluid volume.


Again, it's probably coolant, and coming from the water pump area.

 

[Defiant]

The liquid has the constancy of water, although it is thicker. The liquid is clear, has a slight greenish tint to it but overall it is a clear liquid.

Water pump seal dying. Do the belts, too.

 

[flashburn02]

Water pump seal dying. Do the belts, too.

Plus one here. Thats a great idea.

But why hasn't the OP checked his fluid levels in everything? At the rate it is dripping you should be able to notice what is leaking. If your coolant levels are very low, thats it. If your power steering fluid is very low, thats it.