What's slow leaking under engine area?

jdTrader

jdTrader

Staff
Moderator
Car
2009 FX50S
2009 FX50S with 119,500 miles.

Noticed about a week ago a few spots in my garage. It has an oil look to it. My oil levels, coolant, brake, and power steering levels are all good. Looks like this leak makes 1 drop after each time I park for the night. At first I thought maybe the oil filter wasn't tightened enough from the dealer, but the oil filter is closer to the driver side and closer to the front of the car. Did my best to take photos. Any ideas?

Usually creates one drop for the night. Has been occurring for at least 1-2 weeks.
IMG_0416.JPG
Angle from behind passenger front tire.
IMG_0417.JPG
IMG_0418.JPG
IMG_0419.JPG
After wiping it clean.
IMG_0420.JPG
IMG_0421.JPG
Not much after wiping it clean.
IMG_0426.JPG
 
nima said:
rusty water? are you sure its oil?
Click to expand...

It doesn't look like rusty water at all. It has an oily feel to it and consistency/color/feel of oil. I'm wondering what that whole that is for?

Is the transfer case, trans, or anything else at this spot?
 
Water pumps have a machined hole that starts leaking as they near the end of their service life.
Failure will cause a big leak, and empty the system. Looks like water pump dribble, rusty with just a hint of the oily feel from old anti freeze?

Anti freeze tastes sweet, just saying, "Probably won't kill ya, if you venture just a little taste on your pinky "
 
Last edited:
About a month or two ago I siphoned out some coolant and replaced it with new coolant. I do that now and then with brake fluid and steering fluids too. The coolant has a vibrant color. This didn't have a color other than the color of watered down used oil.

I just went to check under the car again now after a few days of me wiping it clean. There is 1 new drop on the garage floor and a little bit around that hole that I put a picture of. It does not have a smell to it and the consistency is like watered down oil. It does sound like possibly dirty rusty water, but it's not the A/C water which is a ton more from another spot and is completely clear and doesn't leave stains on the garage floor.

Can anyone confirm what that is a picture of under the car with that machined hole for? I looked up the water pump online for a FX50 and it looks different than what that picture looks like, so I don't think it's that.
 
krycks said:
That is the Transverse Link. I checked under and both sides have the same hole.
Click to expand...

That helps a lot. So that means the Transverse Link bushing is leaking or maybe ball joint, which means new control arms probably....
 
No issues. Dealer was right in that some water with crud or something just go in that hole most likely and dripped out over time. Didn't change anything and after about 1-2 months the dripping stopped with no change.
 
jdTrader said:
No issues. Dealer was right in that some water with crud or something just go in that hole most likely and dripped out over time. Didn't change anything and after about 1-2 months the dripping stopped with no change.
Click to expand...

Mines was a cracked windshield wiper fluid reservoir going to replace when weather let’s up


Sent from my iPhone
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top