I've sprung a leak, need help have pics

[Empty V]

So last week I went to an exhaust shop to get a quote on a muffler upgrade. When we put it on the lift I noticed this leak but can't tell where it's coming from or what kind of fluid it is. When I dropped it off this morning I snapped a few pics. All of my fluid levels seem to be fine, can anyone help with this? My old mechanic said that I've got an extremely slow power steering leak, could this be it? If so does anyone know where it could be coming from?

Billy

[Pwnin O'Brien]

By looking at your pictures, it doesn't look like there's anything even in the area of the mystery fluid that could even leak any sort of fluid (if that makes any sense). If you take a finger sample, what color is the fluid? What does it smell like? Make sure it isn't running down any of the frame metal from some other location (like the engine or trans) and just collecting at that one point. I guess if you check all of your fluid levels and nothing is getting progressively lower, then it could just be some road grime.

This looks like it would be a pretty large leak, if it were a power steering leak, then you would most definitely know. Besides, how would ps fluid make its way all the way back there?

The only thing that runs next to that area is the brake lines (and fuel lines but gas would just evaporate), and you would know if your brake lines were leaking.
Modified by Pwnin O'Brien at 2:47 PM 9/10/2009

[nissandoms47]

Is yours 2wd? Ive never seen under a 2wd r50 before. Maybe you ran something over? It doesnt look like its leaking from anywhere.

[Empty V]

It is 2WD, unfortunately. Could it just be condensation from the AC getting blown over there while driving?

Billy

[slickroger]

i would suggest keeping an eys on your PS i have had PS problems and my underbody looked a little like that when i had been leaking.

what happened was the power steering line had a blockage and the leak was so slow that the fluid only spread to other areas when i drove the vehicle so i could never pin point the location of the leak until i let it sit for a couple of days.

Theres a metal piping that runs almost right below or in front of the rad that the PS fluid moves through. this metal piping had a block for me so i ended up cutting the end off and extending the rubber hose?

[jsm02cpa]

I would suggest cleaning up the area if you can't tell where it's coming from, then each day after you drive it, look and see if it comes back, and where it may be coming from. That will narrow down the possible leak. It shouldn't be PS way back there. If it's red, it could be break fluid, but you would know if you had a leak, your pedal would be low.

If you clean it with a break fluid cleaner, or carb cleaner, it will degrease it as well which will help you with where it may be coming from if it comes back.

Good luck.

[Empty V]

Roger good suggestion, the only problem is that I let it sit for 3 days last weekend and didn't see a single drop.

jsm02cpa another good idea. I'll clean it up tomorrow and see what happens. I'll report back when I've made some progress.

If anyone else has any other ideas of what it might be it's greatly appreciated.

Billy