Question about possible leakage/seepage

[lsf925]

Hello,

I am considering the purchase of a 94 Q45 which is about 350 miles or so away from me and I saw something in a picture of the motor which didn't look quite right... I was wondering if anyone could tell me if what I have circled is a big deal and possibly what it could be or questions I can ask regarding it. Also if you see anything else of possible concern in the picture, I'd appreciate if you could point it out.

<deleted this picture and put one below>

Thanks very much for any information you might provide.

Larry Ferguson
Modified by lsf925 at 10:47 AM 5/28/2007

[Ozzie]

Can you post a smaller pic please?

[/sarcasm]

[lsf925]

I apologize about the size of the pic, that is what the owner sent to me. The thumbnail does not seem to be working but when you click on it, it does load. Again I am new to this so please bear with me but I am really trying to see if anyone has any insight as to what could be up with the circled area because I've looked at other under-hood pics of Q45s and did not see them like this.

Thanks,Larry

[maxnix]

Unfortunately the thumbnail link does not load.

What does the service history say? Dangerous to buy cars based on pictures only.

[lsf925]

Brian,

Thanks for your response. I will try one more time with a different picture hosting. I hope this will work!



Basic history on the car is this -- it only has about 78K miles on it (on a 94) and this is my main reason I am interested in picking it up. Guy is the original owner and has had it maintained at a local Import shop in San Diego. On the carfax, it has only been driven approximately 5 - 6K miles in the last 5 or 6 years, but he says he works from home now and doesn't drive it as much any more.

Thanks again.

Larry Ferguson

[maxnix]

See if he used Jerry Tucker and then get his permission to examine the service records. Regardless, have Jerry inspect it before agreeing on a price.

http://www.jerrytucker.net

The host only gives me an error.

[goody90q45]

Looks like a fluid leak from lower in the engine front being slung up by the belts/fan to the underside of the fill neck? Power steering fluid maybe? Overall the engine compartment looks pretty dirty. Hopefully this isn't an indication of how the previous owner treated the rest of the car for the first 77,000 miles. Ask for service records.

[lsf925]

Thanks maxnix and goody94 for your responses!

I think it would be a great idea to get a pre-purchase inspection done and I have emailed Jerry to see if that will be feasible. Also the seller mentioned that he had it maintained at "All Imports", so unless there is another in the area by a same/similar name (which I doubt) I believe that would mean that this shop is familiar with this car. I just hope that the shop's allegiance to a steady customer would not affect the report he gives to an 1-time out-of-towner as to the car's condition... but of course, one can only hope. If he has a reputable shop this would probably not be the case and I'm not trying to suggest that this is going to happen, however this was a thought that entered my mind.

Thanks again for your guys' help and suggestions and we will see if I go buy this car or not based on the report from Jerry Tucker.

RegardsLarry Ferguson

[3Q Jay]

you are asking about the grime or what looks to be orangish stains?grime is fairly common on the underside of the neck unless one takes the time to periodiaclly clean it. could be from the front seal, but i wouldn't worry *too* much about the grime. rust could be a different story.

things i see in the picture that i find noteworthy: upper hose clamp near waterneck has been changed--why? brake fluid looks shot (most-non-NICOans don't think too much about the 'secondary' fluids), battery looks very recently replaced (warning). make sure it is correct OEM size and capacity (group 27 preferred, group 24 minimum, with 100 minutes reserve capacity down to 10 volts (RC)). CCA are just hype usually.

a 'find' would be if the owner has been changing the oil at least every 6 months during this pseudo-storage. count on all fluids being acidic, rubber being cracked....

[mxr662]

My 90 q had that. As far as I could tell it was from the PCV valve which screws into the back of the circled part and from the other PCV hoses that are connected to that part.

I am the second owner of my Q and it also has low miles. As I have learned on this forum and from working on my Q a lot of parts 'wear' with time not just use.

Andy

[3Q Jay]

Andy-that's brilliant!

silver has had the grime ever since i bought her, but it is just legacy now (no new accumulation). since it's hidden from the front, i forget about it being there until i'm on my back underneath looking up.you turned on the light bulb---the PCV IS the source. since i changed the PCV within 50 miles of purchase, i never thought about it again.....