car leaking something

ali-t

If any of you have read any of my previous posts in the motoring section of the forum you will be aware I know nowt about cars so am in need of help.

I got a new car a few weeks ago and love it but over the last couple of days have noticed a stain on the slabs where I park the car. Originally I thought I had spilt something like weedkiller when I was spraying the weeds but now I am sure it is coming from the car.

It is a 6 year old Nissan X trail and the leak is at the back right hand side at the opposite side from the fuel tank. It is a diesel car if that makes a difference. I haven't noticed it leaking at work or when it is parked in the street for short periods but there is a fairly large stain on the slabs in the driveway.

I have done a google search and am none the wiser. I dabbed it with kitchen towel and toilet roll to find out what colour it is and work out if there is a smell that is a give away but there is nothing I can identify so have now put a sheet of white paper underneath and will check it again in the morning.

the stain is a bit greasy and has stained the slabs like when they are wet but not stained like something dark has been spilt on them. I don't think it is water from the air con as the stain doesn't go away during the day and although the kitchen roll looks a bit dirty it isn't stained a particular colour.

Any clues what it could be? From googling I thought it might be brake fluid or power steering fluid but I am not sure.

I had a similar concern with my last car and was going to take it to the garage when my dad told me it was from the air con and nothing to worry about.

Wee_Willy_Harris

At the rrear of the car I doubt if it would be air-con or power steering fluid. I'd GUESS it was either brake fluid or diesel. But that is just a guess.

Kilty_2

Leave it parked overnight somewhere flat and clean with the handbrake off and in gear

If there's no stain in the morning, it's brake fluid from a rear caliper.

Also, check the brake fluid level regularly for signs of it going down - driving a car with no brakes is not fun!

johnnyroper

Kilty wrote: »

Leave it parked overnight somewhere flat and clean with the handbrake off and in gear

If there's no stain in the morning, it's brake fluid from a rear caliper.

Also, check the brake fluid level regularly for signs of it going down - driving a car with no brakes is not fun!

what difference will having hand brake off make,if there is a brake fluid leak it will leak regardless the handbrake is a mechanical system and not hydraulic.
also if it was brake fluid i would expect it to have a soft brake pedal,if it is big enough to leave a stain then under pressure with foot on brake it would come out a lot faster.

i would guess at rear diff oil or maybe a leaking shock?? it is impossible to diagnose this sort of thing without seeing the car i would suggest you get it to a garage to have it checked out.

ali-t

Thanks for the feedback. I checked the bit of paper I put under it last night and it has a slightly greasy 'clear' stain that doesn't have a smell. The slightly dirty smell off the other swab I took must have been dirt off the paving slabs. Given the size of the stain I would guess it has been leaking for the 3 weeks I have had it but this is the first rain free week we have had so the first I have noticed it.

I will take it to the garage but wanted to canvas for a few possible ideas so I don't look like a total dafty and get ripped off due to my lack of knowledge. The car has a 2 month warranty from the garage I got it from so am I better getting it done there or going elsewhere for diagnosis and a quote before seeing if the garage I got it from will fix it under the 2 month warranty?

Strider590

LOL!!!

Has anyone considered that it might be water drainage from the aircon system? Pretty much all cars will leave a small pool of water after the aircon has been on..... It's like the condensation you get on an ice cold drink, it has to drain off somewhere!

Check ur fluid levels obviously, they're in plain sight so shouldn't be an issue.... But as it's clear and has no real smell I think it's aircon drainage OR some pillock has replaced the engine coolant with pure water.

maninthestreet

Strider590 wrote: »

LOL!!!

Has anyone considered that it might be water drainage from the aircon system? Pretty much all cars will leave a small pool of water after the aircon has been on..... It's like the condensation you get on an ice cold drink, it has to drain off somewhere!

Check ur fluid levels obviously, they're in plain sight so shouldn't be an issue.... But as it's clear and has no real smell I think it's aircon drainage OR some pillock has replaced the engine coolant with pure water.

The fluid appears to originating from the rear of the vehicle, so is unlikely to be either condensation from the aircon or engine coolant.
OP, how far is the stain from the exhaust pipe? Does your drive have a slope??

jimbms

maninthestreet wrote: »

The fluid appears to originating from the rear of the vehicle, so is unlikely to be either condensation from the aircon or engine coolant.
OP, how far is the stain from the exhaust pipe? Does your drive have a slope??

Just what I was thinking, excess water mixed with a small amount of exhaust oil coming from the CAT. if it is that then nothing to worry about.

boyse7en

Just because it's dripping from the rear of the vehicle, doesn't mean that the leak is at the rear. As the vehicle moves forward, any leaking fluid get blown back until it hits a barrier. When enough collects it will drip off.

If it wasn't for the lack of smell, I'd suspect diesel. Leaking shocks wouldn't contain enough fluid to consistently drip for three weeks. A leaking caliper or brake hose would have caused the brake fluid to be noticably low in the reservoir (you have checked it, haven't you?). Water from aircon system condensation would evaporate away in the hot weather, leaving no stain. Cooling system water would leave a stain, as the antifreeze is coloured

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

I'd agree with the above. I've had the odd minor leak on my car and usually it drips onto the undertray, and exits from several feet away.

OP I'm afraid that at some point, someone is going to have to go underneath the car and look with a torch, or at the very least remove the wheels and check in there.

mpg

johnnyroper wrote: »

what difference will having hand brake off make,if there is a brake fluid leak it will leak regardless the handbrake is a mechanical system and not hydraulic.
also if it was brake fluid i would expect it to have a soft brake pedal,if it is big enough to leave a stain then under pressure with foot on brake it would come out a lot faster.

i would guess at rear diff oil or maybe a leaking shock?? it is impossible to diagnose this sort of thing without seeing the car i would suggest you get it to a garage to have it checked out.

How does it push the piston against the pad then against the brake dics.
Its mechanical right up to the caliper then its hydraulic


What does the liquid feel like??