My car marks its spot

Slow1200 · Post by **Slow1200** » Mon May 13, 2002 10:26 pm

Well, under the car theres a puddle of oil, mostly to the left, but it could be that the floor is not totally level. How can I know if it's leaking engine oil (which wouldn't be terrible, since I check the level every week) or is it trans oil, maybe leaking through a wheel bearing?
this is in a bone stock 64.
thanks!

Travis · Post by **Travis** » Tue May 14, 2002 12:13 am

Well the easiest way is to get down there and see what the oil looks like, Tranny Fluid is usually red (I don't think my synthetic is?!) and engine oil if not changed recently will be dark brown to black.

Best way to tell, take your car to one of those pressure spray self serve booths and give the underside a good bath, then check out where it's leaking from now that the bottom side is clean.

BTW, how much is "a puddle" all VWs tend to "mark thier spot" a few drops here and there, some worse than others, depending on which seal is gone bad.

Travos

------------------
Trav's Home on the Web
A proud member of Chattanooga's Scenic City Volksfolks

Slow1200 · Post by **Slow1200** » Tue May 14, 2002 12:23 am

thanks for your answer, the problem is that where I park the car is quite dark, so I cannot tell for sure, but it does look as dark/black engine oil. As the floor doesn't seem to be very absorbent, it could be that it's not such a big leak as it could seem going by the relatively big puddle, I had the main seal replaced recently, so that shouldn't be the prob. by the way, could this oil damage my tires by being in contact with the rubber? yesterday I pushed the car one meter forward to see the puddle and the tire sounded as it was sticking to the messy floor (but when I leave I can "burn" rubber with my tired 1200 lol)

mharney · Post by **mharney** » Tue May 14, 2002 8:33 am

For dark areas I prescribe a FLASHLIGHT. You can tell a lot with one of those. The transmission grease is thicker.. pull your dipstick and compare the oil on the ground to the oil on it and see if they are the same.

You might also try wiping up the oil and looking where it drips fresh from to see where it comes from. The car wash is a good idea. Go to the store and buy a can of engine degreaser and spray things under the engine, and then spray it at the car wash. Spray it when you get there, not before.

rich2481 · Post by **rich2481** » Tue May 14, 2002 9:30 am

How clean is the engine???, it could be the oil cooler seals, It could be the guy who replaced the front seal cut it alittle,
Good Idea on the flashlight though, Do those things really work???

GOod luck on finding the problem

Slow1200 · Post by **Slow1200** » Tue May 14, 2002 10:46 am

Ok, so I have batteries for my flashlight and degreaser on my shopping list, I'll let you know what I discover.

fastfood · Post by **fastfood** » Tue May 14, 2002 6:48 pm

Tranny fluid is the nastiest fluid man has ever made and has a terrible smell that if it gets on your clothes you will get these terrible wiffs at the most inoportune times. Take a sniff of the fluid on the ground, engine oil usually doesn't smell.

------------------
Rice, it's what's for dinner!!!

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Tue May 14, 2002 8:38 pm

Ugh....now i have the memory of the tranny fluid smell...i hate that stench!

bljones · Post by **bljones** » Tue May 14, 2002 8:51 pm

save money on flashlight batteries- get an old piece of newspaper, and lay it out under your car. with a black marker, mark on the edge of the paper where the front and rear of the tires are (doesn't have to be exact, just eyeball it.) after your car has sat for a while, pull the paper out- if the stain is between or ahead of the tire marks, then your tranny is leaking. if it is behind the tires, it is the engine. BTW, the paper will also help absorb the oil left on the ground, making your garage floor a little cleaner.

Travis · Post by **Travis** » Wed May 15, 2002 6:52 am

any local FLAPS also has these cool "baking pans" (that's what they look like) that are about 2'x3' for about 5 bucks. Keeps the little woman happy that the driveway has less stains

not that this fixes your leak

Trav

------------------
Trav's Home on the Web
A proud member of Chattanooga's Scenic City Volksfolks

FreddyG. · Post by **FreddyG.** » Wed May 15, 2002 7:32 am

When you do an oil change, the six nuts on the plate need to be tightened but not too tight or you'll screw out the stud on the next change. The trick is when tightening the 6 nuts, do it like this: start with one, any one and tighten till slightly snug, then do the same with the opposite one on the other side of the plate. Then go to the next one over from where you started and then do the opposite one across the plate. Keep going round and round until snug. The idea is to get the plate equally snug up against the oil sump. Also, before you start, take a close look at that area and see if you see oil gathering for the next drip. This area is always a good place to look first for oil leaks.
Did you check the heater boxes and examine for oil running down the side of it?? A bad gasket might be the problem there. Run you finger under the head where the valve cover meets the head . This area is just above the heater box. I had leaks there from gaskets that wouldn't sit right after an adjustment. I now use Permatex Aviation Insta Gasket and no more leaks for me!! Good luck,keep looking, you'll find it.