More Leaks

[alan911]

Noticed a drip coming from the bottom of my 86 SDL. Dosen't smell like fuel and appears to be clear and slightly oily. Nothing leaking from the top view of the engine, i.e. filters, injectors hoses, etc. What line (s) run underneath the engine ?? It's not oil as that would be black. Not neon green. Not red trans fluid. Stumped.

[jbaj007]

A/C compressor oil (when leaking from front compressor seal) is perfectly clear (you can guess how I know). Mineral oil (R12)

[alan911]

Nope. Don't think its the compressor. Still have the original A/C system. No R-13. Dry as a bone. I can see down into the "splash cover" under the oil pan and its a litttle oily but not much and that can be from anything and the stuff in there is pretty non-descript. Are there any "lines" or hoses that run under the engine that have a clear and slightly oily fluid ?? Just hosed off everything and waiting for it to dry.Gonna sit and watch the sucker leak. Just thought someone could direct me to the culprit so I don't have to check everything. Still stumped.

LOL My 300SDL drips from everywhere, It would be a miricle if I could point out one type of new fluid on the ground!

[jwduffey]

Brake or power steering fluid?

Alan,

My '85 300CD was leaking a clear "slightly oily" substance that turned out to be from the back of the water pump housing (where there is a little gasket. The water would run down the front bottom of the engine (almost impossible to see that area) and collect on the top edge of the pan, then drip slowly onto ground. In the process, it got a little oily.

Fix was to remove everything and renew gasket. While doing that time consuming (for me anyway) job, I replaced the water pump, all hoses/belts, and the vacuum pump.

Nic

[alan911]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm use to strange leaks from my "Other" car, the 911, It's always OIL, as it's about as tight as a screen door in a submarine. The SDL never gave me any trouble.

After spraying of the top and sides of the engine, I checked all the Fuel connections, injector pump, then all the brake and ABS connections, then the Power Steering connectioins, and A/C. All O.K.

Then put a paper towel down underneath the splash pan over-night. The drip is coming from the little hole in the splash pan(lots of help-right ?) so what ever it is, it from the underside of the engine. Going to take the splsh pan off and do the same thing. That should pin-point it.