Is this a leak? Where?!

AzNMpower32 · #1 05-24-2007, 09:57 PM

As the X3 was happily gurgling down the gas at the Exxon station this evening (

), I took a peek at the underbody as periodic inspection to see if there's anything broken/dirty. To my surprise, I saw these two "leaks", one on each side. First one is from the left side, second one is from the right side.

Is this any kind of leak? I tried to rub some off on my fingers so I could see the true color/smell, but there wasn't enough (so I just got my hands all black and dirty). I washed the car this evening, but it's probably not water since I'd been on the highway and such. It's not the AC, because I haven't had the climate control on today at all. So does anyone have an idea what part the leak is taking place and/or what the leak could be?

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Ishniknork · #2 05-25-2007, 02:51 AM

Looks like some oil droplets got on the frame. Cohesion causes them to spread a long way. I could be wrong, good pics but hard to tell exactly where it might have come from. Maybe you ran through a puddle of oil and some splashed up there? Or a service guy with oily hands touched those places?

rebound · #3 05-25-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishniknork

Looks like some oil droplets got on the frame. Cohesion causes them to spread a long way. I could be wrong, good pics but hard to tell exactly where it might have come from. Maybe you ran through a puddle of oil and some splashed up there? Or a service guy with oily hands touched those places?

It does seem like oil, because it appears to have spread upward. Hard to tell...

AzNMpower32 · #4 05-25-2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishniknork

Looks like some oil droplets got on the frame. Cohesion causes them to spread a long way. I could be wrong, good pics but hard to tell exactly where it might have come from. Maybe you ran through a puddle of oil and some splashed up there? Or a service guy with oily hands touched those places?

Well, the leaks stem from the "holes" in the frame, toward the front of the car. I'll wait a couple weeks and see if anything changes, before taking it to the stealership.

Ishniknork · #5 05-25-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Well, the leaks stem from the "holes" in the frame, toward the front of the car. I'll wait a couple weeks and see if anything changes, before taking it to the stealership.

I'd crawl under there and look forward around the engine for any fluid leaks that might be running into another hole in the frame, draining down and coming out those bottom ones.

It could also be that the service guys spilled some oil, power steering fluid, or antifreeze that got into the frame and is now showing itself through those holes.

Hope you find the source AzNM

motordavid · #6 05-26-2007, 07:44 AM

I agree with Ishniknork...
and, as I don't "know" the bottom of an X3,
it's difficult for me to diagnose.

I suspect something from motor area has travelled
back along the inside of frame; what you are seeing
is the residual of that travel. My guess is it will not
change or get bigger.
GL,mD

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