fluid leak - Elise 111R

[aussiebeano]

Looking for a bit of advice as to the source of a fluid leak.

I noticed on the garage floor some fluid which did not have any real colour to it. Probably 100-200 ml. At first I thought it was water as I had washed the car just the day before. It is quite a thin fluid, slightly oily to the touch, and has a bit of a salty/oily smell to it. I have checked coolant level - fine. Have checked brake fluid level - fine. Also checked in the engine bay and what I could see of the under tray through the rear wheels and did not see any evidence of leaks. It looks like the leak is coming from near the rear of the car and mostly on the left side.

Any ideas???

thanks in advance
antony

[purpleperil]

I wouldn't rule out it being water from washing your car especially if you have checked all your levels. Have you checked the brake resevoir under the front o/s access panel?

[Sam_68]

There are only a limited number of fluids in your car:

• Engine oil
• Gearbox oil (too thick to be what you describe)
• Coolant (very distinctive smell and taste)
• Hydraulic fluid (very distinctive smell and taste)
• Washer fluid (wrong end of car, if you're leaking from the back)
• Air conditioning condensate (pretty much pure water).

Try eliminating the posibilities by smell/taste ...but don't go chugging back antifreeze or brake fluid by the bottle, 'cos they're both poisonous in quantity - a dab on the end of your finger won't be fatal, though (probably ).

If it's hydraulic fluid, do NOT drive the car until you have identified the source of the leak, as a complete brake failure can be detrimental to your health.

[Beachbum]

Sam_68 said:

There are only a limited number of fluids in your car:

• Engine oil
• Gearbox oil (too thick to be what you describe)
• Coolant (very distinctive smell and taste)
• Hydraulic fluid (very distinctive smell and taste)
• Washer fluid (wrong end of car, if you're leaking from the back)
• Air conditioning condensate (pretty much pure water).

Try eliminating the posibilities by smell/taste ...but don't go chugging back antifreeze or brake fluid by the bottle, 'cos they're both poisonous in quantity - a dab on the end of your finger won't be fatal, though (probably ).

If it's hydraulic fluid, do NOT drive the car until you have identified the source of the leak, as a complete brake failure can be detrimental to your health.

Washer Fluid, is at the back of the 111R, so is a possibility in that respect, but doubt it falls into the "slightly thinner, oily consistency" as previously mentioned.
Would also suggest on cleaning up the fluid and seeing if it reoccurs. If it doesnt then most likely just water from the car being cleaned. If it does, then potentially a leak. Be wary of rain currently and water building up in the Boot Seal and then leaking out once the car is stationary

[aussiebeano]

I think I can rule out water from washing the car since the fluid definitely had an odour to it and was slightly oily. Thanks for the tip on tasting - but I think I'll pass!

Could it be hydraulic fluid? Where would that come from?

[Sam_68]

aussiebeano said:

Thanks for the tip on tasting - but I think I'll pass!

Seriously - it can be the best way of telling the difference. The different fluids have very distinctive tastes.

aussiebeano said:

Could it be hydraulic fluid? Where would that come from?

Leak on the clutch circuit (slave cylinder, union or maybe the clutch line) or leak on the brakes. Look for signs of damp on the brake lines or around the caliper.

[aussiebeano]

Ok - I gave in and had a quick taste. Not pleasant - quite bitter, though it was sweet for a very short period after the initial taste.

I had a really good look on the under tray this morning and found a leak near the front left wheel. Hard to tell if it is near a brake line. See photos.

[Sam_68]

That description could be the taste of hydraulic fluid (though hydraulic fluid is more of a bitter, 'dry' taste) or it could (more likely) be anti-freeze indicating a coolant leak - try tasting the contents of your brake resevoir and coolant reservoirs for comparison.

Run the engine up to temperature and see if you get a noticeable smell (difficult to describe, but sort of a sickly, chemically smell), which would indicate hot coolant being lost from the radiator or hose connection (and look for drips while you're doing it).

You have, of course, checked your coolant, brake and clutch reservoir levels?

[aussiebeano]

Yep - have checked brake and coolant reservoirs. Any clues where I will find the clutch fluid tank?

[SeanyD]

Could be a leak with the hose connected to the radiator, that would appear around the front left wheel. Either needs re-connecting securely or could mean a new radiator needed. Happened to mine and another local Elise owner I know.

Hope you get it sorted.

[The Bandit]

How old is the car?
As already said its either the rad hose or your rad on the way out...

[Loudman]

Prob no help but I had an occasional leak of fluid from underneath the front of the car, I'm pretty sure it was washer fluid from somewhere in the system, it was coming out from somewhere in front of the cabin (washer bottle is in the back) and I identified it from smell + the levels dropping in the bottle. I didn't do anything conscious but it seems to have gone away now....!!!!

[aussiebeano]

Car is June 2004. It has been intermittent so I'll keep an eye on it. Fluid levels are not dropping in the coolant tank so I am hoping it is not the radiator.

[Frimley111R]

From where its leaking it looks like coolant, probably a hose clip needs tighening.