Yellowish liquid leak by front left tire
Discussion
My 1999 V8 is leaking a yellowish fluid on the garage floor, just inside the left front tire area. As you can tell, I'm no mechanic. 
I touched the fluid, and it is has a slightly oily feel to it. It's not enging coolant to the radiator, I don't think. What else could it be? Does this sound like it's brake fluid? Steering fluid? There's no other possibilities for a mid-engine car, right?
I've not noticed anything strange in how the car operates, though braking the car does take more effort than my Cadillac... (I just got the Lotus so I've got no prior experience to guage it by.)
If anyone has any ideas, could you also please let me know if this is something that I can take to a good local mechanic to possibly fix? Or does it need Lotus dealership servicing? Thanks a bunch.
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Sunday 12th March 01:19
I touched the fluid, and it is has a slightly oily feel to it. It's not enging coolant to the radiator, I don't think. What else could it be? Does this sound like it's brake fluid? Steering fluid? There's no other possibilities for a mid-engine car, right? I've not noticed anything strange in how the car operates, though braking the car does take more effort than my Cadillac... (I just got the Lotus so I've got no prior experience to guage it by.)
If anyone has any ideas, could you also please let me know if this is something that I can take to a good local mechanic to possibly fix? Or does it need Lotus dealership servicing? Thanks a bunch.
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Sunday 12th March 01:19
I'm not joking about here...
If i leave my garage door open, my cat always (for some
inane reason) makes his way to the front left hand corner
of my car and 'marks' his territory. I've no idea why he
choses that spot, but if he's got in there then i will have
a yellow puddle at the front of the car everytime.
If i leave my garage door open, my cat always (for some
inane reason) makes his way to the front left hand corner
of my car and 'marks' his territory. I've no idea why he
choses that spot, but if he's got in there then i will have
a yellow puddle at the front of the car everytime.
Thanks. Someone else told me it's probably brake fluid. These are Brembo calipers so I imagine a speed shop mechanic or import shop can fix it. Please let me know if I'm wrong.
BTW, I do have a cat and that was the first thing I thought of! He's not leaking. It's something definitely under the car.
BTW, I do have a cat and that was the first thing I thought of! He's not leaking. It's something definitely under the car.
deecee said:
A Brake Shop should be able to take care of it.
Chances are that it is either a Hose or one of the Caliper Piston Seals
Unlikely to be a leaking caliper seal inmho. I've worked on cars for 30 yrs and never seen a leaking caliper seal, even when the piston is badly corroded.
Much more likely to be coolant from a connection or the rad itself, or an oil cooler. Lots of suspects in that area.
Paul.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Tuesday 14th March 07:48
B16 RFF said:
A Brake Shop should be able to take care of it.
Chances are that it is either a Hose or one of the Caliper Piston Seals
Unlikely to be a leaking caliper seal inmho. I've worked on cars for 30 yrs and never seen a leaking caliper seal, even when the piston is badly corroded.
Much more likely to be coolant from a connection or the rad itself, or an oil cooler. Lots of suspects in that area.
Paul.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Tuesday 14th March 07:48
... Interesting. Maybe the weather is the culprit for various wear and tear... but I have replaced my front calipers twice due to seal leakage. All is well this go around, but the first set (original as far as I know) started leaving little puddles of fluid right at the front tires after sitting for a week. Pulled the tires off and could easily see where the fluid originated. Left side did the same thing within a month. The second time may not really count as the replacement parts did this same thing from day 1. They were rebuilt units... just not rebuild correctly I supposed.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
(PS - smell might test the cat theory?
Autocross7 said:
A Brake Shop should be able to take care of it.
Chances are that it is either a Hose or one of the Caliper Piston Seals
Unlikely to be a leaking caliper seal inmho. I've worked on cars for 30 yrs and never seen a leaking caliper seal, even when the piston is badly corroded.
Much more likely to be coolant from a connection or the rad itself, or an oil cooler. Lots of suspects in that area.
Paul.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Tuesday 14th March 07:48
... Interesting. Maybe the weather is the culprit for various wear and tear... but I have replaced my front calipers twice due to seal leakage. All is well this go around, but the first set (original as far as I know) started leaving little puddles of fluid right at the front tires after sitting for a week. Pulled the tires off and could easily see where the fluid originated. Left side did the same thing within a month. The second time may not really count as the replacement parts did this same thing from day 1. They were rebuilt units... just not rebuild correctly I supposed.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
(PS - smell might test the cat theory?
Ditto...I must also be cursed...I've also put 2 seal kits in.
cnh1990 said:
Yellow brake fluid? It has a slight tinge but not that much. I would say it is more clear than yellow. If it looks like oil I would have a look at PS connections, the shock tower or oil cooler lines if you have really clean oil.
Depends on how old the fluid is and what the leak is washing away on it's path from the leak to the floor.
Mike
deecee said:
A Brake Shop should be able to take care of it.
Chances are that it is either a Hose or one of the Caliper Piston Seals
Unlikely to be a leaking caliper seal inmho. I've worked on cars for 30 yrs and never seen a leaking caliper seal, even when the piston is badly corroded.
Much more likely to be coolant from a connection or the rad itself, or an oil cooler. Lots of suspects in that area.
Paul.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Tuesday 14th March 07:48
... Interesting. Maybe the weather is the culprit for various wear and tear... but I have replaced my front calipers twice due to seal leakage. All is well this go around, but the first set (original as far as I know) started leaving little puddles of fluid right at the front tires after sitting for a week. Pulled the tires off and could easily see where the fluid originated. Left side did the same thing within a month. The second time may not really count as the replacement parts did this same thing from day 1. They were rebuilt units... just not rebuild correctly I supposed.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
(PS - smell might test the cat theory?
Ditto...I must also be cursed...I've also put 2 seal kits in.
Jeez, Cats' piss first, now Seals
Well guys, the yellowish, slightly oily fluid leaking by my front left tire certainly looks like the fluid in my brake fluid reservoir, so I think that's what it is. But the reservoir is FULL! So this is a head scratcher. Maybe if I fire 'er up and pump the brakes the reservoir level will drop. I'll try that.
Some of you talk about leaking calipers, but it seems to me that if my caliper were leaking then the leak would be all over the inside of my wheels. It's not. The drip appears to be hitting the garage floor about six inches away from the tire (under the car, toward the front).
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Wednesday 15th March 02:39
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Thursday 16th March 00:38
Some of you talk about leaking calipers, but it seems to me that if my caliper were leaking then the leak would be all over the inside of my wheels. It's not. The drip appears to be hitting the garage floor about six inches away from the tire (under the car, toward the front).
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Wednesday 15th March 02:39
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Thursday 16th March 00:38
99whitev8 said:
Well guys, the yellowish, slightly oily fluid leaking by my front left tire certainly looks like the fluid in my brake fluid resevoir, so I think that's what it is. But the resevoir is FULL! So this is a head scratcher. Maybe if I fire 'er up and pump the brakes the resevoir level will drop. I'll try that.
Some of you talk about leaking calipers, but it seems to me that if my caliper were leaking then the leak would be all over the inside of my wheels. It's not. The drip appears to be hitting the garage floor about six inches away from the tire (under the car, toward the front).
>> Edited by 99whitev8 on Wednesday 15th March 02:39
I don't know where the reservoir is on these cars, but could it be screenwash fluid?
Paul.
It could well be screenwash as Paul suggests. Have you been doing some enthusiastic cornering in your new car? The screenwash bottle doesn't like to be completely full and will tip some out when you start throwing the car around.
Cat wee notwithstanding, what does the fluid taste like? (I'm old school and I know Health and Safety would frown on this!)
Coolant and washer fluid (washer fluid isn't oily to the touch, though) are both sweet whereas brake fluid is nasty, almost bitter.
Cat wee notwithstanding, what does the fluid taste like? (I'm old school and I know Health and Safety would frown on this!)
Coolant and washer fluid (washer fluid isn't oily to the touch, though) are both sweet whereas brake fluid is nasty, almost bitter.
No, the windshield fluid is blue. This is a yellowish, oily liquid. I would swear it is brake fluid, but I just took the car out for a spin and the brakes feel fine. And the reservoir is full, at 'Max', even after the ride. The amount of fluid that has leaked onto my garage floor over the past two months is at least more than a pint. Isn't that a significant amount?
If it were washer fluid it would not be oily and it would have evaporated.
As for brake fluid, it will actually increase in volume by absorbing humidity from the open air...but to loose a pint and for it not to register in your reservoir is unheard of.
The only thing it could be is either power steering fluid (check the level) or you have a leaking rack and pinion boot.
As for brake fluid, it will actually increase in volume by absorbing humidity from the open air...but to loose a pint and for it not to register in your reservoir is unheard of.
The only thing it could be is either power steering fluid (check the level) or you have a leaking rack and pinion boot.
99whitev8 said:
No, the windshield fluid is blue. This is a yellowish, oily liquid. I would swear it is brake fluid, but I just took the car out for a spin and the brakes feel fine. And the reservoir is full, at 'Max', even after the ride. The amount of fluid that has leaked onto my garage floor over the past two months is at least more than a pint. Isn't that a significant amount?
Have you actually taken the cap off and looked into the reservoir?
I was fooled once by the 'high-tide' mark on the transparent coolant reservoir of a car (not an Esprit).
If you rock the car slightly, you can see the fluid moving if you don't want to disturb the cap.
Paul.
If it's not coming from your brake system then my guesses are:
1. Brake fluid from the clutch master cylinder. There is a hole in the left front wheel well where the clutch line goes through, so if fluid was leaking out of the line or the cylinder, it could get out by the wheel pretty easy.
2. It could be coolant. The car is mid engine but the coolant is piped up to the radiator at the front of the car. Some of the new organic acid anti-freezes are yellow in color.
1. Brake fluid from the clutch master cylinder. There is a hole in the left front wheel well where the clutch line goes through, so if fluid was leaking out of the line or the cylinder, it could get out by the wheel pretty easy.
2. It could be coolant. The car is mid engine but the coolant is piped up to the radiator at the front of the car. Some of the new organic acid anti-freezes are yellow in color.
Mystery solved: it IS coolant, and it's coming from a pin-hole leak on one of the fins. I called JAE and was told a new radiator costs $1200 but is probably not necessary. The car has 26,000 miles on it, has been beautifully maintained (and regularly flushed), so a re-coring and repair ought to do it. Now I just have to remove the radiator. A friend who owns a Sunoco shop with proper lifts offered to try. He re-builds and races Porsches. I'll see if there are any threads on removing the radiator, and if not, I'll start one. If anyone can advise me and my friend on 'tricks' to removing the radiator, please post it, it'll be appreciated. I already checked Lotus Esprit World, they don't have the procedure on their maintenance page... 
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