Yellow Fluid under 987 - assistance with identifying

[Mutley78]

Hi All

Would anyone have an answer as to why my Boxster has an odd slightly crusty yellow fluid underneath it. It hasn’t been driven for a couple weeks and I’ve gone to drive it today but thought better of it until I can understand a little more. It seems to have originated directly under the engine. It starts fine and fluid levels are spot on.

Any help here would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[DJMC]

Was it in the street...

...near a pub?

[Mutley78]

Ace answer but no, it’s been in the garage.

[WG]

Could be power steering fluid.

[dunc_sx]

Yellow could be brake fluid imo, it doesn't go crusty though. Oil would be yellow (if new) as well but again not normally crusty. Coolant can discolour and go crusty sometimes, not 100 percent sure it would go yellow though. You'll really need to get under it and take a look.

Exactly where was the fluid located under the car and how much?

Dunc

Edited by dunc_sx on Saturday 24th December 17:02

[Discombobulate]

Coolant normally forms pink crusty deposits. Power steering fluid has a characteristic smell. Can't add much else. Sorry.

[Mutley78]

dunc_sx said:

Yellow could be brake fluid imo, it doesn't go crusty though. Oil would be yellow (if new) as well but again not normally crusty. Coolant can discolour and go crusty sometimes, not 100 percent sure it would go yellow though. You'll really need to get under it and take a look.

Exactly where was the fluid located under the car and how much?

Dunc

Edited by dunc_sx on Saturday 24th December 17:02

Thanks Dunc, it’s actually symmetrical under the car like it’s dripped down the side of the engine. I’ve had a look underneath and can’t see any sign of a leak. It’s been garage for a couple of weeks. Annoyingly the last drive was back from the garage after a checkup!

[Mutley78]

Discombobulate said:

Coolant normally forms pink crusty deposits. Power steering fluid has a characteristic smell. Can't add much else. Sorry.

I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

[5s Alive]

Did the garage jetwash/snowfoam the car? What colour is your screenwash? What does it taste like? - yes I've done this!

[Mutley78]

No they didn’t clean it but it was the one and only time I drove it in the rain so it could be something that’s rinsed off while it’s sat in the garage. I haven’t tasted it but I did give it a good sniff and it’s odourless. I was hoping to make a few Christmas deliveries in it today. I’ve never topped up the washer fluid.

[walnut3]

I had this last year under my 911 (slightly green rather than yellow) and my indy had no idea as apparently no fluid in the car is that colour.

Had the same again this year but then noticed the same from under our Golf.

Having searched round it seems road salt can cause this when it meets the catalytic converters and sure enough it's right beneath them in both cars.

[Mutley78]

walnut3 said:

I had this last year under my 911 (slightly green rather than yellow) and my indy had no idea as apparently no fluid in the car is that colour.

Had the same again this year but then noticed the same from under our Golf.

Having searched round it seems road salt can cause this when it meets the catalytic converters and sure enough it's right beneath them in both cars.

Correct, that’s exactly where it is, directly under the catalysts. Thanks for that for that intel, very much appreciated.