levijean

I noticed some spots on my garage floor today so I got under the car and there are two or three places where something is dripping off the bottom of the engine and nearby parts. I havent been far enough under the car to figure out where it is actually coming from. If I had to pick a side its leaking from, i'd say the left. It looks like oil but is slightly watery and doesnt really have much of an odor. It doesnt seem to be as runny as coolant would be though. Any ideas?

rmc1148

Really need to get under car and pinpoint where leak is.

"02996ttx50

pentosin leaks are more common than oil leaks. but if you have slow leaky rms it could be that. though drips that are visual and make it the the garage floor wouldn't be a "slow" leak. it would be stage 3 ( e.g. change it out ) its probably pentosin though... check the clutch slave for a leaking line or imminently failing slave. they usually just "give out" and will puke pentosin rather than slow leak.

alternately, could be coolant ( greenish, slightly viscous fluid, LESS oily than pentosin.. similarly colored though ) but that is more likely from the rear coolant expansion tank or a front rad slow leak. ya gotta get under it, to source the leak. good luck.

levijean

I wiped everything off last night and checked this morning, no evidence of drips. So whatever it is apparently only leaks when warmed up / running.

Macster

My WAG would be a power steering or if a manual equipped car a clutch power boost system leak.

The fluid then would be Pentosin, which is a light hydraulic oil though I think it is actually not really oil as it is water soluble.

Regardless, you need to get the car in the air and with the warmed up engine idling give the underneath a close inspection. Be sure you let a professional do this. Get something caught in the serpentine belt or touch a hot exhaust and you'll remember that the rest of your life.

levijean

Is there imminent danger with something like this? I am supposed to take the car on a 750 mile road trip this weekend. I dont want to end up stranded on the side of the road.

Lucid Moment

You need to get under the car and see, instead of guessing. Can't know if you are going to be fine until you know where the leak is coming from.

levijean

From what i'm reading from various sources, I am assuming its pentosin.

Kevinmacd

What color is it? If it's pentosin check the power steering fluid level.

levijean

Its dark like oil but its thinner.

"02996ttx50

as most are trying to suggest it probably is pentosin but after checking the level from the rear fill spot/dipstick I wouldn't drive it far until you made certain what it is thats leaking. the most common leak is pentosin, then coolant, then oil, absent a catastrophic coolant loss from a fitting giving out. that you wouldn't be curious about. you'd know.

again ya gotta get under it or pinpoint the source. don't go pleasure driving for 750 miles tho. bad idea.

Kevin

From yesteryear, when I was a youngster.. My father would always take his car into the local service station for a checkup prior to a longer than normal trip. It's amazing how things have changed...

Most likely you have a Pentosin leak.. Very flammable. Several 996TT's have come to a end in rear end fires>Pentosin leaks from the steering pump system.

The second most likely is a coolant leak.. Which could be a coolant fitting loosening up. That would be a BAD event if it ruptured on your trip. Waterpump could be failing or the coolant reservoir OR cap has failed.

Lastly, the rear main or tranny seal could be leaking.. I'd jack the car up and have a peak, or find a shop that you can work with that knows these cars.... Build the relationship now vs later...

rmc1148

My guess coolant.

levijean

I drove it a few times today and havent noticed anything dripping again. I stopped by the local import indy shop today and the service advisor stuck his head under there and said not to worry about it for the time being...

"02996ttx50

^ translated roughly = pay me now, or pay me later. maybe some coolant just came out the expansion tank overflow. are you able to check the fluid level yourself? if so, it'd be a good idea. there's both a "hot" and "cold" level on the ps reservoir dipstick.

whats a "local import indy shop" if you dont mind my asking? these cars are best serviced by a porsche shop if this one isn't. even some shops that work exclusively on older a/c 911's dont know all the in's/outs's of our twin turbo's. strangely.