Byron L

At the front of the spare tire well of my '89 928S4 is a black plastic shield under which is a series of wires and connectors. One group of wires is housed in a black plastic tube/conduit which leads off to the right side of the car, then forward and under the interior side panel beside the rear seat. Air, along with a small volume of fluid, is being blown into the car through this tube, causing an oily odour, and it appears that this has been ongoing for quite some time. At higher RPM's the odour gets stronger, suggesting that the volume of air/fluid increases with RPM's as a result of higher pressure (such as in the engine crankcase or transmission). The fluid is clean and hasn't caused deteriation of any plastics, but has rotted some of the foam insulation. I don't think the fluid is gasoline, and the fact that it is clean suggests that it is not engine oil. It smells like gear oil. The wires in the tube include, 1) 4 individual brown grounds attached to the frame in the spare tire well; 2) a connector with 2 browns and a brown/yellow; 3) a connector with a red, green, yellow, black and white; 4) a connector with a black/red, black/yellow, brown/yellow, grey/brown and a brown. I would like to trace the source of the air/fluid and rectify the problem in order to mitigate further odour and safety concerns. Has anyone experience with this problem, or does the wire colours and fluid details provide anyone with ideas/suggestions?

Byron
charcoal 1989 928S4
25000 original miles