what is this under my car?

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 02:11 PM

the floor in my garage is really dirty so i cant tell if this is water from the ac and it dirty or its something else. i am color blind so i cant tell. sorry for the crappy iphone pics.

JBax · 12-17-2011, 02:15 PM

oil...

roadkillrob · 12-17-2011, 02:16 PM

It looks like oil based on the color and should be inside the engine not outside.

If you put it on your finger and rub 2 fingers back and forth it will feel slick if it is any major fluid, oil, transmission fluid, coolant or power steering fluid. If it was just water, it would not feel slick.

Color would indicate engine oil, so check your oil pan area, especially drain plug and check for wetness around the oil filter up on top of the engine or around the valve cover.

It is a lot of oil, so check the level and top up before you drive to the mechanic. Have you had an oil change lately?

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 02:38 PM

it doesnt feel slick at all.

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 02:39 PM

the big part of the puddle was at the back of the car. like near the right rear wheel

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 12-17-2011, 02:41 PM

The color looks to be oil. does it smell like oil? Or does it smell like powersteering fluid/brake fluid?

SilverII · 12-17-2011, 02:42 PM

car diarrhea... aka engine oil?

Wedge1967 · 12-17-2011, 02:57 PM

Haha, I've seen this before... The oil is coming from the shock. I had the same thing happen to my Honda van. It will eventually quit, but you won't have any dampaning on that shock anymore.

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge1967

Haha, I've seen this before... The oil is coming from the shock. I had the same thing happen to my Honda van. It will eventually quit, but you won't have any dampaning on that shock anymore.

i actually think its just gravity as you can see the stream of fluid

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 12-17-2011, 03:22 PM

check your rear lower control arm by the shocks

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 03:30 PM

ok but its not actually by the shocks. it is now but the actual leak is from around under the middle of the engine bay. gravity has brought it down to the back wheels

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 04:07 PM

should i take my tune out for this visit or do you think they'll just be working under the car?

cn555ic · 12-17-2011, 04:26 PM

Transmission fluid. You have a leak

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 04:44 PM

ok should i take the jb3 out for this dealer visit?

Crazylegs · 12-17-2011, 05:03 PM

Yes

Bme30 · 12-17-2011, 06:53 PM

did your car pee itself?

cn555ic · 12-17-2011, 07:16 PM

Check put toadhollow thread. Same thing happened to me.

Rotorocious · 12-17-2011, 07:18 PM

what does it taste like?

Tzu · 12-17-2011, 07:18 PM

Why dont you take off the underbody panels and just look?

cn555ic · 12-17-2011, 07:25 PM

It's definitely the tranny pan. Happens to alot of people especially when it starts getting colder out.

Rotorocious · 12-17-2011, 07:28 PM

It should smell awful if its the trans

michaelalex17 · 12-17-2011, 10:12 PM

it doesnt smell bad at all

12-17-2011, 02:11 PM	#1
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	what is this under my car? the floor in my garage is really dirty so i cant tell if this is water from the ac and it dirty or its something else. i am color blind so i cant tell. sorry for the crappy iphone pics. Attached Images
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12-17-2011, 02:15 PM	#2
JBax Private First Class 1 Rep 170 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (2)	oil... __________________ JB4, Alufelgen SF-71, DCI, VRSF DPs, Meth, AR Meth Elbow, AWE BOVs, Catless Exhaust, BMS OCC, ETS FMIC, ECS Strut Bar, ER Engine Cover, M Sport Steering Wheel Trim, LEDs, 20% Tint, Macht Schnell Spacers, ACS Roof Spoiler, ACS Pedals, ACS E-Brake Handle, Blacklines, M3 Steering Wheel w/DCT Paddles, Gunmetal Kidneys, Black Finisher Rods
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12-17-2011, 02:16 PM	#3
roadkillrob Major General 863 Rep 5,448 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (15)	It looks like oil based on the color and should be inside the engine not outside. If you put it on your finger and rub 2 fingers back and forth it will feel slick if it is any major fluid, oil, transmission fluid, coolant or power steering fluid. If it was just water, it would not feel slick. Color would indicate engine oil, so check your oil pan area, especially drain plug and check for wetness around the oil filter up on top of the engine or around the valve cover. It is a lot of oil, so check the level and top up before you drive to the mechanic. Have you had an oil change lately? __________________ 2022 X3M Brooklyn Grey 2008 E93 335i FBO 2012 Mercedes C63 Black Series Alanite Grey
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12-17-2011, 02:38 PM	#4
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	it doesnt feel slick at all.
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12-17-2011, 02:39 PM	#5
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	the big part of the puddle was at the back of the car. like near the right rear wheel
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12-17-2011, 02:41 PM	#6
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	The color looks to be oil. does it smell like oil? Or does it smell like powersteering fluid/brake fluid?
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12-17-2011, 02:42 PM	#7
SilverII Colonel 40 Rep 2,334 Posts Drives: '11 335IS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335IS [9.66]	car diarrhea... aka engine oil?
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12-17-2011, 02:57 PM	#8
Wedge1967 Banned 125 Rep 2,172 Posts Drives: '07 e92 AT Sport Montego Blue Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (3)	Haha, I've seen this before... The oil is coming from the shock. I had the same thing happen to my Honda van. It will eventually quit, but you won't have any dampaning on that shock anymore.
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12-17-2011, 03:22 PM	#10
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	check your rear lower control arm by the shocks
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12-17-2011, 03:30 PM	#11
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	ok but its not actually by the shocks. it is now but the actual leak is from around under the middle of the engine bay. gravity has brought it down to the back wheels
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12-17-2011, 04:07 PM	#12
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	should i take my tune out for this visit or do you think they'll just be working under the car?
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12-17-2011, 04:26 PM	#13
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	Transmission fluid. You have a leak
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12-17-2011, 04:44 PM	#14
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	ok should i take the jb3 out for this dealer visit?
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12-17-2011, 05:03 PM	#15
Crazylegs Lieutenant 15 Rep 447 Posts Drives: 08 Black on Red 335I Join Date: May 2011 Location: South Florida iTrader: (1)	Yes __________________ 2008 Bsm E92 335i - FBO -E85--------Sold 2014 BSM 335i Msport - Stock
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12-17-2011, 06:53 PM	#16
Bme30 Major 88 Rep 1,039 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: May 2010 Location: 'Merika' iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	did your car pee itself?
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12-17-2011, 07:16 PM	#17
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	Check put toadhollow thread. Same thing happened to me.
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12-17-2011, 07:18 PM	#18
Rotorocious Lieutenant Colonel 103 Rep 1,520 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (3)	what does it taste like?
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12-17-2011, 07:18 PM	#19
Tzu Lieutenant Colonel 29 Rep 1,551 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Why dont you take off the underbody panels and just look?
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12-17-2011, 07:25 PM	#20
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	It's definitely the tranny pan. Happens to alot of people especially when it starts getting colder out.
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12-17-2011, 07:28 PM	#21
Rotorocious Lieutenant Colonel 103 Rep 1,520 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (3)	It should smell awful if its the trans
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12-17-2011, 10:12 PM	#22
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 596 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	it doesnt smell bad at all
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