Smells, fluids and temps

[jetboy]

Took a small trip today, about 1 1/2 hrs. Drove it fairly spirited.

Got into the garage some 2 1/2 hours later, engine is still fairly warm (the temp gauge indicated nothing of the kind while I drove. It's maybe 5 degrees celcius outside and in the garage.

A couple of days ago I also took it for a drive after it had been standing still for a week. After first stop, I noticed something smelling toasted from the engine room. I was disappointed since it wasn't the wheels.

There's a small leak, a non-puddle og blaaaack under the engine.

* Checked oil, looks good and is on "Full" on both occations
* It's completely impossible to see if there's anything in the ABS reservoir. Can I just open the lid and see for myself or is it unwise to let in air?
* The positioning of the Coolant reservoir makes gauging impossible. I open the lid and there's blue fuild about 5cm down in the reservoir, well over the lead downwards to the tank.
* There's a thin layer of black goo around the power steering reservoir cap and the cap itself is quite oily. I assume the power steering fluid is black?

I'm a zero when it comes to cars but ready to learn.

Can I open all lids without fear for any air coming in, just clean them before opening to avoid dirt getting in?

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by jetboy

Took a small trip today, about 1 1/2 hrs. Drove it fairly spirited.

Got into the garage some 2 1/2 hours later, engine is still fairly warm (the temp gauge indicated nothing of the kind while I drove. It's maybe 5 degrees celcius outside and in the garage.

A couple of days ago I also took it for a drive after it had been standing still for a week. After first stop, I noticed something smelling toasted from the engine room. I was disappointed since it wasn't the wheels.

There's a small leak, a non-puddle og blaaaack under the engine.

* Checked oil, looks good and is on "Full" on both occations
* It's completely impossible to see if there's anything in the ABS reservoir. Can I just open the lid and see for myself or is it unwise to let in air?
* The positioning of the Coolant reservoir makes gauging impossible. I open the lid and there's blue fuild about 5cm down in the reservoir, well over the lead downwards to the tank.
* There's a thin layer of black goo around the power steering reservoir cap and the cap itself is quite oily. I assume the power steering fluid is black?

I'm a zero when it comes to cars but ready to learn.

Can I open all lids without fear for any air coming in, just clean them before opening to avoid dirt getting in?

These engine bays get pretty hot compared to other cars, AFAIK. So don't freak out just yet.

You can open the lid, just clean off the cap so no dust gets in it, and don't leave it open longer than you must. However, if the brake fluid were low, the "brake" light would be on in the gauge cluster.

The power steering fluid should be pink, as it is just automatic trans fluid (ATF). If it's black, then it's either super old, or the wrong kind.

Look in the how-to docs about the power-steering O-ring issue, it is a common leak.

[jetboy]

Icing, you're really helpful on every occation.

I'll pop the lid for the power steering tomorrow and check the colour. What's around the cap/lid is black. What's under the car is black. I did gauge oil about a week ago and today, it's on "Full" but the leak isn't severe in any way, just a patch sort of right under the engine.

The colour of the ABS fluid should be blue or gold?

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by jetboy

Icing, you're really helpful on every occation.

I think I have been spending too much time on the internet, because I read this ^ like this:



Thanks though

Originally Posted by jetboy

The colour of the ABS fluid should be blue or gold?

Most likely gold. In the US, some states, such as Florida, have the rule that brake fluid must be yellow. So, probably yellow. When you pick up a new car, it's a good idea to change all the fluids, especially the ones that people tend to neglect, like brake, power steering, trans, etc.

It could also be an engine oil leak. At this age, the seals are starting to go bad. And the engine holds a lot of oil, so it might leak enough for you to see on the ground, even if the dipstick doesn't show any lost.

[jetboy]

Trans oil was changed in december while they changed the plates and sol valve. I got the invoice.

Is the diff dipstick located on the left side of the engine (seen from front) just about where the trans dip stick is located on the right?

If it's an engine oil leak, should it be fairly visible once the car is lifted up?

I'm turning it in soon for some major overhaul pretty soon anyway, I can ask them to take a look.

[jetboy]

All fluids nominal on level and colour except AT oil which I didn't check (didn't have the procedure on me). PS was pink. Diff oil maybe a bit on the low side but not sure the gauging was any good since it's a bit difficult to manouver it in semi darkness.

Come think of it, the car had been standing still for almost a week and the oil on the floor was more patchy than puddly. I reckon something between a major seepage and minor leak.

Probably why it smelt a bit toasted on the first trip?