Fluid leak

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squizzel

New Member
Posts
343
Location
wednesbury
1st problem since i got my disco in feb and its a fluid leak. The car is an 03 disco 2 TD5. I noticed a small patch of what looks like oil on the floor yesterday, under the front off side. As it was wet i tried to look under as best as i could and there is a drip hanging off the bracket that holds the ace antiroll bar to the chassis. It has also run along the plastic trim under the radiator. The fluid is quite thin and a light brownish colour (but this could just be dirt that has been washed down with it). The steering box is dry as is the ace actuator. What i want to know is, is there anything else above this area that can leak this fluid?
I can see in the rave manual that the power steering pipes bend that way but it doesnt show if they are routed over the area i have the drip.
I do intend getting under and having a look, but at the moment its chucking it down and i have done my back in. But if i at least know what i am looking for it will make diagnosis a bit easier.
Thanks in advance
Mark
 
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First of all check fluid levels in ACE and PAS reservoir.......if one of them is lower u'll now where to investigate further.
 
They are both ok i checked them this morning, so is the engine oil but it seems too thin for that. Coolant is ok but that is orangy red.It doesnt smell like diesel, so it is really narrowed down to ace or steering. Do the pipes for both run in this place or just one of the systems? I thnk it has only just started to leak as there wasnt anything on the drive Monday but there was Tuesday morning, and its minimal at the moment but i want to get it fixed asap.
Thanks
Mark
 
Maybe because of the change in weather you have run the AC to help clear the windows and it's condensation that is dripping of the condenser and picking up some dirt???
 
Well managed to get out and have a poke around today. Found the ACE pipes and they are like new, and more importantly dry.
Looking down between the intercooler and radiator i can see what seems to be a dark patch on the bottom drivers side of the radiator. And my coolant was down today, absolutely fine yesterday. So i am tinking its the radiator thats gone and the orange coolant is bringing some dirt with it and turning it brown like oil, So i have topped it up and will keep an eye on it over the week end. Been out this afternoon though and checked underneath when i got back and its completely dry.
Will let you know how it gets on over the week end.
Mark
 
I know you said it doesn't look like engine oil, but i had oil leak that sounds very similar to yours ( fluid on actuator etc ). It turned out to be engine harness/oil travelling to ECU. Couldn't believe how much oil can wick through that thing. 5min job to check it. You never know.
 
So the leak turned out to be antifreeze, i touched the drip on my finger then on the tip of my tongue, and it was sweet the same as the antifreeze. So i got a new rad and fitted it today along with a full service ready for the winter. my dad and i changed the rad and then i went and snapped off the plastic bleed screw in the top hose. So off i went in dads car to get another, got that sorted. Came to change the rotor filter and some bright spark before me had cross threaded the front bolt in the housing, so as i unscrewed it the thread came out of the housing with it. managed to retap it and everything looks good so far.
I also wire brushed the PAS pipes while the rad and intercooler was out and gave them a good thick coat of paint, hopefully it will stop them rusting through.
Thanks for all the comments and help.
Mark
 
So the leak turned out to be antifreeze, i touched the drip on my finger then on the tip of my tongue, and it was sweet the same as the antifreeze. So i got a new rad and fitted it today along with a full service ready for the winter. my dad and i changed the rad and then i went and snapped off the plastic bleed screw in the top hose. So off i went in dads car to get another, got that sorted. Came to change the rotor filter and some bright spark before me had cross threaded the front bolt in the housing, so as i unscrewed it the thread came out of the housing with it. managed to retap it and everything looks good so far.
I also wire brushed the PAS pipes while the rad and intercooler was out and gave them a good thick coat of paint, hopefully it will stop them rusting through.
Thanks for all the comments and help.
Mark

Glad you got there in the end. Cheers.
 
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