Creature from the black lagoon growing under my crank nose?

ninerwfo · Postby **ninerwfo** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:20 am

So I am wondering what this means?

It looks like a coolant leak of some sort, no oil down there, just some funky green sludge. Will this continue to grow and engulf the car and driver at an inopportune time?
Have cleaned the area now, do I just watch it, or is there any preventative maintenance that could be done?
Thanks!

Aiming Faster · Postby **Aiming Faster** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:23 am

Losing coolant?

ninerwfo · Postby **ninerwfo** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:27 am

Reckon so, but nothing that is showing up - it never requires topping up. Just can't tell where a leak could come from down there...

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 8:03 am

It would be the water pump. Leaking water pump means new water pump time.

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Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:32 pm

Use a UV Light it will make the coolant glow and you can then trace the leak.

ninerwfo · Postby **ninerwfo** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:56 am

Awesome, thanks magpie, will give it a go. Do I steal one from a disco, or... - better google the SCA or Autobarn catalogue?

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 10:14 am

it looks a real mess. One thing that should be done is a proper clean down- degreaser brush etc. Then when its totally clean run the car and keep examining it to see what fluid is coming out. From the photo it looks like oil. I would also be applying a wire brush etc to the pulley so that it is a clean surface to examine. Check the old levels and fluid levels as well.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 11:18 am

Mr Morlock the benefit of a UV light is that it highlights coolant (as well as air con refrigerant)

Can you see the leak

DSCN3013 by Eipeip, on Flickr

Same area but with UV light

DSCN3012 by Eipeip, on Flickr

http://www.jaycar.com.au/mini-ultra-violet-fluoro-light-w-torch/p/SL3146

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:18 pm

Agreed on the UV light.

Even a plain blue LED works, just not as well if the coolant is dirty.

The black bits are probably just dirt and timing belt dust, the claggy stuff is probably coolant, or oil.
If the levels of either don't change a noticeable amount its probably a really slow leak that's built up over time, or just leftover from a spillage during the last timing belt change that never got cleaned up.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:36 pm

Morlock's advice is routine if you're lacking a UV light. It's almost impossible to tell the difference between coolant clagged dirt and oil clagged dirt.
Give it a blast with the degreaser and go from there.