Annoying fluid leak?

[Alan W]

I've just noticed a very slight fluid leak on the garage floor..

I'm sure its oil/ATF based as opposed to water/anti freeze..

Geographically speaking the leak its slightly forward and about 12" in from the leading edge of the front nearside wheel..

I have an auto box and recently the orange warning light comes on occasionally and I am conscious that there are two pipes running along left hand side of engine between the gearbox and oil cooler in front of rad..

I have had a lay down and poked my head underneath but there's nothing obvious so will have to jack it up when I get a moment..

Guess I may have disturbed something when I recently changed the rad/water pump/pulleys/belts/tensioners and thermostat?

Just hoping someone here has had exactly the same leak or similar?

 

[5harp3y]

Power steering fluid (is ATF) ?

 

[colb]

Check the rubber power steering pipe joints the deteriorate with age and tend to spring leaks at the joints. They have crimped clips on, if you change the hoses use jubilee clips instead.

 

[andyglym]

I've just noticed a very slight fluid leak on the garage floor..

I'm sure its oil/ATF based as opposed to water/anti freeze..

Geographically speaking the leak its slightly forward and about 12" in from the leading edge of the front nearside wheel..

I have an auto box and recently the orange warning light comes on occasionally and I am conscious that there are two pipes running along left hand side of engine between the gearbox and oil cooler in front of rad..

I have had a lay down and poked my head underneath but there's nothing obvious so will have to jack it up when I get a moment..

Guess I may have disturbed something when I recently changed the rad/water pump/pulleys/belts/tensioners and thermostat?

Just hoping someone here has had exactly the same leak or similar?

Had similar on mine mate when I had the rad, water pump etc changed. Dissapeared after a couple of days. Mystery.

 

[t-tony]

From your description Alan, it sounds as though it's in the area of the P/S pump. If you can use some aerosol brake cleaner to clean of all the area and then monitor it and see where it comes back from.

Tony.

 

[handsomejackuk]

those power steering coolers tend to rust pretty bad, i noticed theres a few crimped connections at the front that may be susceptible to rust, i have given my steering cooler a good clean and paint with black gloss... i did have a power steering cooler pipe go on my saab last year and quite a pricey job involved front bumper off and bottom skid plates off etc but thats another story...

check it out before it gets to bad and you have loss of power steering...

keep us posted as to the remedy...

 

[Alan W]

Thanks guys.. gonna try to take a look this weekend.. I want to get it sorted before she gets garaged for the winter..

 

[colb]

Just had a look at the oem parts diagram here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CH33-USA-08-1999-Z3-BMW-Z3_28&diagId=32_1112
Best to check all joints for leaks, handsomejack mentioned connections at No8, those crimped clamps fail with age, mine was a perished pipe end No1 that started seeping at the reservoir end. I replaced the pipe with oem part but installed it using jubilee clips instead of crimped clamps.

 

[Mint]

@Alan W - Hi Alan - I had exactly the same problem as you but mine was a big patch of oil on the garage floor and when I started the engine the power steering pump squealed which did give me a bit of a clue. I had to remove the under engine cover first but once that was off the problem was easy to see. The crimped connector that has already been mentioned had failed so I replaced it with a jubilee clip, filled up with fluid and it's been OK ever since. I did give everything a good wipe down while I was under there and gave the pipework a coat of Hammerite - to show there was no ill feeling (no photos of this though). Here are some photos I took when I repaired mine. Hope they help you...

 

[Alan W]

Cheers minty that looks like it could be the right area judging by the position of the oil patch on the floor.. my power steering reservoir still has fluid in it so hopefully this is recent..

 

[Alan W]

And cheers everyone else for your input too..

 

[Alan W]

Poked my head under front of car this morning and without my glasses l could make out a damp patch and drip forming on the o/s steering rack gaiter..

Jacked it up and crawled under and with glasses on l could see that fluid was blue meaning anti-freeze...



A quick exploration and l found that this joint was leaking.. its a return pipe from radiator to header tank and it runs across the top of the air box.. l had replaced the original factory clips with jubilee ones and had been cautious when tightening as the thin pipe is plastic.. clearly too cautious so a gentle extra half turn was applied and fingers crossed we will be fine..

 

[Mint]

Fingers crossed for you Alan

 

[Dickymint]

Just a little tip people hose clamps are better than jubilee clips in every way, not that I or anyone I know has ever had a jubilee clip fail so no panic but a hose clip will do up tighter and without trying to twist so bad when you put pressure on it as its the twisting motion that often brakes delicate parts and they are often easier to remove after a few years and as they are only a few pence difference its worth using especially for things like the fuel filter