I noticed a small patch of fluid under the car last night. It is green in colour, and it's located on the n/s of the vehicle, it is between the middle and rear of the car and it is near the edge of the car.

The only things I could recognise near the patch was the brake line and the exhaust pipe - could it have been some kind of condensed vapour from that?

I tried getting underneath the car to have a look around, there was no visible wetness and no further dripping. The car still starts fine and no warning lights illuminate. I checked most of the fluids in the engine bay, all seem normal and I don't think any was green in colour. (oil golden, anti-freeze/coolant red, screen wash blue, I couldn't tell the colour of the power steering fluid or brake fluid).

Any ideas what this mysterious fluid is? Oh and by the way a belated Merry Christmas to you all!!

brake fluid is a golden yellow in colour like a first **** of the day (only way i can describe it)

only fluid that is green in engine bay will be powersteering fluid and its not the easiest thing in the world to check reservoir is below the battery at the front of car on nearside

one thing to do might be start the engine and perform lock to lock this should put the system under pressure and any leaks should become evident

Edited 30 December, 201015 yr by ste372

brake fluid is a golden yellow in colour like a first **** of the day (only way i can describe it)

only fluid that is green in engine bay will be powersteering fluid and its not the easiest thing in the world to check reservoir is below the battery at the front of car on nearside

one thing to do might be start the engine and perform lock to lock this should put the system under pressure and any leaks should become evident

Many thanks for your reply. I would have thought that the power steering system would all be at the front of the vehicle? The leak is definitely between the middle and rear of the vehicle as that is where the patch has formed (unless it has managed to travel all the way along a surface). I will still do as you suggested, lock to lock and check for leaks, perhaps I will get someone to press the brake pedal while I watch to check it isn't that as well.

Also forgot to add that I am 100% sure this is a recent thing as the car has always been garaged, apart from a few icy days over Christmas when it was parked outside. Perhaps there is a slight split in one of the cables due to fluid freezing and thawing, or maybe something has popped off?

Many thanks for your reply. I would have thought that the power steering system would all be at the front of the vehicle? The leak is definitely between the middle and rear of the vehicle as that is where the patch has formed (unless it has managed to travel all the way along a surface). I will still do as you suggested, lock to lock and check for leaks, perhaps I will get someone to press the brake pedal while I watch to check it isn't that as well.

Also forgot to add that I am 100% sure this is a recent thing as the car has always been garaged, apart from a few icy days over Christmas when it was parked outside. Perhaps there is a slight split in one of the cables due to fluid freezing and thawing, or maybe something has popped off?

Do your front and rear washers work okay? Maybe add that to your list of things to get someone to run while you look under the car - of course that would depend on the colour of your screen wash additive.

of course that would depend on the colour of your screen wash additive.

Blue, as stated above...

Did lock to lock and checked for leaks as advised, pumped brakes and checked for leaks as well - all seemed fine.

Took car out for a 30 minute round trip to get it nice and warm, parked up and checked for leaks, again there was nothing noticeable.

The fluid levels are all ok, so I don't know where the mysterious odourless fluid came from. I hate things like this as I would rather know what was wrong. Never mind though, touch wood it's not the start of something major! I will just have to keep an eye out for any further leaks and try not to let paranoia get the better of me...