Since about October (i know ive been slack) i have been noticing a few small damp patches on my drive way when reversing out in the morning, the damp patches seem to be located at the front of the car and between the 2 front wheels.

 

So this morning it was fairly light and dry enough for me to take a look under the car, and there does seem to be a small leak of some sort as the front plastic panel on the underside (which i guess would be located under the rad) is defiantly moist and must be dripping on the drive over night.

 

Its not water as it leaves a small residue on the drive and doesn't evaporate away as it would do if it was water.

 

Uploaded a short video as well....

 

 

Any ideas what it could be?

 

 

 

 

 

Does it dry white/chalky?

 

And does the car give off a sweet kind of smell when the engine is hot?

 

Could be the dreaded water pump housing failure.

 

Check your coolant level. . If its low,top up and keep an eye on it. . If it goes down again its leaking somewhere. . And would most likely be waterpump.

No not chalky white, just seems to leave a residue that leaves a very faint stain (or maybe it doesn't dry completely). 

 

Can't say I've notice any smell when hot either 

 

I took a picture from the engine bay this morning and there is defo residue of liquid on the plastic under plate... 

Edited 11 February, 20224 yr by BlockABoots

13 hours ago, BlockABoots said:

there does seem to be a small leak of some sort as the front plastic panel on the underside (which i guess would be located under the rad) is defiantly moist

Is the oil level staying constant?

Air conditioning evaporator condensate drain.

3 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Is the oil level staying constant?

 

 

Yeah appears to be, the oil isn't clear on the dip stick so is a bit soiled. I don't think it's that  otherwise would appear a more browny colour on the drive way which this isn't 

2 hours ago, J.R. said:

Air conditioning evaporator condensate drain.

 

Is that what that plastic panel is???. So you think it's the condensation from the AC?? 

I'm not sure where it comes out but I nearly always see it on the floor when I move my car backwards, it should be beneath the scuttle area, logic says it should miss the undertray but when has VAG ever been bothered about logic?

 

My car also currently has a wet patch on the undertray that I need to investigate.

 

Driving the car with the AC off, parking it, leaving it and restarting with AC off should reveal whether the fluid or absence of it was condensate.

23 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I'm not sure where it comes out but I nearly always see it on the floor when I move my car backwards, it should be beneath the scuttle area, logic says it should miss the undertray but when has VAG ever been bothered about logic?

 

My car also currently has a wet patch on the undertray that I need to investigate.

 

Driving the car with the AC off, parking it, leaving it and restarting with AC off should reveal whether the fluid or absence of it was condensate.

 

That's sounds like an idea, I'll give it a try

4 hours ago, J.R. said:

I'm not sure where it comes out but I nearly always see it on the floor when I move my car backwards, it should be beneath the scuttle area, logic says it should miss the undertray but when has VAG ever been bothered about logic?

 

My car also currently has a wet patch on the undertray that I need to investigate.

 

Driving the car with the AC off, parking it, leaving it and restarting with AC off should reveal whether the fluid or absence of it was condensate.

OP says it's not water as it's not evaporating.

8 hours ago, BlockABoots said:

just seems to leave a residue that leaves a very faint stain (or maybe it doesn't dry completely).