Hi Guys!

I noticed after leaving the car for a month in the garage that some clean transparent liquid is leaking under engine (see pics). Obviously not motor oil. Maybe transmission oil, or something different?

Any estimates how much it can cost to fix? (Maybe it's just screw tightening?)

Thanks!

I wold have said water possibly but then you can just make out some fluid/oil drip in the last pic. Is the brake fluid topped up?

Which part of the car is it under? Wasn't clear to me from the pics, but a couple of thoughts might be water from screenwash or condensation from air con compressor...

Are any of the reservoirs low?

Chris

In the last pic, there's a reddish drip about to fall off whatever it is in the middle of the pic near the top (gearbox? ) looks oily to me... :(

I think the last picture shows the Diff/Gearbox housing. Clutch fluid?

Thanks for the answers.

I don't know what part is on the top of the pic from which the liquid is dripping from (gearbox, clutch?).

Brake fluid level is OK in the reservoir. Cooling water is under minimum level a bit, and screenwash almost empty. The car has been stopped for a month, so probably not condensation. To finger touch, it does not seem too oily.

I'd guess it to be water with antifreeze liquid... maybe just a clip needs to be tightened on a hose?

I'd try your rear screen wash and see if it works ? There's a join in the screen wash pipe in the engine bay that's prone to coming apart if it freezes up, it could be that ?

Worth checking anyway.

Clutch Fluid is brake fluid, so check the reservoir and see if the brake fluid level is dropping. They use the same reservoir on the Octy, so I assume they will on the fabia too.

Usually red liquid is Hypoid (It's so you can't burn it).

Does is smell like cats p1ss? If so it's probably hypoid (gear box oil).

It is definitely the gearbox area in the picture there and I've had a similar leak on an old car that was a duff gearbox seal. Fixed with a new seal at clutch change time.

First think I would check is that the gearbox fill and drain plugs are all tight as are the gearbox bolts.

If they are then I'd suggest it might well be box off and change all the seals in there plus new gear oil. At that point you might as well put a new clutch in for the small cost of the kit and the potential for leaked oil damage.

Thanks for the answers.

I don't know what part is on the top of the pic from which the liquid is dripping from (gearbox, clutch?).

Brake fluid level is OK in the reservoir. Cooling water is under minimum level a bit, and screenwash almost empty. The car has been stopped for a month, so probably not condensation. To finger touch, it does not seem too oily.

I'd guess it to be water with antifreeze liquid... maybe just a clip needs to be tightened on a hose?

G12a coolant is pinky/red for sure, so that makes sense!

Doesn't look like G12 to me, but then it could have mixed with other things on the way down.

I still think from the spread it is coming from the gearbox, however it is worth checking the top to see if there are any coolant/EGR pipes.

Actually looking at it, it does look a little bit diesel in colour.

Doesn't look like G12 to me, but then it could have mixed with other things on the way down.

I still think from the spread it is coming from the gearbox, however it is worth checking the top to see if there are any coolant/EGR pipes.

Actually looking at it, it does look a little bit diesel in colour.

I was at the dealer, it was annual service time anyway. The mechanic said the ring (what's its name exactly?) on the stub axle is leaking.

So it is gear box oil. But it does not have a smell like you said.

It's not critical, but some time it will need to be fixed.

Any of you have had this? What to expect (cost)?

I think it's one of the driveshaft output seals, had mine done at main dealer for about £130. The seal is only a few quid, with 2 hours labour.

Gear oil will usually have a reddish hue to it as well.

What does it smell like? If it smells like oily cats pi55 then it's gear oil.

i have the same issue on my mazda since doing the clutch. thats the trouble with disturbing 20 year old seals :(

So it is gear box oil. But it does not have a smell like you said.

Hypoid oil that has not got tom cat pi55 smell - now that is fancy, I suppose it smells even better when it ends up on the catalytic convertor!

Have You had this fixed now?

I've got exactly the same leakage on my Fabia (and yes it is gear oil - no questions about that) I've tried to tighten the screws holding the gearbox together, but seems it still is leaking a bit. Could this really be the driveshafts leaking ?!? I thought that it then would be leaking at were the shafts enter the gearbox... Mine is deffinately leaking in the "gearbox-seam"

Have You had this fixed now?

I've got exactly the same leakage on my Fabia (and yes it is gear oil - no questions about that) I've tried to tighten the screws holding the gearbox together, but seems it still is leaking a bit. Could this really be the driveshafts leaking ?!? I thought that it then would be leaking at were the shafts enter the gearbox... Mine is deffinately leaking in the "gearbox-seam"

Just had exactly the same problem, had the gearbox removed, split and resealed. Dealer could not see much evidence of the original sealant. Replaced the clutch at the same time (72k miles). It's either this or live with it and keep topping up. :thumbdwn: