Ellie

New Member
Hi everyone, hope you can help me.

I have a 98 P38 that has been leaking a clear fluid from underneath for sometime now.

Its been in the shop a couple of times and they have claimed to fix the leak, but its still leaking. Should point out here that I live in rural France and the mechanics round here ain't the greatest!

Anyway, I am desperate to find out what this is as I'm terrified its something important and one day my beloved Rangey is just going to conk out on me.

I've been trawling the Net but can't find an answer. It seems that if it was some kind of transmission / brake / gearbox fluid it would have a red tinge, but it is clear. I'm wondering if it is the air con, but its oily not just water. It has left a lovely big oily stain on the grey gravel outside my house.

Any ideas?
 
a clear liquid yu say?
taste it and let us know what it tastes of. If it is just clean, clear water - would it be silly to suggest it is your air con waste?
 
only clear liquid, that i can think of is, brake fluid. has the reservoir ever been overfilled? or has the brake pads or discs been replaced? make sure that when the engine is running, and all dash lights are out, that the reservoir is not over max.
 
Last edited:
i suspect as said above its brake fliud or aircon vent pipe, i dont think there is any other clearish liquids in the car, what quantity is leaking and are all fluids kept topped up, has any gone down. i suspect the rangey is just marking its teritory!
 
oily? could be your brakes, where exactly is it coming from the front? back? middle, left or right hand side, you have to as said ^^^ taste it what's it taste like? is it sweet, what's it smell like? it is best you get under the car and have a good look, take a torch with you, if its that bad, you will have tell tail drips coming off it, then follow it up and see if you can find the source of it
 
Thanks everyone for your replies so far.

The leak is coming from the middle of the car just at the back of the engine sort of underneath the dash (sorry, I'm not mechanically minded, hope this gives you a vague idea of its location.)

Are you winding me up or do you really expect me to taste it?? I have got some on my fingers and it felt oily, not like engine oil, but just an oily feeling on the fingers. It smelt of engines if you know what I mean, a bit diesely?

My instinct is its some kind of lubricant.
 
i would taste it, it wont hurt you as you'd need quite alot to get any ill effects, unless its depleted uranium and then you'll die! but i wouldnt worry about that !

is the car petrol or diesel? if it smells of diesel and looks like diesel and tastes like diesel and the car is a diesel then i would guess its diesel!
 
OK, just been out and tasted some. It tasted of nothing really, but left an oily feeling in my mouth.

It didn't really smell of anything either
 
Oh Chroist - she tasted some.
If it dont look like diesel n dont taste like it, that could be a clue.
Brake fuid from the clutch maybe? Never tasted it but just a thought?
 
i wouldnt advise listening to this lot if they say to taste the yellow snow!...and where in rural france? i go alot and its a big place
 
No, its definitely not diesel. Had a diesel leak on my last Disco and that smelled really strong.

Thanks swampdonkey, thats good advice about the yellow snow ;)

I live in Brittany about 4O mins from Rennes.

So, perhaps it is brake fluid? I have checked the reservoir, its at a normal level but I will keep an eye on it to see if it goes down.
 
take a photo of said pool of fluid as its a p38 i am gonna guess its an auto........ so no clutch fluid, are the brakes spongy? does the pedal go all the way to the floor? put a piece of white paper under where the fluid is coming from so it drips on that then take a photo and put it on here
 
or drink about a gallon of the stuff and the hospital autopsy will let us know the result?...go on gurl...take one for the team lol
 
hey elli,im seeking a barn to convert over near you this year...well....somewhere between le mans/paris ....so please keep your'fluid loss'off those parts lol
 
imagine the ad in the dating pages,

slim lady with good out look, good career and long legs. slight fluid loss, seeks sincere male to convert barn with!!

:behindsofa::hysterically_laughi
 
i was thinking...guy with barn conversion seeks french lady with own hair,teeth and landrover.....please send foto of landrover!
 

Similar threads