Unidentified leak - stain where parked - toward middle of car

welcome! you're sure it's not the a/c condensate? that being said, have you checked the tranny level? then again, idk how much engine oil that would be, might have to keep a careful eye on it.

probably the best thing to do is remove the under panels, clean the bottom of the car and start fresh, looking for leaks.

 

probably not then. see my edits above.

 

To the OP, it is possible that you have a coolant leak and not realize it. Checking the overflow bottle on a Gen II is NOT sufficient. You really need to see if the coolant level in the radiator is full to the bottom of the neck.

To check it, you will need to remove the splash guard and then remove the cap when the engine is COLD.

Here is a picture of what the coolant level should look like.



I also agree you might want to remove the lower covers and clean underneath. Brake Cleaner works great for cleaning, just keep it off of wires that are found underneath, and don't spray it on hot exhaust.

 

There is not one.

You have to remove the fill plug to check the level. 24MM socket if IIRC. Requires replacement of crush washer and torqued to a specific value. Also car must be level when checked. A visual check should be sufficient though for leaks without removing the plug.

 

Here is a pdf file on the transaxle fluid change. Will give you an idea of what it takes and also a better idea of how to check it.

Tip: If you do venture into a fluid change, it is best to remove the fill plug first. That way if you were to drain first, and then find trouble removing the fill plug you would not be stuck with an empty transaxle.

Best of luck to you. Keep us posted when you find the leak.

 

You need to park the car in its normal position on the driveway, then raise up the car and see where the leak is coming from, looking above the area that has the staining. It is likely either an engine oil leak or a constant velocity joint leak. The leak should be highly visible, considering how large the stains are.

Antifreeze is water soluble and will easily wash away. So the issue is not caused by a leak from the engine radiator or inverter coolant. Transaxle ATF is very thin, and will wash away without too much effort.

 

did you check the tranny level?

 

If you can't find the leak then it is time to seek professional assistance. The only fluid lines that pass through the middle of the car would be the fuel line (if this was leaking you should smell the very pungent gasoline smell), hydraulic brake fluid lines (brake fluid will easily wash away with water) and the line feeding the rear hatch washer nozzle (windshield washer fluid is certainly soluble in water.)

Hence I would continue to say the fluid leak is an engine oil leak or a constant velocity joint grease leak - unless you had some sort of aftermarket rust proofing applied to the underside of the body which is leaking everywhere. However that rust proofing chemical would be thicker and darker than the stains in your photo.

 

If you live in a non-rain / non- snow area, try taping white paper on the ground and park your over night.

It least you can get the actual color of the leak to narrow it down.

You mentioning it being water repellant, I am leaning towards engine oil, tranny fluid...


iPhone ?

 

If you have a large cardboard box you can tear it so that it is long and place it underneath the car. Because it has been leaking awhile, it is kind of hard to tell where it is coming from.

With the cardboard under the car, you will see where the leak is coming from in relation to where the cardboard is under the car.