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Mystery fluid found under car, dealership can't find leak...

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Insighter, Sep 19, 2019.

  1. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    I took my '17 Prius Prime Advanced in for its 15K service this morning. When I got home, since it wasn't parked in the garage, I saw a bunch of tiny "puddles" (dime-sized) under where the front passenger side of my engine always is. They were black and viscous (about like hand soap, and somewhat hard to wash off my fingers), but not slippery. When I mopped them up, they are green and black on a white paper towel (photos attached).

    I called the dealership and asked them to check. They said they can't find any leaks, and that the fluid is only on the underbody and some pooled up in the splash cover. They say that it must be something I drove through and picked up. They say the coolant is pink, tranny fluid red, oil golden and the brake fluid is clear/golden. So they don't think it's from my car.

    Any opinions here as to what this fluid might be, and where it might have come from?

    IMG_2938.jpg IMG_2939.jpg IMG_2942.jpg
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they might be correct. did they clean it off?

    clean the floor and keep an eye on it
     
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  3. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    Thanks. Yes, and that is the plan for now. Still wondering what the fluid might be. Must've come from another car if not mine.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    do you remember going through anything? was it raining?
     
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  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    CV joint grease is often green and viscous. Also usually pretty stinky.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It flings off the CV joint, leaving a hard-to-miss splatter zone in all directions. If that's what it is and the dealership missed it...., well that would be par for the course.
     
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  7. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    I sure don't remember driving through anything, and it's San Diego. I can't remember the last time I drove in the rain. Also, it was very thick, not watered down at all. It was about the consistency of pancake syrup.
     
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  8. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    I should've mentioned that it had no smell whatsoever. It was also not thick enough to be grease. Every tiny "puddle" of it was the same consistency. It was like pancake syrup.
     
  9. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    They did mention grease, but they said the boots were intact and there was no sign of it coming from anywhere. Also, I don't think it's the right thickness for grease. It's too much of a liquid. It's like pancake syrup. Grease, in my experience, is more along the lines of toothpaste.
     
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  10. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Right, then I’m going with the idea that it came from an animal living (or at least visiting) under your car.
     
  11. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    upload_2019-9-20_6-58-6.png
     
  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    If it doesn't re-appear.......don't worry about it.

    I've had grease splatters down the side of two different cars.
    An obvious case of a CV joint or wheel bearing going bad......right ??
    Wrong. In both cases, no problem found.

    Must have run over some grease on the road.
    Both vehicles went another 50K miles with no problems.
     
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  13. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    I'm presuming that's a joke.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Come to think of it: it should be very easy to tell by feel, if it's a grease, or water-based.
     
  15. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    It was not very slippery, but it was viscous. It was not easy to wash off.
     
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  16. Fearless Flyer

    Fearless Flyer Junior Member

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    Hi Insighter,
    Did you ever firmly resolve the leaks found under your '17 Prius Prime?

    I also have '17 Prime with 39K and recently finding small leaks/drips just in front of the front passenger-side wheel well. There's a smail splash cover underneath and directly in front of that fender and it's coated with a clear oil, only that small cover, not the main underbody splash covers. Looking down in the right side of the engine compartment and don't see any sign of wetness/leak yet it appears when running the engine.

    Did your leak/problem just turn out to be a fluke? (Hopefully)