Help! Is this oil under the rear wheel arch?

[Legojon]

Ok, so just got home... reversed my car onto the driveway and got out the car. My driveway looks like polkadots. Had a look under the car and under the rear wheel arch looks like this:

I figured it might be oil... but its kind of grey looking. Never happened before. It's still dripping now.

 

[Fmxvxx]

That looks the oil I would investigate the cause of the leak before you drive the car any further.

Jack the car up and remove the rear under tray to give you a good idea of what is going on.

It looks like there is oil all underneath the vehicle.

 

[Legojon]

Just had another quick look under the car. No more seems to have dripped since I took the photo. Actually, I take it back... it looks black!

 

[Fmxvxx]

don't take any risks with oil 2 miles down the road with no oil and you'll be looking for a new engine for it to be physically dripping out all of a sudden something may well have been damaged it may have stopped dripping as there is no longer oil pressure as the engine is no running. but the fault may still be there.

 

[Legojon]

Ok, thanks for the advice. Can't see a thing out there at the moment. Going to stare at the ceiling till morning. Check all the fluid levels. Jack up and have a look under the rear of the car and see if I can spot where it's coming from. Garage is 7 miles away. So if I can't see anything I take it I'm best calling for a tow?

 

[Never2old]

No mechanic but it could be the strut leaking just a thought

 

[lsg60]

Id also say strut. Nothing else to leak on rear

 

[mty12345]

I agree with the above 2 posts,, most likely from a leaking shock absorber. I'd check your oil level and if it's ok, then start the engine and check it doesn't start dripping. If it looks ok then i'd say you'd be fine to drive it to the garage.

If by any chance you get an oil warning light, then STOP IMMEDIATELY and get a tow.

 

[Legojon]

Well, I've had it looked at by the local garage.. and they have no idea what the black stuff is, but its not oil! It's almost like a black dye. Also I checked the oil level first thing this morning (I check it every two weeks and keep it topped up) and the oil level was just where I left it last week.

In the light of day, it's under all 4 wheel arches, up the door sills and all under the car. So I guess the rear wheel arch was just the lowest point when I parked it up. Best guess is I've splashed something underneath the car whilst going through road works. But the chap that looked at it said it would be impossible to have a single leak and cover that much of the car with it.

 

[koush]

Hi,

We get a lot of oil leaks reported this time of the year. Usually what customers think is oil, is actually something coming off the road surface. Something to do with the salt/grit on the road and when the road gets wet, it sprays onto the car. when you stop the car it looks like drips. Very similar in colour as you describe.

Koush

 

[OldManPooley]

Hi,

We get a lot of oil leaks reported this time of the year. Usually what customers think is oil, is actually something coming off the road surface. Something to do with the salt/grit on the road and when the road gets wet, it sprays onto the car. when you stop the car it looks like drips. Very similar in colour as you describe.

Koush

Totally agree with this. Ive seen it myself

 

[stu 157-330]

Hi, if it's from the o/s/r there's a slim chance it's the fuel tank breather if it's a tdi..

 

[Legojon]

Hi,

We get a lot of oil leaks reported this time of the year. Usually what customers think is oil, is actually something coming off the road surface. Something to do with the salt/grit on the road and when the road gets wet, it sprays onto the car. when you stop the car it looks like drips. Very similar in colour as you describe.

Koush

Cheers for the info. I took it for a spin today, parked up and now it seems to be just normal water dripping from the same place (clear). So I guess it's just that. Plus, the rain has washed all trace of it off my driveway and I'm guessing if it was oil then it'd stain.