Fluid Leak

Randomface74 · 6 Apr 2015 at 18:48

I've got something leaking out of the front of my car.
I just shuffled the car back and took this picture: http://imgur.com/nyhh9rB

I've had a look under the car and can't see where it's coming from.

I've checked the levels of this stuff:
Oil - fine
Engine Coolant - fine
Brake fluid - fine
Washer fluid - can't tell, just filled it up to see if I get a new puddle.

I've looked online and they also mention these fluids:
Transmission fluid
Power steering fluid
Water
Petrol

It doesn't have a distinctive smell - but I have a cold so maybe it does...

I tried to put paper under it to get a better indication of color, but it hasn't leaked all afternoon so there's nothing to see.

The car is due a service so I'll have it into the garage soon anyway - but obvs some of these leaks are more serious...

Any tips for figuring out what's going on?

Car is a 5th Gen Astra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Astra#Fifth_generation_.282004.E2.80.932010.29

pepsilol · 6 Apr 2015 at 18:50

Impossible from that picture. Could really be anything.

fadetoblack · 6 Apr 2015 at 19:44

Aircon ?

Iamzod · 6 Apr 2015 at 19:56

I get puddles under mine when I've had the air-con on for a while, and today has been the 1st air-con requiring day of the year, been using it?

In Cornwall last year we'd been driving all day with it on, parked up at a shop and ended up with a massive puddle under the car.

[TBR]MadMark · 6 Apr 2015 at 20:22

Is it near the wheel?. Our Bmw 120d started leaking fluid which turned out to be front shock absorber.

unrealrocks · 6 Apr 2015 at 20:26

That picture makes it look like whatever it was has evaporated, personally I'd guess it is air conditioning - but it certainly looks waterbased, so not oil or lubricant of any sort. Either washer fluid (unlikely), coolant (possibly) or personally I think it is probably just air con condensation. My Focus used to run a huge amount of water off the air con system in the summer.

[TBR]MadMark · 6 Apr 2015 at 20:33

Indeed air con can produce large amounts of water.

Randomface74 · 6 Apr 2015 at 20:42

It's pretty much dead center at the front, so not near a wheel.

I haven't been using the air con.

snapdragon69 · 6 Apr 2015 at 21:33

billysielu said:
It's pretty much dead center at the front, so not near a wheel.

I haven't been using the air con.

Then it is almost certainly just condensation like you get in the back of the fridge.
All cars do this apart from with A/C off/disabled.

bledd · 7 Apr 2015 at 09:19

Does it leave a residue? If not, it's probably water. Any oil will make a mess where you park the car. Coolant less so, bit should still be a coloured mark.

tl45 · 7 Apr 2015 at 18:16

My money's on aircon condensation. Looking at your photo it's not oil, coolant would be slippery to the touch, and unless you're filling the tank with plain water then screenwash will have a smell to it.

If it's pretty much directly below the engine compartment/cabin bulkhead this is where the HVAC unit lives and these have a built in pipe to allow for condensation drainage