heybuzzz

For the past few days I've noticed a tennis ball size leak on my driveway, but I don't think its oil. Its pretty greasy feeling, but it's not as dark as the oil that dropped onto my driveway from my dipstick. I was also able to get the stain out with just some warm soupy water and a brush (I don't think oil comes out that easy). The leak seems to be directly underneath my engine but from the top I can't see anything unusual. Does anyone have any ideas? My car is a manual quattro.

Thanks Guys

OldManTan

It will definitely leave your fingers slimy. If it smells like syrup, then it's coolant. Look for the white crusty deposits left behind when it leaks.

nvr_follow

I was under the impression the crust was pink (?)

Mrkrad

if its yellowish its diff fluid.

On tiptronic cars the rear propshaft seal tends to leak (theres a cat right under it, alot of heat). This usually causes the fluid to burn away, but if you park on a steep incline it tends to drip down. Very well known failure for Tiptronics. Mine was $6 seal $300 labor.

Keep in mind non-tiptronic quattro's have diff's as well there are 6 points at which these seals are located and can fail.

almost everything is pentosin (yellow orange **** color) so its hard to differentiate which is actually the source. power steering diff trans fluid etc.

dagmz6s

crust is mostly white.

heybuzzz

I went ahead and dabbed some on some bright white paper and at first it looked to have a tint of tan, but after a few minutes it dries and makes the paper semi transparent. Again, I cannot pinpoint where it's leaking from because of the bottom plates, but it looks like it's coming from the front transmission.

heybuzzz

Is there anyway to check the levels?

dagmz6s

The manual tranny has no dipstick, just a drain hole and a fill hole. I would start by looking at your drain plug first to make sure its not the culprate. Unfortuanetly it takes triple square tool (16mm iirc) if it is loose.

Aarononymous

but that sounds like a lot of fluid leaking...better get under there and see.