Uh, what fluid is this?

[AdamFogle]

Ok, I will try to make this as quick and concise as possible. Long story short, my power steering was acting real wierd. I hadn't driven the car (5.0) in a while and noticed it was low in fluid. I added fluid and it seemed good. Well, I kept feeling "stuff" that didn't seem right. I wasn't sure if it was my mind thinking just because I felt a bump that something was wrong, or that there was a problem besides the power steering. The stuff that seemed off was the rear. It just felt like it wasn't smooth when talking off. Like I said. I may be imagining things. Then, I decided to look under the car. That is where I found what looks like oil or some other fluid on the backside (if looking under the rear, the side you can see) of my mufflers. I asked a mechanic and he said if my valve covers are leaking (which they are), that oil could have gotten into the headers, traveled through the h-pipe and mufflers, and ate a hole in the mufflers. That is why I have fluid, or oil, there. Does this sound right to anyone? Does anyone have any other input? I have not driven the car since because I want to find out what the deal is. I loaned out my jack so I have not been able to jack it up to get a better look. Tell me what you think. Thanks.

 

[LX302]

I would think that's what it is. Oil.
Take a pic and post it, or like you said, get under the car to investigate.

 

[AdamFogle]

I'll try to get that pic up by tomorrow. But that all sounds feasible? I know for sure there was no fluid around the pumpkin so I didnt know how else fluid (or as it seems to be oil) could get on there.

 

[sunil6784]

I would have thought that the oil would've been burnt by the time it got to the mufflers...

 

[AdamFogle]

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I couldn't see how it would make it down through the headers and h-pipe without getting burned up. Unless I'm leaking an S-load of oil, but still. I will try to get a pick tonight to show what I'm working with.

 

[jrichker]

Make a trip to Ace Hardware or Home Depot and get a cheap 1 gallon pump sprayer and some mineral spirits. Or buy 2 or 3 cans of the non flammable brake parts cleaner from the local auto parts store. Put the car up jackstands and wash everything under the car with the solvent. Take the car down off the jackstands and drive it for a day. Put it back up on jackstands and look for the leak. It will be small enough to localize, but big enough to see with some careful inspection. Then there will be no doubts or speculation. You will know where the leak is coming from.