Under car -- black tar stuff????

[iamadonut]

Hey guys,

Me again, the newbie.

Under the car there's this wet black tar looking stuff that's on numerous locations. What is this junk? Should I just clean it off or is this a sign of trouble?

View photos here

Here are 2 example photos:

I'm sorry if these are really retarded questions. This is my first classic car, and I'm trying to learn everything I can. I appreciate your patience.

Thanks,
Ian

 

[RogerC62]

Looks like a mixture of engine oil, power steering oil or trany oil and road grime from years of use. A good steam cleaning should clean it off nicely along with the engine then you should be able to tell if you have an oil leak. This is common to any car that may have some oil seepage.

 

[MustangPaul]

I prefer to think of it as a rust-proofing agent!