What could be leaking?.?.?

[01sapphirebob]

SO I moved my '01 off the lift today and noticed a spot of some kind of fluid on the drip tray. This particular tray sits under the rear differential of the car. I know this will sound like a dumb question but i'm very much a novice when it comes to cars. Could the differential be the only thing thats leaking? What does everybody think. Just a bad seal or something worse..... Here's a crummy cell phone pic of the spot. In the center of the image you will see a black spot and the fluid spreads from there.

 

[DrumrBoy]

Diff fluid is pretty heavy/viscous....especially if its been there a while. Sure its not gas? Looks like it spread and dried..... I think the only three fluids back there are diff, shocks and gas.

 

[latamud]

Could be brakes too.

 

[01sapphirebob]

Diff fluid is pretty heavy/viscous....especially if its been there a while. Sure its not gas? Looks like it spread and dried..... I think the only three fluids back there are diff, shocks and gas.

Definitely not gas. No odor. The other things seen on the drip tray is condensation that has dried on the pan. WHere would the shocks leak from? Top? I ran my finger through the fluid and it feels oily. The car has been sitting for at least a month maybe longer. Drip pans were cleaned before I took the car to our holiday party at the end of april and I have not driven it since so thats the build up that has accumulated since then.

 

[ACR_Matt]

Look at your shocks. When mine went they dripped a good amount of fluid. It was quite the "shock" to see all that fluid sitting under my car too.

 

[01sapphirebob]

Could be brakes too.

This would obviously be leaking from one of the lines correct?

 

[01sapphirebob]

Look at your shocks. When mine went they dripped a good amount of fluid. It was quite the "shock" to see all that fluid sitting under my car too.

Where would I look for the leak if it were the shocks?

 

[01sapphirebob]

I have an appointment with my viper tech next week to see what we can find but please keep the ideas coming. I'm changing the oil on my '08 tonight and then I'll put the '01 back on the lift to see what I can see.

 

[ACR_Matt]

Where would I look for the leak if it were the shocks?

Look at the spring seat on the shock. Notice how this shock looks oily or wet.

 

[ACR_Matt]

The shaft:

 

[ACR_Matt]

Mine had been sitting for several days when she blew her guts in my shop. The puddle from it blowing:

 

[01sapphirebob]

Look at the spring seat on the shock. Notice how this shock looks oily or wet.

The shaft:

Thanks!

 

[01sapphirebob]

Mine had been sitting for several days while just sitting in my shop. The puddle from it blowing:

Hopefully its not that. I know when I got the car I had the pinion seal go in the rear end so i'm wondering if it's shot again. The leak on the drip pan is located almost directy under the differential. If standing behind the car it would be just slightly to the right of dead center.

 

[ACR_Matt]

That sounds like the culprit then. Check the brake line as others have said, just in case.

 

[01sapphirebob]

That sounds like the culprit then. Check the brake line as others have said, just in case.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!! IF anybody has any other ideas keep them coming.

 

[01sapphirebob]

UPDATE...

So I got the car back on the lift and got under it with a light and look what I found...

The differential plug had become loose and fluid was leaking out that way. The little tag you see hanging there was covered in fluid. We tried to retighten it and we cleaned the tag and pan to see if we get any fresh leaking. Still gonna try to take it into the Tech to see how much fluid loss their is and also see if this is the possible cause of another problem I have been having.

 

[98RT98]

stick you finger in there and see if you can touch fluid. if not make a dip stick buy bending a piece of wire 90 deg. to check the abount of fluid

 

[ViperTony]

I've seen the diff plug leak when the differential has been over-filled, even with the plug tight. If it is the diff, I'd drain and refill it with the proper amount of additive and diff fluid.

 

[01sapphirebob]

stick you finger in there and see if you can touch fluid. if not make a dip stick buy bending a piece of wire 90 deg. to check the abount of fluid

I've seen the diff plug leak when the differential has been over-filled, even with the plug tight. If it is the diff, I'd drain and refill it with the proper amount of additive and diff fluid.

It's definitely the diff. I have an appointment with my Viper tech next week to get it checked out. Gonna see where the fluid level is at and then maybe get changed if theres time.