[BushBoarder]

So I noticed a small stain on my garage floor after my BE sat there for a week while I was on vacation.

It's located at the very front below the radiator, slightly to the driver's side from center. To me, it looks brownish like oil would but I'm a colorblind fool. Any thoughts on if this is oil or coolant?

I'm bringing it to the dealer tomorrow morning to be checked.

 

[Border411]

That looks like a greasy/oily substance. Actually looks like brake fluid. Check to make sure all the caps are on tight.

 

[northernlights]

Bummer.....for some thing so new.

 

[mcmanut01]

Looks like it may be powersteering fluid?

 

[northernlights]

Is it really hard to open the hood and check with a flash light to see where it might be comin from. Never looked under the hood of a new RL, im thingin nothin but a big pancake plastic piece that must be takin off to see anything.

 

[Cym]

Looks like it may be powersteering fluid?

The new ridgeline uses a electric power steering so it's not it. It looks to be oil.

 

[zroger73]

How many miles? The engine oil in mine is still light yellow after 2 weeks and 600 miles - you can hardly see it on the dipstick. The coolant is blue. The brake fluid is almost clear - slightly yellow. The transmission fluid is pinkish-red. The iVTM-4 fluid is pink. The transfer assembly oil is dark yellow. There is no power steering fluid, as stated. The washer fluid is clear. The refrigerant oil is clear. The refrigerant itself is a gas outside of the system. The struts have oil, but it wouldn't be leaking under the engine compartment. The only other fluid I can think of is in the motor mounts, but I don't know what color it is.

EDIT: See this thread about a leaking motor mount in a G1.

 

[mcmanut01]

The new ridgeline uses a electric power steering so it's not it. It looks to be oil.

Good call out, I totally forgot about this. I have my G1 hat on.

 

[BushBoarder]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I've got 1200 miles on it in three weeks or so.
I'll definitely mention the motor mounts tomorrow morning when I bring it in.

 

[RidgeHawk]

Can't tell what the first pic is but could it possibly be some type of grease that heated up and "ran"? Or is there a chance it was splashed up from the ground? Some of those pics look like splashes but I don't know if that pic was taken looking up from ground or down from above...just trying to think outside the box.

 

[TNTA2]

Could be trans fluid. Maybe one of the cooler lines that connect near the radiator are leaking. That'd be my guess. I think Honda ATF-DW1 fluid is a bit more reddish than in your pic, so not 100% sure. Good luck. I'm sure it'll be fixed promptly.

 

[BushBoarder]

Can't tell what the first pic is but could it possibly be some type of grease that heated up and "ran"? Or is there a chance it was splashed up from the ground? Some of those pics look like splashes but I don't know if that pic was taken looking up from ground or down from above...just trying to think outside the box.

The first two pics were taken from underneath. It looks like what ever is leaking is coming down from the first pic and then running along the undercarriage (second pic) while I'm driving.

I did pop the hood and look down in but couldn't see anything from there.

It is possible that something splashed up there. As for grease, it seems to be too viscous or fine to be that.
Thanks.

 

[BushBoarder]

So it turns out that the transmission cooler is leaking at the fitting. I've attached a pic which isn't great but shows the location.

It's going to be 2 or 3 days before the parts come in to fix it. They put me in a 2016 CRV loaner. Not the end of the world but it looks like Joe's warning holds some water here...
My VIN ends in 02661 I believe. The joys of being an early adopter!

 

[Iamback]

So it turns out that the transmission cooler is leaking at the fitting. I've attached a pic which isn't great but shows the location.

It's going to be 2 or 3 days before the parts come in to fix it. They put me in a 2016 CRV loaner. Not the end of the world but it looks like Joe's warning holds some water here...
My VIN ends in 02661 I believe. The joys of being an early adopter!

I'm glad you found the problem. Not a big deal. Much better than my 2010 RL leaking water on the inside when it rained. Not just a little water either, enough to soak the drivers side carpet thoroughly. A body seam didn't get caulked at the factory and this was the fourth year of production. It was an issue on the earlier ones too. So I wouldn't feel too bad about being an early adopter. I have yet to purchase a perfect vehicle no matter if its first year design or fourth year design.

 

[zroger73]

So it turns out that the transmission cooler is leaking at the fitting. I've attached a pic which isn't great but shows the location.

It's going to be 2 or 3 days before the parts come in to fix it. They put me in a 2016 CRV loaner. Not the end of the world but it looks like Joe's warning holds some water here...
My VIN ends in 02661 I believe. The joys of being an early adopter!

Interesting. From your photo, it's difficult to tell whether it's leaking from between the threads and the 90º elbow or the threads and the nut or extension tube. Either way it looks like either a defective fitting on the cooler, the nut wasn't tightened properly or cross-theaded, or a faulty flare/compressing fitting. At least it's not an engine oil leak that requires removal and disassembly of the engine! I still find the color of the oil/fluid interesting. The transmission fluid is clearly pink, not brown.

 

[BushBoarder]

So it turns out that the transmission cooler is leaking at the fitting. I've attached a pic which isn't great but shows the location.

It's going to be 2 or 3 days before the parts come in to fix it. They put me in a 2016 CRV loaner. Not the end of the world but it looks like Joe's warning holds some water here...
My VIN ends in 02661 I believe. The joys of being an early adopter!

Interesting. From your photo, it's difficult to tell whether it's leaking from between the threads and the 90º elbow or the threads and the nut or extension tube. Either way it looks like either a defective fitting on the cooler, the nut wasn't tightened properly or cross-theaded, or a faulty flare/compressing fitting. At least it's not an engine oil leak that requires removal and disassembly of the engine! I still find the color of the oil/fluid interesting. The transmission fluid is clearly pink, not brown.

The tech said it was cross-threaded.
As for the color, he said it was mostly likely showing brown from all the dirt it was mixing with on the undercarriage.
Guess I need to up the Ridge's hygiene...

On a side note. They originally put me in a 2016 CRV for a loaner. Couple hours later they called to say that it had actually been sold and needed it back. Too funny.
They gave me a 2016 Highlander instead.
Nice SUV, and would probably buy one if I didn't prefer a pickup.

 

[zroger73]

On a side note. They originally put me in a 2016 CRV for a loaner. Couple hours later they called to say that it had actually been sold and needed it back. Too funny.
They gave me a 2016 Highlander instead.
Nice SUV, and would probably buy one if I didn't prefer a pickup.

I assume you are referring to the Highlander?

I absolutely LOVED the '16 CR-V Touring I bought and drove for two months - definitely one of my favorite vehicles of all time, strangely enough. It just "fit" me. I secretly miss it and hated to let it go, but I didn't want to unnecessarily tie up $70,000 in vehicles. The Ridgeline is quieter, smoother, faster, more comfortable, and more capable, but the CR-V was more efficient and more maneuverable and had a "cuteness" that my Ridgeline lacks.

 

[BushBoarder]

On a side note. They originally put me in a 2016 CRV for a loaner. Couple hours later they called to say that it had actually been sold and needed it back. Too funny.
They gave me a 2016 Highlander instead.
Nice SUV, and would probably buy one if I didn't prefer a pickup.

I assume you are referring to the Highlander?

I absolutely LOVED the '16 CR-V Touring I bought and drove for two months - definitely one of my favorite vehicles of all time, strangely enough. It just "fit" me. I secretly miss it and hated to let it go, but I didn't want to unnecessarily tie up $70,000 in vehicles. The Ridgeline is quieter, smoother, faster, more comfortable, and more capable, but the CR-V was more efficient and more maneuverable and had a "cuteness" that my Ridgeline lacks.

Yes I'm referring to the Highlander. The CRV felt OK for the 20 miles or so that I drove it. However, the Highlander's seats feel great to me. Perhaps it's that I'm tall and they just seem to extend higher than most vehicles.
I really like the Gen 2's seats but would replace them with the Highlander's if it were possible.