Leak- oil or coolant?

3850 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by BushBoarder, Jul 25, 2016

BushBoarder

Discussion Starter · Jul 23, 2016

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.

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BushBoarder

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 24, 2016

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.

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BushBoarder

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 24, 2016

RidgeHawk said:
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.

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BushBoarder

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 24, 2016

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!

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BushBoarder

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 25, 2016

zroger73 said:
BushBoarder said:

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!

Click to expand...

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.

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BushBoarder

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 25, 2016

zroger73 said:
BushBoarder said:

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.

Click to expand...

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.

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Leak- oil or coolant?

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