1st oil change and water leak?

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Jan 29, 2003 | 02:38 PM
  #1  
After owning my Max for ~2 years, I finally decided to change the oil myself. On Monday the weather was nice so I did it. It wasn't that bad at all consider it was my 1st time.

I went out that night and had to drop off a friend. When we walked to my car, she said, "Is your car leaking?" I went down and notice there was a spot of water (I believe it was water cause I use my finger to feel the liquid). It was dark so I just went home. The car drove fine.

Yesterday morning I checked under my Max again and there was a drying spot right under the engine. Based on the location of the stain, it seems it is from the area of rear end of the engine block (right below the rear 3 injectors). The stain is drying so either it stopped itself, or whatever leaking ran out. I checked all my fluids and they are fine. There was no oil near the drain plug or filter.

Today it is raining out there so I couldn't check. Does anyone has any experiences on this?
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Jan 30, 2003 | 09:41 AM
  #2  
You live in CA, so you are probably running your a/c at this time. It might just be condensation water that drips out, normal with your A/C system.

I hope you're not using just water in your radiator, so the clear 'leak' is probably your A/C system ... normal! Run the A/C, and when you park, look under your car for a constant drip drip. That's probably all it is.
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Jan 30, 2003 | 12:28 PM
  #3  
Thanks for the reply. I forgot to change my profile. I am no long living in CA. I am in beautiful Vancouver, B.C. now.

Actually I haven't been using my a/c that much since I moved here last May. I do use the heater quite often recently.

As for radiator, I am running around 50/50, with Redline Water Wetter. That's why I said I believed it was water.
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Jan 30, 2003 | 01:09 PM
  #4  
Quote:
Originally posted by SunMax
Thanks for the reply. I forgot to change my profile. I am no long living in CA. I am in beautiful Vancouver, B.C. now.

Actually I haven't been using my a/c that much since I moved here last May. I do use the heater quite often recently.

As for radiator, I am running around 50/50, with Redline Water Wetter. That's why I said I believed it was water.
If you had the defrost on, the AC will still run.

In the radiator, are you running 50% water and 50% Rdline WW, or a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze with water wetter mixed in?

It's usually pretty apparent if there's a coolant leak from the odor and color of the fluid on your finger.
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Jan 30, 2003 | 01:23 PM
  #5  
Quote:
Originally posted by iwannabmw

In the radiator, are you running 50% water and 50% Rdline WW, or a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze with water wetter mixed in?

It's usually pretty apparent if there's a coolant leak from the odor and color of the fluid on your finger.
I am running 50/50 on coolant/water mixture, with water wetter mixed in.

That's why I was wondering where the water came from, cause it was clear so I am pretty sure it wasn't coolant..
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Jan 30, 2003 | 03:30 PM
  #6  
If it is clear, its AC drip. Nothing to worry about, especially since the area where you say its leaking, its right where the drain tube for the AC is. If you have automatic climate control, your AC cycles on and off automatically, so even if you don't turn it on purposely, it still runs.
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Jan 30, 2003 | 04:28 PM
  #7  
Ok. Now I feel better (to find out my Max is fine). I will keep an eye on this.

Thanks for all your replies.
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