This is for my mom's '88 sentra. When looking down at the engine bay, I see some fluid on the passenger's side. Here is where I see it. I wish I knew the names of these parts but I don't. It is a black accordion or honeycomb shaped plastic piece that is part of this rod that goes acorss the entire bottom of the engine bay. Looks like it connects to each wheel. Is the the CV boot? Could it be torn. All of the other fluid levels seem ok (oil, atf, power steering, brake). Any ideas?

 

a torn CV boot, but it would look more like grease all over everything. Is there any noise while turning? More likely a crank seal. It is a common problem with the Sentras and would leak all over the halfshaft/cv joints. It may just be starting to go, so a little oil leaking out will make a big mess because it gets spun all over everything. When they really go you will know it - when it dumps all the oil out in a very short time. If the oil light comes on, stop the engine! Don't worry, the seal isn't an expensive fix though.

 

Now that I think of it, the patern of the splatter might suggest that it leaved, and then was thrown around by the spinning. The car never goes above 40mph, so that could explain it.