Oil Leak Underneath the car

[Reza]

Could someone please help me understand where the source of this oil leak could be (Cayenne S) ?

Oil has soaked the car's underneath. I thought these pictures can better show the area than I explained it.

I do not see any drop of oil hanging there or even on the ground. The soaked area is also very much solid like the oils are mixed with dirts and solidified and stuck to the chassis... When I pressed my finger and dragged on it, it is like 1 to 2mm of oil and dirt thickness that gets clean from the chassis...

I do not think this is being Transmission fluid because that is not red at all or watery... I never had engine oil level drop in the winter, but 2 months ago I noticed about 1 liter of oil level has dropped and I top it off. Just thought that might be what people talk about natural engine oil consumption on Cayenne S and Turbos but might be something else !

Thanks for you help.

[wvicary]

Perhaps it's a P/S system leak. Have you checked all the fluid level? I can also see signs of the rust protection product that Porsche uses but I also think you have a fluid leak of some type.

[Reza]

Thanks. I checked the engine oil and that is half way between Max and Min. I know that on June 06 I topped it off and it was at Max. in 2 months time half liter of it is gone.

I am wondering why you said: "leak of some fluid" rather than specifically refering to engine oil. the color and form of the fluid is very much like engine oil to me...

I am confused why the leak has soaked that far from the engine... as you see its almost in the middle of the car rather than the front part of the car. What does the P/S system do? I see drops of oil thrown to the very end of chassis too... like something has broken and oil spilled out with pressure initially !

[wvicary]

P/S is the power steering system. Oil can track to odd places and be blown around while driving and end up several feet away from the actual source. I say a fluid leak of some kind because it looks like something has leaked but I can't tell from your pic what type of fluid. Are any other fluid levels low??

[Kantchi]

Hi!

I have a similair problem, I've got some oil dripping from the red area on the picture, and also oil on the ground from this, from what I can tell it seems like engine oil.. looks just like it!

Any idéas what this could be and why it's there?

[Edit]: Come to think of it, I did refill engine oil yesterday and did spill some that ran down the engine, could it be that oil that's coming out here? Beacuse it looks like new oil, just as clean.

[Edit2]: Just looked again at the fluid, it's redish.. what could it be? Transmissionfluid?

Edited August 1, 2012 by Kantchi

[wvicary]

Wash the area off and see if that helps determine the source.

[Papagut]

That definitely could be transmission fluid if it is red - I had this problem and it was the result of a failing torque converter seal - what I have been told is a very common problem in older Cayennes. If you remove the protective cover exposing the transmission (anchored on one end right where your red circle is in your image), you will see the square transmission pan. Moving further toward the front of the car along the centreline, there is a small drainage hole. That is where transmission fluid from my failing seal was leaking from.

Just a suggestion though - washing it clean is a good way to start.