Oil leaks in a 2000 S?

[shyster77]

Dear Porsche-mates,

I noticed these two spots towards the rear of the car, as in attached, when I moved the car this morning. They seemed fresh and felt a bit viscous, though don't feel oily.

The car starts with some smoke, from a very cold start, though that smoke disappears very quickly.

It runs and idles fine though.

The only change that was done to it before these spots showed up, was that I had to replace the OE fuel cap with an aftermarket cap from Autozone. I was unable to clear for emissions for registration with the OE cap, since it had cracks in the rubber seal and failed the equipment test.

The car is a 2000 S with 134K miles on the original clutch. Clutch shifts fine.

Appreciate your insights on what this could be...

Cheers,
Vish

Edited December 26, 2013 by shyster77

[JFP in PA]

Dear Porsche-mates,

I noticed these two spots towards the rear of the car, as in attached, when I moved the car this morning. They seemed fresh and felt a bit viscous, though don't feel oily.

The car starts with some smoke, from a very cold start, though that smoke disappears very quickly.

It runs and idles fine though.

The only change that was done to it before these spots showed up, was that I had to replace the OE fuel cap with an aftermarket cap from Autozone. I was unable to clear for emissions for registration with the OE cap, since it had cracks in the rubber seal and failed the equipment test.

The car is a 2000 S with 134K miles on the original clutch. Clutch shifts fine.

Appreciate your insights on what this could be...

Cheers,

Vish

It is nearly impossible to discern where an oil leak is coming from by looking at spots on the floor. You need to put the car up in the air, and start looking..................

[shyster77]

Will do this evening, JFP - spotted these on the way to work, so wondered if this color may be an indicator.

Googling up that color - that could be transmission fluid or coolant, since I always felt oil would be darker and more viscous.

But mine is a manual so transmission fluid would not be applicable or coolant since I thought it would be green.

The color is more like pinkish-red.

Vish

[1schoir]

Some Porsche OEM coolant actually looks "pinkish-red".

If there is a drop of it on the floor, touch a tiny speck of it to your tongue and see it if is "sweet". If it is, it's coolant. Be sure to spit it out and flush your mouth with water afterwards! :eek:

Regards, Maurice.

[shyster77]

It was coolant, Maurice. :thankyou:

What was interesting was that within a day after I posted the spills, I got a CEL with a P0455. I strongly suspected the aftermarket fuel cap, replaced it with an OE one and erased the CEL. So far no CEL or these spills.

I have a new coolant tank as of a year ago and no spillage of any sort until I got this aftermarket fuel cap.

Could an EVAP leak cause a spillage of the coolant? or am I connecting two disparate events...

Regards,

Vish

Edited January 1, 2014 by shyster77