This morning as my son is leaving for work he sees that someone has smashed the driver's side window on his car (he parks on the street). The dirtbags stole the charger to his GPS and some lose change (they left the GPS and iPod).

I go to look at my car (which is parked way up the driveway). No damage, but I do notice a LARGE puddle under the car. Hmmmmmmmm I look closer, it starts at the back of the car. I give it a touch, a little viscous. A little sniff (smells like oil). I think I may have a IMS failure. Car has been running great. Car just rolled over 60,000 miles yesterday.

2006 with M96.05.

The day can only get better right?

 

Punks - I hate petty theft like that. I am so paranoid here in Toronto because it always happens. Hope the day does get better.

 

Good luck with the engine!

 

Doesn't ims failure happen while the engine is running?

 

looks like coolant to me. did you check if coolant tank is empty? either it cracked or you had car very hot when you parked it and it boiled. or tank cap went kaput.

you would notice IMS going kaput, from what people say it is usually accompanied with plenty of audio/visual effects.

did the leak start from right side front radiator? i cannot tell based on a picture.

 

Not oil - oil doesn't flow like that.

 

I agree. Not oil. It'll Utkinpol is probable correct

 

The fluid seemed viscous.

The car runs about 225 when warm. I have had occasional spikes up to 250 when the ambient temp was over 90F and I was driving in a "spirited" fashion.

 

It looks like the leak started in the rear. That is where the puddle is the largest.

 

It's definitely not oil as previous members have posted. Looks green in hue and oil definitely wouldn't flow like that. The viscous feel is probably the lubricant in the coolant. Most contain materials to coat and protect the cooling system.

 

It looked tan to me but I could be wrong.

I hope you guys are right (I think). I am hoping it is just something simple like a cracked tank cap.

I do appreciate all the feedback! You guys are great!

 

You are talking about the Oil Temp right?

 

Yes. Sorry for not being specific. Coolant temp never moves above 175F.

 

i have an 06S and coolant is red (as a i thought all were in that model year). easy to check, just look at the expansion tank to see the color. i'm thinking it might be trans fluid or power steering? i'm not sure what color my trans is but over on rennlist they are talking about green PDK fluid so maybe the manual is/was same color? even references a link at the end to a thread over here:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...under-car.html

however, i believe my PS fluid may be green but unsure of that as well...

good luck.

 

Something similar happened to me right after I got the car serviced. My driveway is pretty steep and I backed down and the car sat on an incline and the overflow drained a bit. I freaked but then traced the puddle back to the overfill release tube.