What Fluid is This...Take 2, with Picture

paul e · 01-31-2018, 11:16 AM

Took the pic ....so what Fluid is this....340ix with Manual tranny

XxThe_RemedyXx · 01-31-2018, 12:44 PM

Looks like rust? Was it wet? Consistency?

jeffc83 · 01-31-2018, 01:16 PM

Looks like rust to me too; was it gritty/sandy or what?

paul e · 01-31-2018, 02:57 PM

It’s a spot under the motor where, if it was oil, would be right there.

But it’s not oil, what Fluid is it? Not rust...

XxThe_RemedyXx · 01-31-2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul e

It’s a spot under the motor where, if it was oil, would be right there.

But it’s not oil, what Fluid is it? Not rust...

What is the consistency of the fluid?

rak299 · 01-31-2018, 03:10 PM

If it doesn't feel like oil (slippery) my guess is that you went through a puddle. Something splashed up and dripped off.

7iM3less · 01-31-2018, 04:03 PM

Any of you guys stop to think if it's soap from a drive through car wash?

OP did you go through the car wash earlier that day? I've seen it happen with my car.

paul e · 01-31-2018, 05:53 PM

No splashes, no car wash.

It is orange-pink though, no one knows for sure if any BMW fluids are that color?

Wires · 02-06-2018, 07:56 PM

Isn't our coolant that color?

2000Z3M · 02-06-2018, 09:47 PM

did you taste it?

Niart906 · 02-07-2018, 09:52 AM

Automatic transmission fluid is that color. I’m assuming yours is an auto?

paul e · 02-07-2018, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niart906

Automatic transmission fluid is that color. I’m assuming yours is an auto?

Please reread my original post #1?

giddyup69 · 02-07-2018, 02:14 PM

was also going to say transmission fluid.

but if you say it is further up the car under the engine my next guess would be the power steering fluid.

in any case, it is just going to be a mere guess from anyone here. best to have a mechanic have a look.

put some paper towels under the car or white clean paper and see if you keep collecting it, or if this was just some random event.

Wires · 02-07-2018, 07:01 PM

Another thread mentioned BMW coolant is blue (not sure, haven't looked). I think power steering fluid is an orange color.

jparnes1 · 02-07-2018, 07:10 PM

An alternative coolant,Zerex, is orange. Taste it and see if it's sweet.

kern417 · 02-07-2018, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giddyup69

but if you say it is further up the car under the engine my next guess would be the power steering fluid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wires

Another thread mentioned BMW coolant is blue (not sure, haven't looked). I think power steering fluid is an orange color.

our cars don't have hydraulic steering. there is no power steering fluid.

the only fluids in the engine bay are oil, coolant, brake/clutch fluid, transmission fluid, and washer fluid.

it could be brake fluid, but that's pretty dark for a newer car.

XCRN · 02-07-2018, 07:51 PM

When a coolant bleeder screw broke on my old E39, pink coolant came out when it was hot but was green in the overflow tank.

lkstaack · 02-08-2018, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jparnes1

An alternative coolant,Zerex, is orange. Taste it and see if it's sweet.

BMW coolant is blue. Anything else will shorten the life of cooling system parts.

jparnes1 · 02-08-2018, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkstaack

BMW coolant is blue. Anything else will shorten the life of cooling system parts.

Zerex G-48, Pentosin NF are direct replacements for BMW coolant. Volvo and MB brands are the same as BMW as well.

giddyup69 · 02-08-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kern417

our cars don't have hydraulic steering. there is no power steering fluid.

the only fluids in the engine bay are oil, coolant, brake/clutch fluid, transmission fluid, and washer fluid.

it could be brake fluid, but that's pretty dark for a newer car.

ah.. u are right.. forgot these cars are electric.

paul e · 02-08-2018, 11:12 AM

By the time I noticed it, it was and is dry. But the main coolant was previously low, refilled, and the car is going back in for the DME check, so I just wanted to have an idea to tell the SA.

I guess I’ll just show him the pic.

kern417 · 02-09-2018, 07:56 AM

Did you check brake fluid too? That's the only thing I can think of that would turn brown.

01-31-2018, 11:16 AM	#1
paul e Captain 420 Rep 842 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive 6MT Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	What Fluid is This...Take 2, with Picture Took the pic ....so what Fluid is this....340ix with Manual tranny Attached Images
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01-31-2018, 12:44 PM	#2
XxThe_RemedyXx Colonel 967 Rep 2,653 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Westchester, NY iTrader: (0)	Looks like rust? Was it wet? Consistency?
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01-31-2018, 01:16 PM	#3
jeffc83 Lieutenant Colonel 725 Rep 1,615 Posts Drives: 2015 328i XDrive Luxury Line Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Philly Burbs, PA iTrader: (0)	Looks like rust to me too; was it gritty/sandy or what? __________________ Originally Posted by jmg That seat was meant to be used, are you going to deny it's purpose in life?
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01-31-2018, 02:57 PM	#4
paul e Captain 420 Rep 842 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive 6MT Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	It’s a spot under the motor where, if it was oil, would be right there. But it’s not oil, what Fluid is it? Not rust...
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01-31-2018, 03:10 PM	#6
rak299 Major 601 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: 2021 M3 6MT Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: san francisco iTrader: (0)	If it doesn't feel like oil (slippery) my guess is that you went through a puddle. Something splashed up and dripped off.
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01-31-2018, 04:03 PM	#7
7iM3less Brigadier General 2595 Rep 3,030 Posts Drives: F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Canada iTrader: (3)	Any of you guys stop to think if it's soap from a drive through car wash? OP did you go through the car wash earlier that day? I've seen it happen with my car. __________________ 2016 BMW F80 ZCP Instagram : 7IM3LESS https://instagram.com/7im3less?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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01-31-2018, 05:53 PM	#8
paul e Captain 420 Rep 842 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive 6MT Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	No splashes, no car wash. It is orange-pink though, no one knows for sure if any BMW fluids are that color?
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02-06-2018, 07:56 PM	#9
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Isn't our coolant that color?
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02-06-2018, 09:47 PM	#10
2000Z3M Captain 639 Rep 847 Posts Drives: 2016 435i ZHP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	did you taste it?
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02-07-2018, 09:52 AM	#11
Niart906 First Lieutenant 179 Rep 331 Posts Drives: 2017 M3, 2003 M3 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Dalton, PA iTrader: (0)	Automatic transmission fluid is that color. I’m assuming yours is an auto?
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02-07-2018, 02:14 PM	#13
giddyup69 Private First Class 6 Rep 173 Posts Drives: '13 F30 335xi Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, On, Canada iTrader: (1)	was also going to say transmission fluid. but if you say it is further up the car under the engine my next guess would be the power steering fluid. in any case, it is just going to be a mere guess from anyone here. best to have a mechanic have a look. put some paper towels under the car or white clean paper and see if you keep collecting it, or if this was just some random event. __________________ '13 F30 335xi • white/black • m-sport
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02-07-2018, 07:01 PM	#14
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Another thread mentioned BMW coolant is blue (not sure, haven't looked). I think power steering fluid is an orange color.
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02-07-2018, 07:10 PM	#15
jparnes1 Colonel 245 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: 2016 340i, 2012 Z4 35i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY iTrader: (1)	An alternative coolant,Zerex, is orange. Taste it and see if it's sweet. __________________ 2016 340i XDrive, EBII/black, 6 MT, M Sport, Track Handling, Cold Weather, Tech, Lighting, Driver Assistance Plus. 2012 Z4 35i, ED 2/24/2012, Melbourne Red Metallic, Black Leather, Carbon Trim, 6MT, M Sport, CW, PP, PS, NAV, CA.
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02-07-2018, 07:51 PM	#17
XCRN Private First Class 87 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2013 335i, 1995 525i Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Springfield OH iTrader: (1)	When a coolant bleeder screw broke on my old E39, pink coolant came out when it was hot but was green in the overflow tank.
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02-08-2018, 11:12 AM	#21
paul e Captain 420 Rep 842 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive 6MT Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	By the time I noticed it, it was and is dry. But the main coolant was previously low, refilled, and the car is going back in for the DME check, so I just wanted to have an idea to tell the SA. I guess I’ll just show him the pic.
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