Apologies - car question.
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Mr Pig
New Member
- Location
- North Lanarkshire
It could be power steering fluid or brake fluid. Both have reservoirs under the bonnet where you can check the level.
Don't take the car to Kwik Fit, I am not joking. They will rob you. Find a good independent garage.
Don't take the car to Kwik Fit, I am not joking. They will rob you. Find a good independent garage.
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
It could also be gearbox oil. There is enough engine oil in the sump for the small leaks not to show up in loss of oil level.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Have you smelt the stuff.....
TBH stick you head under the car (i.e. on the floor) and use a torgh to look for patches. Could be anything.
Better off with a local garage TBH.
TBH stick you head under the car (i.e. on the floor) and use a torgh to look for patches. Could be anything.
Better off with a local garage TBH.
Amanda P
Legendary Member
- Location
- York. Well, York-ish...
Unless it's leaking serious quantities, and you're planning to do the Paris to Dakar rally starting tomorrow, I wouldn't panic.
It's entirely normal for a 156K mile car to dribble a bit.
If you want it looked at, I'd agree to avoid Kwik Fit. They'll probably find all sorts of other things on the car that "need" fixing, even though you replaced them last week.
On the other hand, if you know exactly what needs fixing and you've checked prices, they can be competitive. I just wouldn't trust them to diagnose anything for me, or advise me. They truly are just fitters, not engineers or mechanics.
Try to build a relationship with an independent garage where you get to speak face-to-face with the person who actually gets their hands dirty, and who will take you to the car and show you what needs doing/has been done.
It's entirely normal for a 156K mile car to dribble a bit.
If you want it looked at, I'd agree to avoid Kwik Fit. They'll probably find all sorts of other things on the car that "need" fixing, even though you replaced them last week.
On the other hand, if you know exactly what needs fixing and you've checked prices, they can be competitive. I just wouldn't trust them to diagnose anything for me, or advise me. They truly are just fitters, not engineers or mechanics.
Try to build a relationship with an independent garage where you get to speak face-to-face with the person who actually gets their hands dirty, and who will take you to the car and show you what needs doing/has been done.
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
agreed - avoid KF. In any case £79 for a fluid check is a rip off. That will take them 10 mins absolute max, then there will be an extra charge for solving the problem.
No 1 would be ask a friend or neighbour to have a quick look. If not, then the local independent garage would be a good bet. Chances are they can see in under 60 secs for free what is leaking (£79 saved) then book it in to get it sorted
No 1 would be ask a friend or neighbour to have a quick look. If not, then the local independent garage would be a good bet. Chances are they can see in under 60 secs for free what is leaking (£79 saved) then book it in to get it sorted
- Location
- the post-brexit wasteland
Engine oil would be most likely. It's just not serious enough to show up in the oil level just yet. Clutch/Brake fluid shouldn't be dark in colour. With a decent torch, have a look underneath. Look for oil stained rusty patches on the sump and oil seepage where the driveshafts come out of the gearbox. Also look at the bottom pulley as oil leaks from the crank seal are common on older engines. Open the bonnet and look around the rocker/cam cover (the tin lid on the very top of the engine) as seals on these often dribble with age. If so, you may get away with just tightening whatever holds it on (don't over do it if it is the type with about three screws up through the centre rahter than a ring of small screws around the edges) may do the trick or a new gasket may be required (easily replaced or can be sealed with instant gasket, just be careful not to drop anything into the engine!). Oil seeping out from the head gasket or oil filter assembly are other possibilities, or a leaking oil cooler or oil cooler pipes but I doubt your car would have such a thing. If you have power steering, that is another possibility. Sniff the oil. Most gear oils have a really strong smell. If the leak is only a small one, I probably would only fix it if it's cheap and easy to do so. Just monitor it and keep levels topped up.
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
I'd take it to Kwik Fit. They're really excellent.
... no, just kidding.
... no, just kidding.
tdr1nka
Taking the biscuit
- Location
- SE London, Bandit Country
User1314 said:Erm...
...my wife has suggested that she drives it somewhere and then calls the RAC after "breaking down"...
The problem there is that the car isn't actually broken so she will be back on the road fairly quickly with no guarantee of an answer on the leak.
Over The Hill
Guru
- Location
- Ridden off into the sunset
Probably not too much to worry about if only a few spots - most cars have about 5 litres of oil in them and a couple of spots takes a long time to add up to enough to show on the dipstick.
Take out the dipstick and see if the liquid on the end of it looks like the liquid on the floor under the car. That ensures it is engine oil = not a worry
Brake fluid is a worry!
Take out the dipstick and see if the liquid on the end of it looks like the liquid on the floor under the car. That ensures it is engine oil = not a worry
Brake fluid is a worry!
User1314 said:
Maybe you do have a clutch fluid leak then. I know the Almera had a fluid clutch, not sure about the earlier Sunny.
I wouldn't necessarily say you need to replace it just yet. Most cars are capable of huge mileage these days. If the bodywork is sound and the engine and gearbox are serviceable, there is a few years left yet. As you're not working on it yourself, find a sympathetic garage who won't rip you off.
Mr Pig
New Member
- Location
- North Lanarkshire
User1314 said:
Just don't come looking for any sympathy when they shaft you! For example, charging you £70 for looking at a few plastic bottles under the bonnet! Where have you been getting the car serviced up till now?
Checking fluid levels is not the job of a mechanic, it's your job! It's one of the simplest and most important task you can do on a car and most levels should be checked once a week, on an older car anyway.
Spring an oil leak, keep driving and kiss goodbye to your engine. Loose coolant, same result.
Checking these things is about as hard as opening the fridge and checking how much milk you have left so the notion of paying some spotty oik in Thik-Fit to do it for you seems somewhat ridiculous. It's not a black art, it tells you how to do it in the car's handbook. Have you read the car's handbook?
If the bodywork on the car is good there really is no need to replace it as those Nissans are very reliable. Fair enough if you want a new car anyway, but mileage-wise it should do the same again.
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
If it is a clutch fluid leak then it is usually in the slave cylinder. That is bolted to the side of the bell housing, the bell shaped bit between the engine and the gearbox. Inside the bell housing is the flywheel and clutch.
A cylinder leak will cause fluid to collect inside the rubber dust cover on the cylinder. Eventually enough collects and the fluid bursts out a bit like squeezing a spot. Depending on where the cylinder is, above or below the bell housing, it could contaminate the friction material of the clutch. This may mean that you will need a clutch change as well.
The drips will be coming from the bottom of the bell housing where it meets the engine. The oil may well be black as it will have picked up the black dust of clutch material that is inside the bell housing .
A cylinder leak will cause fluid to collect inside the rubber dust cover on the cylinder. Eventually enough collects and the fluid bursts out a bit like squeezing a spot. Depending on where the cylinder is, above or below the bell housing, it could contaminate the friction material of the clutch. This may mean that you will need a clutch change as well.
The drips will be coming from the bottom of the bell housing where it meets the engine. The oil may well be black as it will have picked up the black dust of clutch material that is inside the bell housing .
