Sudden oil leak today with smell of coolant

[M3Stang]

Originally Posted by thstone

All I'm doing is explaining more fully what 78F350 said.

The oil cooler is shown with the red arrow. Underneath the oil cooler, there are two oil connections (input and output) and two coolant connections (input and output). Each of the four connections is sealed by an o-ring between the oil cooler and the block.

Try to trace the fluid leak from the ground up through the suspension and engine to see if its coming from the oil cooler (or where it might be coming from). You can also try to feel around beneath the oil cooler to see if its wet. If so, then you'll want to remove the oil cooler and replace the four o-rings.

Also, check the oil and coolant for intermix. If you find oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil, then there might be an internal leak/failure in the oil cooler allowing the two fluids types to mix. A pressure test of the cooling system and/or oil cooler can confirm an internal leak.

If you have intermix but the oil cooler checks out ok, well then you have bigger problems. Start with a pressure test of the coolant system and go from there...

I just checked my self. Pulled the engine covers off and there is zero oil or coolant anywhere looked under the car and saw nothing except for directly below the motor mount perhaps? Don’t those have fluid? Perhaps it popped from the torque of the shift? Correction: transmission mount.

[911monty]

Check the fluid level in your transaxle. The grease from your CV joint can attract clutch disk material and cause the output shaft seal to fail. This can then run onto the bracing and exit around the sway bar area. The fluid resembles motor oil, translucent and amber, but smells like an oil field. If your CV shaft boot has been slinging grease and collecting grit for 8 months and 3k miles I wouldn't want to be taking it on a 600 mile trip to the TOTD. YMMV.