Problem!

[evomind]

Just picked up a low mile pristine Boxster. Wasn't driven much.
It appears to be leaking what appears to be antifreeze from offset left or drivers side from underneath.
Yesterday I had to put a small amount of antifreeze in it as it triggered the low coolant light.
Light went out.
Took the car for a drive today and sure enough it smokes.
I cant tell if there is oil mixed in with it but it doesnt smell as sweet as when other cars ive had were smoking due to antifreeze.

I haven't gone underneath it yet but any early ideas?
There are some spots on the cardboard I put underneath...Drivers side, maybe right above where the axle is....

Of course im thinking cracked block or blown head gasket....I hope not.

[rexcramer]

Pull the oil cap and look for milk chocolate foamy stuff.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by rexcramer

Pull the oil cap and look for milk chocolate foamy stuff.

Didnt see any....Oil looked pretty normal

[evomind]

I looked at the underside of the cap again...No foamy stuff at all, a little condensation on the underside of the cap...
Smells a little weird for oil....Almost like a burnt smell.
Oil level is normal.

[911monty]

Automatic or manual?

[evomind]

Its a manual

[evomind]

No wetness in the trunk or around the coolant tank and temps were normal while I was driving it.

[Rob175]

Pull the trunk carpet and the raised trunk flooring (underneath the carpet) to get to the metal trunk floor. Then you'll be able to REALLY tell if the expansion tank is leaking. In my case, the old (98') expansion tank developed spider cracks on its bottom that were not visible. When the car came up to temp and the coolant system became pressurized the spider cracks would expand and leak. Eventually the coolant would find it's way to my garage floor. Not a lot on the floor but enough to indicate a leak..........bottom line pull everything out of the trunk to expose the metal trunk floor.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by Rob175

Pull the trunk carpet and the raised trunk flooring (underneath the carpet) to get to the metal trunk floor. Then you'll be able to REALLY tell if the expansion tank is leaking. In my case, the old (98') expansion tank developed spider cracks on its bottom that were not visible. When the car came up to temp and the coolant system became pressurized the spider cracks would expand and leak. Eventually the coolant would find it's way to my garage floor. Not a lot on the floor but enough to indicate a leak..........bottom line pull everything out of the trunk to expose the metal trunk floor.

Well the thing thats throwing me is im finding the leak (and its a pretty good one) is on the drivers side rear. The expansion tank is on the passenger side.
Unless its leaking and running over to that side..?
Thats what is throwing me. Everything is on the passenger side but the leak is on the left.
Im thinking maybe expansion tank or shut off valve because they're on that side. IDK
I just had an exhaust installed. Im hoping they just pinched a line but I know I cant be that lucky.

[rexcramer]

Possible oil cooler leak and or seals? The oil cooler is on the USA drivers side.

[evomind]

I jacked the car up today to take a look but all I could see is remnants from fluid. Drip marks on the header at the bottom about where it turns to the mid pipe. Could not determine the source.
Tomorrow Im going to start the car and let it heat up and try again. Hopefully Ill see it actually coming out somewhere.
I have a feeling without removing the underside plastic shielding I wont be able to see much.
Im very pressed for space and tools.
Other than red coolant blow back everywhere on the rear drivers side, everything looked really good.
lol

[pilot4fn]

Originally Posted by evomind

I jacked the car up today to take a look but all I could see is remnants from fluid. Drip marks on the header at the bottom about where it turns to the mid pipe. Could not determine the source.
Tomorrow Im going to start the car and let it heat up and try again. Hopefully Ill see it actually coming out somewhere.
I have a feeling without removing the underside plastic shielding I wont be able to see much.
Im very pressed for space and tools.
Other than red coolant blow back everywhere on the rear drivers side, everything looked really good.
lol

Open the engine top cover to see it it is the oil cooler or some other that leaks you can see from above. For this you do not need to start the engine - put a power on and open the roof to service position, then the engine cover can be opened up.

[evomind]

Yeah, thats the best next step.
Thanks

[NewArt]

There's 4 o-rings that seal the cooler to the motor. These can degrade over the years but are easy to replace. If you pull the oil cooler, be prepared for a bit of a flood.

[evomind]

Not liking what I see....
Looked at the top of the engine, everything pristine and dry as a bone.
So I decided to run the car for a few minutes and get back under it...
What do you guys think?

[evomind]

Any ideas guys?
How bad is it to fix?

[Gilles]

Evomind if you clean everything very well with Simply Green and rinse it afterwards with "low pressure" water you should see where the oil is coming from.

[78F350]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Evomind if you clean everything very well with Simply Green and rinse it afterwards with "low pressure" water you should see where the oil is coming from.

+1

The low coolant that you originally had is possibly an unrelated issue. What I see in the picture is an oil leak onto the exhaust, which will cause smoke.

Took the car for a drive today and sure enough it smokes.

Is the smoke coming out of the exhaust tip or is it the leaked oil burning?

I often use my cell phone camera to reach in and get pictures of areas that I can't quite get a view of. Try getting a picture of the engine area above where you are currently showing the leak. In some cases video works better. It may be bad spark plug tube(s) causing the oil leak.

[evomind]

Thanks guys
I looked from top to bottom with a flashlight.
The part Im showing is the only place I found anything leaking. If you look there isnt any drip or leak above that gasket and I found a drop hanging off of it.
I *assumed* it was antifreeze because the smoke was white and kinda smelled like antifreeze.
I believe the smoke was coming off the header rather than out the exhaust.
Im going to get it on a lift for a closer inspection this weekend.
Assuming thats where the leak is coming from, is that just a gasket issue or what? The metal looks pretty jagged there.
Thanks

[evomind]

Update....
After having it on a lift and being able to take a good look, it turns out that the exhaust place failed to tie the power steering line away from the header and it melted a hole in the power steering line.
No other leaks detected.
Hassle.
Im sure when I call the exhaust place they will hang up on me as I am out of town from them.
Oh well.
The car is pristine except the hydraulic fluid it pissed all over.
I be ordering a new line and getting it fixed.
Not all bad all things considered.