Like the title says, I was finishing up my timing belt job and as I was lifting the exhaust to reinstall the down pipe I noticed a wet stained area covering the drive shaft well. It only covers about a quarter of the length down the car around the drive shaft tunnel.

I've checked the CV shaft seals, the output shaft seal, have found nothing. Also, it hasn't left any stains on my garage floor. My ACD fluid level is spot on. Yet, it is difficult to really get any good view on the floor. Haven't checked trans fluid level yet, but will before I take a long drive.

I'm a mechanic by trade, heavy duty, so I'm no stranger mechanically speaking.

So my question here, is that is it possible this slight fluid loss (no stains on floor), could be coming from a breather tube? Has anyone ever had a similar issue? I would assume the ACD and trans have a breather. I've researched NoData (alldata), and have found nothing? At this point I can't see very much on the floor and the cold is setting in so I just threw her back together for now.

The car runs fine, it's just this nagging fluid stain has me worried. Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to explain my situation. Thanks in advance for any advice. Car is bone stock except for some minor bolt-ons and mild tune. Bought her with 7k in '08, currently has 46k, she's clean.

 

If I have the image correct in my mind.... Have you check the rear seals on the transfer case? I saw something similar once and one of the two seals on the t-case to drive shaft had begun to leak and sling fluid in the tunnel.

 

Yeah Reaper, you got the image exactly. Sorry no pics, but I doubt they would do any good. I was looking at the rear seal and it looked dry. I took a quick glance at the front one, but it's hard to see on the floor, the cross member is in the way, I was also freezing my *** off, yet it also looked dry.

Think I might take her on a spin and put it on jack stands right away to see If I missed something. Thanks Reap!

 

No problem!

When those seals on the T-case start to go they don't necessarily leak while stationary. That happened to a friend, and I had the seal on the passenger axle start to go. No leaks at all while sitting in the garage, take it for a short drive and it would shoot gear oil all under the car.

 

At oil change time I always make a point of checking for leaks. For the last 60K I have been seeing a little wetness on the underside above the transfer case tail piece and in the area of the transfer rear seal. The engine, transmission and transfer case are all dry on their undersides and nothing ever shows low fluid or drips.

I recently had the transmission out and looked some more. Still no obvious source. So, I decided to attribute it to maybe some spilled oil when filling the crankcase but it could be that the rear transfer seal or the front u-joint is a little weepy.

Leaking front u-joints caused AWD DSM's to be recalled but the evidence of that leak, a black vertical line on the exhaust, well, there is a hint of that on my Evo but that is all.