[SilverStar]

Is this drip Brake Fluid or Power Steering fluid? Should I buy?

This vehicle is several states away. Lease vehicle, 15k miles, clean carfax. The dealer say's it's passed it's 732 point :laugh: inspection. These pics show a drip from the driver side, area of
brakes/power steering. Should I have concern? They'll hold it for me to inspect before purchase, but it's gonna cost me about $800 flight just to go see. It is hard finding one that's not vanilla and it has the specs I'm looking for. Price is reasonable. Sure it was a lease vehicle, but low miles and 2 years remain on warranty. I'm not in a huge rush, but don't think there'll be another listed for a while.

Reading last night about how ford mis-handled the alignment on that one with the bent subframe had me sick, so I'm being cautious.

It looks like there were 3 small pooling areas roughly under the firewall while it was parked.
When they pulled forward to photo, drip was fast as shown by drip trail, then was pooling again.

The fact that they already inspected it makes me wonder why this has not been taken care of.
The random sales guy on the phone while looking at photo said "maybe it's a shadow":laugh:

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[CTown Transit]

Or condensation from the morning dew, or water left over from a wash (since they were going to photo it) that traveled down the vehicle to a single spot, pooled, then poured out while moving vehicle began to drip when parked. All kinds of possibilities with these vans.

I see this frequently actually on my black cargo.



Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[SilverStar]

sure, if it were coming off the fenders, wheel wells, or anywhere near the sides of the vehicle, I wouldn't be concerned,Thx.

 

[CTown Transit]

Ok, it's brake fluid, don't buy it.

Seriously, it's most likely nothing more than water. A lot of water collects in the cavities of this vehicle. I've owned one for a year and a half now and have seen these sorta spots frequently. The exhaust will also leave spots in a few areas if left to idle for periods of time.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[EddieZ]

sure, if it were coming off the fenders, wheel wells, or anywhere near the sides of the vehicle, I wouldn't be concerned,Thx.

Could be water that had collected in the wiper trays. They have drains, but may be blocked, or vehicle sitting at angle. And, since water gets past those trays, and into the engine compartment, there are places that can trap water, there. Even when water is "properly" directed from the wiper trays, it goes out behind the fender skin, and, water may collect on a seam back there... maybe.

 

[mogulman]

If it was brake fluid it would have a sheen to it. I am 99% sure it is water. Also, if it was brake fluid it would be a large leak and the brakes wouldn't function.

 

[Damien89]

erm, cant you smell it?

 

[SilverStar]

Thanks for the replies, after reading up on the wiper drain trays/gutters, yeah, sounds like it would not be unusual to see water in those places....always tough to tell from photos.

 

[Bamboo]

so what happened? did you go? if so did you buy? and?

 

[hammerdown]

If the stains are STILL on the asphalt, it's power steering fluid. There was a TSB for power steering pump lines. Mine was replaced.

 

[SilverStar]

so what happened? did you go? if so did you buy? and?

Ended up buying one in Jan 2017...sorry to keep you in suspense. I just posted that story in intro's today. Lol.