Leaking oil??

[davidlo]

Hello,

First, I'm new to this forum, so I'll introduce my car a little...

It's a European spec 2004 E46 330i with 6MT, with sport package. Bought the car about 3 months ago and all is fine.

Recently, I had the front tires replaced. However, I noticed some oil spilling around all 4 wheel arches while getting the tired changed... The oil that I noted was yellowish in color. I went to a shop to have the car jacked up and checked. The oil can be seen on all 4 inner arches, and along the bottom of the car on both sides. There are also some oil on the engine reinforcement plate, but nothing on the plastic engine cover.

I didn't have the cover removed to check for leakage. The 4 calipers are dry, and there's no radiating spills on the inner side of the wheels....

Now the color of the oil is yellow, and the shop cannot find any leaks.

Anybody have any thoughts on where to check? Or is it just oil from roads? I did drive around a lot the past week, but not sure if I ran over oils or not.

Here're some pictures of the car. Sorry, no pictures of the oil spill though.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/davidlo19/BMW%20330i/Photo%20Shoot/PICT0001Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/davidlo19/BMW%20330i/Photo%20Shoot/PICT0011Small.jpg

[BodyMan]

Maybe you just drove thru something? Clean it all off and drive some more to see if it comes back?

[davidlo]

That's the plan right now... I'm just looking for some inputs.. Perhaps I missed something....

[acegti]

I cannot for the life of me remember what that goo is called, but it is a substance used during the build of the car. My first GTI had that same crap. I'd clean it off, and it would come right back! It finally ran out after about six months of leaking. Mine came from the doors. I believe it is some sort of industrial grease or solvent. I haven't heard of a yellow oil. What is the consistency or viscosity of the fluid? Is it thick, like syrup, or runny, like vegetable oil?

[1sick bimmer]

I cannot for the life of me remember what that goo is called, but it is a substance used during the build of the car. My first GTI had that same crap. I'd clean it off, and it would come right back! It finally ran out after about six months of leaking. Mine came from the doors. I believe it is some sort of industrial grease or solvent. I haven't heard of a yellow oil. What is the consistency or viscosity of the fluid? Is it thick, like syrup, or runny, like vegetable oil?

ha you are talking about cavity wax , not real sure if bmw used it or not but i know vw did :thumbsup:

[davidlo]

Hmm... I had that gooey stuff under the hood, at that big empty space on the passenger side, near the firewall.

What I have recently, however, is not the same as the above. The yellowish oil is runny, actually, now that you mentioned it, does look like vegetable oil... Maybe I somehow ran over those veggi oil containers??

Anyways, I'm without my car for the rest of the week (going to my parents' without driving the car). So, I'll see if that oil comes back after more driving.