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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: Chisholmcody on January 06, 2015, 01:13:22 pm

Title: What is this fluid?
Post by: Chisholmcody on January 06, 2015, 01:13:22 pm
So the truck has sat for about 2 weeks due to the snow in Colorado. Today I was getting ready to go but then I got the idea to check all my fluids. They all checked out well.

So then I peak under the truck due to the fact that there's always been a "small" leak from some place. And this is what I see(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/06/b805f0aa847ad1f37e1ab57bc6439ead.jpg)

Then I smelt it to try and see what it was but the scent isn't strong enough to tell. So I was wondering if someone on the forum could tell what it is by the picture.

Thanks in advanced!


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Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 06, 2015, 01:46:02 pm
Where was the pan located under the truck? My first thought is oil.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Chisholmcody on January 06, 2015, 02:19:20 pm
It was located directly under the motor...I checked the oil and it still reads full though.


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Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LSXCHEVY on January 06, 2015, 02:46:20 pm
looks like oil to me....maybe not enough leaked out to show low level?? what is the viscosity of the fluid...watery or thick ?
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: ehjorten on January 06, 2015, 03:58:09 pm
That little bitty-bit of oil will not show on the dipstick.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: roger97338 on January 06, 2015, 08:49:53 pm
If it feels like oil, I'd guess oil. If it feels watery, I'd guess cat urine. Mine will relieve themselves in anything that looks vaguely like a litter box, if it's on the ground.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 06, 2015, 09:11:15 pm
Haha roger. That made me lol. That small amount of oil will not drop the level of the dipstick.  Lay under the truck and look around till you find something that looks like it was leaking. Mostly likely around anywhere oil gets to, oil pan, valve cover sides nearest the exhuast manifolds, oil pressure sensor,  rear main seal, timing cover crank seal.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Chisholmcody on January 06, 2015, 09:20:44 pm
So it does look like the oil pan is leaking a little bit. How hard is it to do the pan gasket on a 1978 chevy cheyenne with a l6 250


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Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 06, 2015, 09:25:06 pm
I don't know how hard it is for a I6, my Cheyenne with a 350 was pretty easy.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: roger97338 on January 06, 2015, 11:02:28 pm
I think 'easy' is a relative term here. If I had a nice, warm, dry shop which had a vehicle lift, and all the tools were clean and easy to find, I'd likely be so happy that I'd install it, remove it, then install it again! However, if I had to lay on an icy or snowy gravel driveway, with melt water trickling down my neck, it's very likely that I'd consider it so difficult I'd either pay someone to do it, or wait until spring to do it myself.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 07, 2015, 01:47:18 am
Haha yea. I did mine once on a lift in our shop and the second time upside down, well, the engine was upside down...and on an engine stand....cuz I was building it. Haha.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: frotosride on January 07, 2015, 04:17:39 pm
Taste it... It's a fool proof way to figure out leaks. Growing up poor has lead me to a keen sense of taste when it comes to leaking vehicles! If the taste is bitter it is certainly brake fluid or power steering fluid. If it has a little gas taste to it, likely engine oil. If it taste like the smell of old bearing grease then its heavy weight gear lube. And if it is sweet it is certainly antifreeze. With one exception to that,  if you have a/c and its r134a the the mineral oil used as the lube in the compressor has a slight sweet taste but easily distinguishable from antifreeze.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Chisholmcody on January 07, 2015, 05:25:35 pm
Lol maybe I'll have to give it a taste before I dig into the oil Pan project


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Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 07, 2015, 06:11:51 pm
Dude, don't eat, lick or taste it.

If it's brake fluid it will rinse off clean with warm water. If it is oil it will not.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 07, 2015, 08:18:01 pm
Froto you got problems haha. As vile said, you only have to touch it to know what it is. Please don't put any of the fluids into your mouth......or lick the windows.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 07, 2015, 11:31:42 pm
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/Poison_Help.svg/1024px-Poison_Help.svg.png)
are we going to have to stick these on our trucks now???
but when i worked at autozone a guy asked me and the store manager how you know when to change the oil besides it being black. You should have seen his face when I pulled out the dip stick and licked some oil off then told him he had about 400 miles left on the oil and walked away 8) but yeah on a serious note dont.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: roger97338 on January 08, 2015, 03:33:12 am
Dude, don't eat, lick or taste it.

If that was printed on a t-shirt, I think it would make money.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Chisholmcody on January 08, 2015, 09:16:49 am
Lol I wasn't going to do it.


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Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: frotosride on January 08, 2015, 01:56:55 pm
Guess its not for everyone! Problems, I certainly got. Funny thing is while I was deployed I got an email from my wife saying that they jeep was overheating she noticed something on the road so she reached under the jeep and tasted it. I branch from the city truck in front of her punctured the cool and hose and she new that sweet taste. The two truck driver was blown away when she responses to, ' how did you know it was coolant?'. I've been doing it for over thirty years and no problems yet. I don't think anyway! Maybe I just don't notice and other people con say anything. Either way guess its not for everyone.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: SkinnyG on January 08, 2015, 08:51:10 pm
Yeah, but I'm finding that antifreeze now has a bittering agent in it - it's not the sugary goodness I remember.  I can't get the same fix.  There is the subtle underlying taste of good old glycol, but it's overwhelmed by the added taste of bitter.

A little taste won't kill you.  Look at me - I hardly twitch at all.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: frotosride on January 08, 2015, 09:02:33 pm
Yeah, but I'm finding that antifreeze now has a bittering agent in it - it's not the sugary goodness I remember.  I can't get the same fix.  There is the subtle underlying taste of good old glycol, but it's overwhelmed by the added taste of bitter.

A little taste won't kill you.  Look at me - I hardly twitch at all.

I think its like mercury poisoning, as long as you do it a little at a time then you won't have to worry about dialysis for years to come. but seriously antifreze can cause your kidneys to shut down and put you on dialysis for the rest of your life. better to let the stupid ones tend to this

Ignorance: not knowing
Stupidity: knowing and nor caring
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: srozell on January 08, 2015, 11:05:45 pm
Taste it... It's a fool proof way to figure out leaks. Growing up poor has lead me to a keen sense of taste when it comes to leaking vehicles! If the taste is bitter it is certainly brake fluid or power steering fluid. If it has a little gas taste to it, likely engine oil. If it taste like the smell of old bearing grease then its heavy weight gear lube. And if it is sweet it is certainly antifreeze. With one exception to that,  if you have a/c and its r134a the the mineral oil used as the lube in the compressor has a slight sweet taste but easily distinguishable from antifreeze.

What if it is cat urine? You didn't address that here. Please advise....
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: enaberif on January 08, 2015, 11:10:54 pm
LOL people so concerned about tasting fluids. Yes some you perhaps don't want to put in your body.. but oil, brake fluid, rad fluid etc in small quantities won't hurt you.

Where not talking about taking a shot glass here.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 08, 2015, 11:21:15 pm
tell that to the lab rats that it has caused cancer to and California lol
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 09, 2015, 12:44:00 am
Something tells me SkinnyG twitches more than we know.

Thanks Irish, that's all we do here in california, snortin antifreeze.  LOL
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Dr_Snooz on January 09, 2015, 09:24:33 pm
Oh, here in Cali, antifreeze is wildly toxic. It's so toxic that you can't find a place anywhere that will take it.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 09, 2015, 10:40:51 pm
i get a kick out of all the things that say "This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/ or birth defects or other reproductive harm" im like im on the other side of the country do you think i care what Cali thinks lol
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: fitz on January 11, 2015, 11:09:09 am
Dude, don't eat, lick or taste it.

Also avoid licking the body panels in cold weather while checking for bondo.
Title: Re: What is this fluid?
Post by: timthescarrd on January 11, 2015, 11:15:41 am
LOL Irish, I bought some wood chips for my smoker the other day and the bag said "known to cause cancer in California"  WOOD!