[joshuab]

I have a issue it seems w/ my Cruze, today I was rolling down the road & then I smell this awful smell like something is dead under my car mixed like something was burning. After inspecting the coolant its full, checked the oil its full, checked the brake fluid its full. Then I turn my wheel all the way to the left & got a couple pictures of some type of fluid, my initial thought was axle grease. However its really wet not really greasy at all really. Please see attached images.

 

[Jim Frye]

Did you look all around the cam cover gasket?

 

[Tomko]

Back to the dealer. The good dealer.

 

[ChevyGuy]

Yeah, I think it's falling there from the engine and not from the axle at all.

 

[joshuab]

Thanks guys for the replies. I can honestly say this time I didn't inspect the cam cover, but I will go take a look & see if I see any leaks around this. There is currently not a CEL light on at this time. So I am assuming you all are pointing towards the cam cover, the only thing that baffles me is its on the lower arm so I just automatically assumed its something to do w/ the brake line, then kinda had a theory of maybe the axle leaking but its not a thick like grease.

Edit : I went checked for leaks around the the cam cover there isn't any visible leak that I could see anywhere. The oil level is perfect. anywhere else I should look?

 

[Tomko]

Leaking shock?

Broken CV joint boot spewing lubricant?

 

[joshuab]

Leaking shock?

Broken CV joint boot spewing lubricant?

Leaking shock maybe, but wouldn't you hear some sort of sound that would indicate the issue?, & see streams of leak that would show? Broken CV joint boot spewing lubricant, possible, but its not all over the inner finder plastic piece. just down on the brake hose a bit as shown in the picture & on that arm only.

 

[Tomko]

Leaking shock maybe, but wouldn't you hear some sort of sound that would indicate the issue?, & see streams of leak that would show? Broken CV joint boot spewing lubricant, possible, but its not all over the inner finder plastic piece. just down on the brake hose a bit as shown in the picture & on that arm only.

A couple of ideas strike me like leaking windshield washer fluid, clutch oil (if you have a manual), ATF. Really just wild ask guesses at this point.

But if i were you id bring it in first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[ChevyGuy]

In my experience, (which may not apply to a newer car like the Cruze), is the CV lubricant is a grease, not a oil. If the CV boot failed, you'd be seeing bits of grease flung about. That looks more liquidy. And in order to get the smell, it's got to hit the exhaust system - or at least something hot. So, I'm thinking this is either a red herring, or it's coming from somewhere else.

It really doesn't take much, so the fact your coolant and oil levels appear to be fine doesn't mean anything.

Just for fun, check out the rest of the exhaust system. This might be nothing more than a stray plastic shopping bag that got caught on your exhaust.

 

[joshuab]

Yeah guesses are fine, I appreciate all the help! I have a Automatic transmission, & I did check the plug on the side transmission just to be safe & its dry. Its just isolated to that one area, & again I can put my fingers in it & it really wet like oil, but you would think that much the dip stick would show a drop.

 

[joshuab]

In my experience, (which may not apply to a newer car like the Cruze), is the CV lubricant is a grease, not a oil. If the CV boot failed, you'd be seeing bits of grease flung about. That looks more liquidy. And in order to get the smell, it's got to hit the exhaust system - or at least something hot. So, I'm thinking this is either a red herring, or it's coming from somewhere else.

It really doesn't take much, so the fact your coolant and oil levels appear to be fine doesn't mean anything.

Just for fun, check out the rest of the exhaust system. This might be nothing more than a stray plastic shopping bag that got caught on your exhaust.

You know I thought the same thing so I looked further at the exhaust & it seems fine & the catalytic converter & it all seems fine, just as mentioned in my last reply it just isolated to that area, now maybe I can get the car higher up tomorrow & take a closer look.

& yes its oily ( not saying its oil ) because I do not know at this point, but there isn't any type of thick like grease that I can see at all.

So you are saying even tho my oil level seems fine that I could still be leaking oil but spraying only when under pressure? Possible?

 

[ChevyGuy]

So you are saying even tho my oil level seems fine that I could still be leaking oil but spraying only when under pressure? Possible?

I'm not sure about oil, but as a veteran of many a coolant leak, they can be really hard to find. It has to be at just the right temperature and pressure before they go. You'd be surprised how big a mess a few thimble full of oil can make. And you'd never see that on the dip stick.

But please remind me, has this car had transmission work done? My fear would be that this is transmission oil and you've got no dipstick for that.

 

[joshuab]

I'm not sure about oil, but as a veteran of many a coolant leak, they can be really hard to find. It has to be at just the right temperature and pressure before they go. You'd be surprised how big a mess a few thimble full of oil can make. And you'd never see that on the dip stick.

But please remind me, has this car had transmission work done? My fear would be that this is transmission oil and you've got no dipstick for that.

No it hasn't had any transmission work done at all, expect for fluid changes. Only thing it has had was a engine replacement.

 

[ChevyGuy]

Only thing it has had was a engine replacement.

I wonder what the process is for that. Can the engine be pulled alone, or is the engine & translate pulled as a unit and then separated?

 

[joshuab]

I wonder what the process is for that. Can the engine be pulled alone, or is the engine & translate pulled as a unit and then separated?

No clue, I just know I took it the dealer they replaced the engine. So I am not sure.

 

[jblackburn]

I wonder what the process is for that. Can the engine be pulled alone, or is the engine & translate pulled as a unit and then separated?

Usually pulled as a pair in FWD applications. Clearance becomes an annoying issue trying to mate the two halves back together. Though as well as the Cruze engine fits in the bay, I suppose it's possible!

Based on the location, I think transmission or cooler line spraying at something hot moreso than engine oil.

 

[joshuab]

I am going to get it up higher up in the air tomorrow to get a closer look at where this maybe coming from & I'll report back. Then I am going to clean it off good & see if it comes back & take a clean white towel & dab it on there & see what color it is to give me a starting point.

So @jblackburn you think possible a cooler line, should I check them as well?

 

[obermd]

You know I thought the same thing so I looked further at the exhaust & it seems fine & the catalytic converter & it all seems fine, just as mentioned in my last reply it just isolated to that area, now maybe I can get the car higher up tomorrow & take a closer look.

& yes its oily ( not saying its oil ) because I do not know at this point, but there isn't any type of thick like grease that I can see at all.

So you are saying even tho my oil level seems fine that I could still be leaking oil but spraying only when under pressure? Possible?

Very possible. I had no discernible drop in oil level but had a oil leak around the timing cover.

 

[pontiacgt]

From the color it looks like transmission fluid. Its possible a line did not get fully tighten when they replaced the engine.

 

[joshuab]

I have now found the cooler line right above the axle where the leak is at. I cleaned the whole area & the cooler line. Going to take it for a ride today & then grab the color of the fluid & let everyone know today & then possible its off to the dealership if its nothing I can do myself.