oil leak towards rear of vehicle

Soldato
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Fiat stilo. Slight leak approximately 6 inches away from rear wheel (driving side). Is this likely to be suspension fluid? fluid is black but very watery (if this makes sense). Watery in the since you can completely wipe it off with a rag and it leaving no discernable trace on your hand. Thanks
 
Soldato
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damper oil or brake fluid. Either way it's bad news, get it seen to ASAP. In fact, don't drive the car until you've established it isn't dumping brake fluid.
 
Soldato
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Checked the breakfluid and it was full unless of course the leak is so small as to not make a noticable difference?

inches from the front, centre, rear?
six inches from the rear tyre in the direction of approaching the drivers seat. Checked underneath and the leak was between a bolt with a large washer on it and a coil heading towards the middle of the car. Also there is what i believe to be the brake pipe. I don't have a ramp so I peered at it from the side.
 
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Soldato
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Stilo- unknown as to what bushes as I am not knowledgeable concerning cars unfortunately-of course this hasn't gone down too well as the mot is due in six weeks and I'll have to fork out for tyres and maybe pads and exhaust. back axle has to come off and so it was maintained to be a big job.
 
Soldato
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Does it burn? Brake fluid will catch fire if you even look at it wrong, damper fluid won't.

Your car's brake fluid reservoir cap has a level sensor built in, the hand brake light will come on if the level is too low. You can check the cap is functioning by pressing the button on the cap.


Edit:
Nvm, I'm late to the party.
 

GeX

GeX

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Heck! It was fluid leaking from the b(r)ushes. £100 for the part and £300 for the labour and £85.00 vat sigh!

Bushes don't have liquid in them, iirc

Bush.... 50706505.. £17.46 +VAT Each
Bolt..... 60657242.... £2.52 +VAT Each
Nut..... 12578421.... £1.61 +VAT Each

These are Fiat prices from edition 50 of ePER dated 01/08/2009

So over charged by ~£75 there, and then you paid £300 for this;

http://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/145729-mutliwagon-rear-suspension-bushes.html

You've been bummed mate.
 

GeX

GeX

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but the stilo just has a semi rigid rear axle / torsion bar, there's nothing fancy going on. The only part of the suspension that can leak oil would be the dampers, which the OP was mocked for suggesting.

The rear bushes are a common fault on these cars, but tend to make a lot of noise when they fail - not leak mystery fluids!

My mistake, from 2004 - the Stilo had fluid filled rear bushes. I still think you've been bummed mind.
 
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Soldato
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My initial thought was rear diff, but then I realised the car is fwd, so it can't be.

And that price was insane, I just had all 4 discs and pads done on my car for £386 yesterday. Don't let Fiat bend you over for this. Brakes and suspension bushes, dampers etc are not major, complex jobs that require specialist knowledge.
 
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