Leaking NS Driveshaft

[CKZ 102]

Evening all.

Away in France and have happened to notice some kind of leak on the NS in the vehicle (on the steering rack boot and all over the CV inner boot.

Checked all levels, and all are where I marked them at before we left a couple of weeks ago.

Viscosity is kind of watery and not really oily. I’m sure it’s nothing to do with the PAS.

Appreciate I need to clean it off and assess, but thinking it’s a CV Inner boot and perhaps seal gone/ on its way out.

Any thoughts or experience from anyone?

 

[DXX]

Put a pin hole in the bottom of the steering rack gaiter to eliminate PS fluid - have something ready to catch it.
It looks like a very small leak, probably PS fluid as it’s soaked into the surface dirt.

 

[CKZ 102]

Put a pin hole in the bottom of the steering rack gaiter to eliminate PS fluid - have something ready to catch it.
It looks like a very small leak, probably PS fluid as it’s soaked into the surface dirt.

I don’t think it’s this, new pump and rack at the start of the year (fluid level is on the exact mark I made on the level). When it was leaking before level was dropping and Gators squishy. I’ll bear in mind.

 

[DXX]

Rub one finger hard into the stain and compare how water runs off your dirty finger with a clean finger.
It should be obvious if it’s oil based.
Doesn’t work after eating your chips!

Otherwise if it’s water based it won’t be there after a hot day with the engine shutdown.

 

[CKZ 102]

Rub one finger hard into the stain and compare how water runs off your dirty finger with a clean finger.
It should be obvious if it’s oil based.
Doesn’t work after eating your chips!

Otherwise if it’s water based it won’t be there after a hot day with the engine shutdown.

Thanks. I’ve had a look and it’s oil based for sure.

Needs to get it home and do some inspecting.

 

[JumpShip]

I would clean it off and monitor all fluid levels closely . If it's leaking then something will show on the levels .
Defo not a/c drain ?

 

[CKZ 102]

I would clean it off and monitor all fluid levels closely . If it's leaking then something will show on the levels .
Defo not a/c drain ?

I don’t think it’s the AC drain as they’re oil residue in a few places.

It could be that it was oil from when I did the PAS and I’ve not cleaned it properly (it’s the opposite side to the pump so I might have done a crap job cleaning it up).

All levels are to the marks I made prior to leaving…so the only thing is perhaps a DSG fluid leak.

I saw somewhere last night that the CV joint has oil in it?? Although I don’t know the truth behind it (blind eyed scrolling in the early hours)

 

[manfrotto]

I don’t think it’s the AC drain as they’re oil residue in a few places.

It could be that it was oil from when I did the PAS and I’ve not cleaned it properly (it’s the opposite side to the pump so I might have done a crap job cleaning it up).

All levels are to the marks I made prior to leaving…so the only thing is perhaps a DSG fluid leak.

I saw somewhere last night that the CV joint has oil in it?? Although I don’t know the truth behind it (blind eyed scrolling in the early hours)

I have never seen oil in a CV - only special cv grease, and if there is a split in the boot, the grease splatters out as it spins, rather than the dripping you have.

 

[manfrotto]

Someone recently on the forum had a leaking windscreen washer reservoir, but not sure where the fluid drips down to.
Might be worth checking that ?

 

[CKZ 102]

I have never seen oil in a CV - only special cv grease, and if there is a split in the boot, the grease splatters out as it spins, rather than the dripping you have.

Cheers for the info.

It’s starting to feel like with all the levels correct and staying correct, that this is as other posters have commented the AC Drain.

The area has just been contaminated by prior work on the vehicle.

As mentioned, will clean off and monitor. I’ll give an update when I’m back to confirm the problem to help others in the future.

Thanks for everyone’s help.

 

[CKZ 102]

Well, I managed to have a peak behind the undertray and a look at the gearbox from the engine bay and i think I’m a little closer to locating the leak perhaps.

Last DSG Service was 18 months ago (about 14k miles). Went back as they’d not cleaned it all up so again. I know this area was dry/ contamination free.

 

[CKZ 102]

I’ll close this one out with another embarrassing admission…

The oil staining was indeed Diesel. About 8 weeks ago I serviced the van and made a hash of getting the fuel filter out, and forgot to clean up after myself. All cleaned up and no leak.

The dripping was from the AirCon which made it look like a light viscosity…when it wasn’t.

Panic over, cheers!