Subaru fluid leak

[pdplot]

For about 2 weeks, my 2018 Legacy has been dripping orange/yellow fluid on the garage floor. I took it to the dealer today and its still there overnight. They serviced it - 30K mile service - a couple of weeks ago and maybe they did something. Any idea what it might be?

 

[NutmegCT]

Paul - that color sounds like a coolant. Could be overflow from a newly-serviced cooling system.

https://www.holtsauto.com/prestone/news/whats-leaking-car/

Tom M.

 

[Gliderman8]

While this is only a guess, the colors you describe (orange/yellow) “could be” rusty coolant.
Let us know what they find.

 

[John Turney]

I agree that orange/yellow looks like coolant, but new cars, like the Subaru, have a coolant recovery container, so it shouldn't drip on the floor. What does it feel / smell like?

 

[JPSmit]

Obviously not relevant to the Subaru but we had to replace the rad on the Mini already - less than 150k kilometers (93k Miles) - I am still appalled.

 

[Gliderman8]

Obviously not relevant to the Subaru but we had to replace the rad on the Mini already - less than 150k kilometers (93k Miles) - I am still appalled.

I know how you feel... I had to replace the rear shock on my '63 Lambretta last summer. Common, wouldn't you think it should last more than 57 years? :rolleye:

 

[Popeye]

Brake fluid?? Likely not, but important.

A quick google search on Subaru coolant color suggests it is teal. (Although some say blue.) However, dealers may not use OEM fluids - I had a Toyota dealer turn my red coolant to purple when they added a green coolant to top it off. (I complained to Toyota, but they told me dealers can do what they want... eventually the dealer drained and filled with OEM.)

Brake fluid should be light amber, per Subaru.com.

Hope it is under warranty?

 

[pdplot]

Dealer called. Kept the car overnight. They said it was a leaky drain plug gasket. Picked it up this am and we'll see. My description was bad - just new oil, yellow color. Thanks for the responses. I suspect sloppy work when they changed the oil the last time it was in for 30K mile service.

 

[Popeye]

Good thing you saw it in time - low oil in the middle of nowhere is no fun!

 

[pdplot]

Amen to that. The check engine light never came on.
Closest I ever came to running dry was in 1955 driving my 1951 MG TD from Philly to CT. Burned through over 4 quarts of oil. I had a private shop near Camden put in new rings for $110.00. Problem cured, at least until my rod bearings blew out one evening on the Merritt Parkway. The TC/TD was never meant for high-speed driving, really, just puttering down a narrow English country lane. The piston speed at 60 mph is astronomical. 5.125 to 1 rear end ratio = 15 mph per 1000 rpm.