Today i blew my front u joint and yoke near the transfer case climbing a hill. When i got underneath to disconnect my truck i noticed a clear fluid all over underneath my truck on the trans and lower engine. its leaking from somewhere near the rear of my engine towards the top i believe. sometimes it smells like diesel sometimes it has no smell. its not ac i know this much. is this normal? its a very small leak. after awhile when i shut off my engine it stops until i start up again. there are no visable leaks anywhere. i cleaned everything with brakekleen and a rag. and it started again. it runs down on the starter housing and then drips to the ground. i have no dtc, no loss of power, no abnormal temps, no drop in mpg..... someone please help!!!!!

 

Today i blew my front u joint and yoke near the transfer case climbing a hill. When i got underneath to disconnect my truck i noticed a clear fluid all over underneath my truck on the trans and lower engine. its leaking from somewhere near the rear of my engine towards the top i believe. sometimes it smells like diesel sometimes it has no smell. its not ac i know this much. is this normal? its a very small leak. after awhile when i shut off my engine it stops until i start up again. there are no visable leaks anywhere. i cleaned everything with brakekleen and a rag. and it started again. it runs down on the starter housing and then drips to the ground. i have no dtc, no loss of power, no abnormal temps, no drop in mpg..... someone please help!!!!!

 

So there is nothing leaking out of the lip of the fuel filter housing or drain tube? Both totally dry?

 

correct the fuel filter housing and drain tube are dry.

 

check the injector pump, The fan can be blow it back. Check all the fittings

 

no fuel or any trace of fuel leakage from the pump.

 

brake fluid

 

The only things in the area you describe are brake fluid and fuel.

 

Injector line?

 

none of the lines appear to be leaking or cracked. no brake fluid loss or brake fade or loss of stopping power. im really dumbfounded right now. i just dont wanna take it to a dealer if its something i can do myself.

 

Even low sulfer fuel has a distinctive smell; it's an aeromatic hydrocarbon. The slightest bit on your hands will smell like diesel fuel for quite a while.

Brake fluid, OTOH, is usually clear, and without smell. It also feels considerably differant on your fingers than fuel does.

 

im starting to lean towards brake fluid because i left a piece of cardboard under my truck and a catch bottle and this morning it had clear fluid in it and no smell. im thinking the diesel smell i had was as .bob had mentioned already on my hands from something else. no to find where this believed to be brake fluid is coming from. which should not be that hard. lol