small puddle under the engine, smells like gas...is it gas?

[HardyDanger]

Morning folks.
Did some searching, didn't hit anything on this...

Found a small puddle about the size of my palm under the rig after driving around the island this morning.

it has a heavy petro smell, and a golden brown color

puddle was centered roughly under the harmonic balancer, my driveway has a 3 degree incline (so rear end is downhill)

see image for color (granted could be mixing and cutting with the oil leaky bits on the way down)

probed around with a clean paper towel under there looking for a trail, no luck.

Safe to drive??
What is it??

 

[bugsnbikes]

drop a match on it.....that will clean it up and let you know what it is.

 

[1973Guppie]

sky is the limit, from your description no way to tell, if it was gas it would probably be a leak coming down from the fuel filter which is under the intake......

 

[Irish Reiver]

I doubt it is gas. It lools like fresh changed oil. That much should be easy to trace up the engine. Check the usual places like the dissy and valve cover. Maybe even the front crankcase oilseal.

 

[ajax1]

Oil filter on tight

 

[Rivman1243]

Check your gas cap. Is your tank pressurized?

 

[HardyDanger]

drop a match on it.....that will clean it up and let you know what it is.

Ha. Yes!!! full on torch blast no flames.

I doubt it is gas. It lools like fresh changed oil. That much should be easy to trace up the engine. Check the usual places like the dissy and valve cover. Maybe even the front crankcase oilseal.

Yes. Def have an leaky pump cover/crank seal can't get me crank bolt off....long story. But nothing like this, will have accelerate plans to fix.

Thanks guys.

 

[HardyDanger]

Ok. Dumb question.

I've never sniffed my oil before.
Should it smell gassy?

Just added a bit, was low. Sniffed the oil cap same smell as the puddle.

Have the kit and, I'm pulling a black stone sample for my next oil change (about 500 miles from now).

 

[HardyDanger]

Check your gas cap. Is your tank pressurized?

Nope.

 

[bajaphile]

Gasoline has a very obvious and strong smell to it. Not to mention it will evaporate pretty quickly. It most likely is motor oil, which does have a petroleum smell. And since these motors are known to leak like crazy, it's probably just oil. (Used motor oil will smell faintly of gasoline).

Furthermore...when my oil pump cover seal went out.. it leaked so bad that I'd loose about 1/4 quart of oil a day... Time I realized it was bad was when oil had traveled all the way underneath the truck to the tail gate then splattering all over my rear hatch and window! seems like if the oil leak is bad, it is usually the pump cover. Other oil leaks on these motors seem a little slower.