Have you checked the power steering fluid?

 

I have, it doesn't seem to be low. As well as it's a murky brown as opposed to the yellow

 

OFH, OPG or Crankshaft Seal. Clean it up as good as you can then monitor to see which is causing the leak.

 

What color is the oil on the dipstick? IDK of any fluids that would be that color besides clean oil. PS is ATF so it would be red and coolant should be blue.

 

It's probably blinker fluid.

 

Oh, that OFH. Oil filter housing gasket. Yes. And/or Vanos pipe near it.

 

Or front crankshaft seal, can't really see oil from the OFHG getting over to the AC belt tensioner.

 

Can that much oil get past the front seal? A lot of migration from filter I agree. A look see with flashlight might help.

 

If you're monitoring the oil level consistently and it's fine, then don't panic.

I've had a rear main seal leak for years and just add a little oil as needed. Any oil leak will drop down and blow back and cover everything. I think of my persistent leaks as an rust preventative treatment. Anyway, when my clutch fails, I'll do the seal then if I still have the car, but it's only at 385,000 miles, so I might have to wait.

Anyway, best advice as mentioned is to clean it up and see what you got. Many things leak oil. PS hoses also leak...and mixed with other stuff...could turn that lovely color you have. You could have some coolant mixed into that, too...get a good led flashlight of at least 100 lumens, an inspection mirror, and look really well...especially through the intake manifold to the 'waffle' section of block. If you see green/blue that'll be your hard pipes to the heating system.

Don't panic...not yet.

 

If you're monitoring the oil level consistently and it's fine, then don't panic.

I've had a rear main seal leak for years and just add a little oil as needed. Any oil leak will drop down and blow back and cover everything. I think of my persistent leaks as an rust preventative treatment. Anyway, when my clutch fails, I'll do the seal then if I still have the car, but it's only at 385,000 miles, so I might have to wait.

Anyway, best advice as mentioned is to clean it up and see what you got. Many things leak oil. PS hoses also leak...and mixed with other stuff...could turn that lovely color you have. You could have some coolant mixed into that, too...get a good led flashlight of at least 100 lumens, an inspection mirror, and look really well...especially through the intake manifold to the 'waffle' section of block. If you see green/blue that'll be your hard pipes to the heating system.



Don't panic...not yet.

nice. but you have to slow down, I'm trying to catch up.

 

I had what I thought was an oil leak. Cleaned it up and it ended up being a coolant leak from the hardline heater pipes.

 

I will make sure to check those ,thanks! Oil filter housing gasket seems to be a little high for the location. But I'll keep monitoring fluids, oil change was a good couple thousand ok with no need to add. Engine will be coming out this summer probably during trans swap.



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Maybe consider this oil change kit after you have all the oil cleaned up. There is UV dye in the oil and a flashlight to track it in the kit. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-oil-change-kit-5w-40-liqui-moly-molygen-11427512300kt2-lm

 

I have that after repair on my mini cooper S recent oil change out due to prior leak, to monitor better. good so far.
no leak problem with bimbim, so she's still on mobil 1

 

Take some time and degrease EVERYTHING. You need that underside almost spotless. Drive the car for a little bit and any leaking oil should be apparent right away. You might have one leak or you might have a few

 

looks like oil and coolant mix?

 

Doesn't look milky enough but if it's thin enough I suppose it could be.

 

You can put some uv dye in your oil to help track it down. I like to dust my engine bay with baby powder when I am trying to find a leak or weep.

 

I would assume that is AC Oil coming from the compressor?

 

Perhaps, but the epicenter seems to be on the other side, and it looks pretty dry. But regardless, I'd expect to see a drop in whatever fluid it has been.

 

^ makes better sense with that color

 

That is my guess as well.

 

Any idea on how to check the A/C? It has been making noise but I've always assumed it's just my blower motor squeaking.

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If you have squeaking noise coming from dashboard it is blower motor. You can service it and it will work for another few years. You can gert acces to it from engine bay, just remove ac filter housing and firewall plastic under it, then plastic cower in the center and you will find motor there. You can easily disconnect and remove it. Blow carbon dust off the brush area and remove all dirt arounf bearings ansd then oil it with any engine oil - few drops on a bearing.
For Ac compressor - there is very small amount of oil in compressor, so if it wouuld leak then it would kill your compressor very soon so I seriously doubt it is a case.

 

Does cold air come out of the vents?

 

If the compressor is dry, it will let you know when you turn on AC. Maybe you have more than on leak; how to explain the breadth of wet areas under there.

 

It does blow cold. I will have to do some deep cleaning and really look. But thanks for some great starting points. It does look more like brake fluid if anything but not sure why it would show a leak down there. And nothing seems out of the ordinary, no oil dipstick change, no power steering level change, brakes feel ok, haven't noticed any cooling issues yet.

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"Where is coolant float when cold?

 

Oil leak might get all your engine and gearbox dirty and covered in oil but barely changes oil level unless it really bad, but you would find real paddles of oil under the car. Same for gearbox.
Breakfluid would show you low level very soon so I doubt it is your case.

Best way is to lift the car and check everything slowly. If you can wash car with steam wash it helps to see fresh leaks.
Common leaks for engine oil - pan gasket and oil filter housing gasket. Second one gets all your engine covered in oil, ans some of oil goes to gearbox by airstream while driving.

 

Below minimum
Felt like I heard it drain straight through when topping off
Never had it run hot

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Ideally the top of the float should stay even with the top of the neck. so get it there, then check when cold after driving. If it drops, you have a small leak somewhere. But if it has dropped form earlier, tehn I'd be looking for teh leak before it gets worsr and overheats.

 

So how much further down can you push the float before it bottoms out?