Okay so bare with me as I try to explain the whole story...

On Friday I was at Helix and had the following replaced: rebuilt supercharger, waterpump, idler pulley, belt tensioner and bracket (and some other odds and ends). A few weeks before I had a 17% pulley installed and a gates belt, so both of those parts were swapped over when the rebuilt supercharger was installed.

On Saturday I went on a MINI run through the Hudson Valley, a lot of twisty roads but not a lot of bumpy ones. But, still a few hours of hard driving.

Sunday Morning I noticed a small puddle (about 2" wide and 4" long) under the passenger side of the engine. It was right below where the drive belt is. My first thought was coolant (as the coolant was flushed on Friday) but the liquid was a clear liquid with a very slight yellow/brown tint to it. I had to jack up the car to change my oil and while it was up, I saw that some of the liquid had been dripping from the far right (passenger side still) section of the plastic splash guard under the car. Well inspecting the wheel well (attached picture #1) you can see there is some oily liquid that had been spattered all the way around. I also noticed a black residue splattered on the passenger side door. Further inspection revealed more areas that had this oil on it (attached picture #2). I then removed the plastic wheel well cover to see that on the main part of the body that the engine is supported by (right below the upper motor mount) also had this liquid on the bottom of it and the blue ABS brake sensor clip was covered in the liquid.

I talked to Eric at Helix and we narrowed down what it could be. We both may think it is my motor mount leaking - which was replaced on April 22, 2011 about 16,000 miles ago. But we all know how often they can break so it is still a possibility, I just wanted to note that this is a relatively new mount and not a 7 year old one.

Right below the mount there is NO sign of any leaking liquid. On Sunday when I removed the wheel well cover there was oil on the bottom of the torx bolt below the mount. However, when I clean it, no further liquid formed on it even until today. There are some signs of the liquid leaking but it isn't as bad.

So question number one! Do you think this could be the engine mount leaking on me again? I seem to have ruled out other things that could have leaked and the last culprit is this.

Also, starting yesterday (Tuesday) I am getting squeaking from the belt area. It starts off very loud, only happens on acceleration, but after a while it isn't as loud. For example, after about 10 minutes of driving the squeak can only be heard from 2,500 RPM to 4,000 RPM mainly in 1,2,3 gears. After several more minutes the squeak is much less and can only be slightly heard.

Do you think this may be some of the oil getting on the belt? (Even with a visual inspection it seems dry). Or could it be something else causing the noise? It is hard to pinpoint where it is coming from, i.e. the supercharger pulley, tensioner, idler pulley, etc.

Any help/suggestions is greatly appreciated and thank you for taking the time to read all of this...

The Dragon is almost here and I just want a problem free drive down, there, and back.

John

 

Engine mount and the squeak is likely from the oil getting on the belt.

 

That is what I am hoping it is. I ordered the engine mount yesterday so hopefully it will be here by the end of the week. I haven't jacked up the engine yet and removed the mount...would prefer doing that when I have the replacement so if it is leaking I can swapped it in then and there.

 

Tonight I replaced the upper motor mount, when I pulled the old one out it still had no sign of leaking at all but I replaced it anyways. I will see if any liquid shows up tomorrow morning.

I still have a grudge that it doesn't have anything to do with the motor mount though We shall see, I guess...