Doesn't really smell like oil. Kinda sticky. Car has been parked for 2 days now. Seemed to come from under the passenger side under the hood (obviously). Almost clear. It was under where the oil dipstick is though. I guess if it was there for a couple of days, it could be oil.. It's very light though. the car has 1700 miles so could it be the factory synthetic oil?

any ideas?

 

Cosmoline? Even though it came from under the area of the dipstick, it could be cosmoline. Has the weather been warmer lately? Was it yellowish? Can you trace it all the way up to a body panel?

 

It could be the cosmoline. I had washed it last thursday evening and took off for Taos, NM for whitewater rafting. It was parked all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and when I backed it out on Monday afternoon, I found the puddle. I wouldn't think it could've gotten that hot in the garage though. The oil level still shows normal.

 

found someting similar on mine a few weeks after i got it. it was dripping out one of the side scuttles... I traced it back to the hood. the frame opening were leaking this stuff. Hasn't happening again so i forgot about it.

 

Maybe a Mini wet-dream?

 

It was parked next to a Honda Element...

 

MINI TECH chimming in. Your guys are all right its cosmoline protect coating
used. when cars are being shipped oversea. Go to home Depot buy this stuff
it works and wont harm the paint. Find it in paint department solvents and
cleaners. Or Kent moore tools sells Acrysol. Not sold in stores. It works
but it wear dry your hand out in a second wear gloves. Wont harm Paint.
this way you sont have to take it to dealer. Open the hood. Right around
top portion of wheel wells kinda shock tower area and all around there. thats
where it starts then melts down. Sometimes onto the fender black mouldings.
So try to cacth it before it seeps on there. it will dis color the mouldings.

Hope this help all you R56 owners should do this.

Anthony Out!





See ya.

 

I found the stuff on the day it started coming out of my hood. I just wiped the stuff off the plastic with a rag and cleaned the car with car soap a few days later. Never became a problem.

 

Do you have a manual trans? Isn't that oil clear?

 

Manual Tranny and Diff fluid both have a strong sulfur smell

it's very easy to spot and tell

 

I've never seen manual transmission oil that was clear.