Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Stumped on fluid leak

Good day All,

I'm 100% stumped on a leak and can't find the source.

Background, should it help.

It's a 4/4 1.6 and it had it's yearly service and MOT a few months ago along with kingpin replacement and brake fluid flush.

About a month after said service I noticed a small deposit of a medium brown coloured fluid that is making it's way to the front drivers side wheel and collecting under the tyre tread on the floor. A tad tackier than oil. Now, I had and still have something similar depositing itself onto my floor from the rear but this appears to be from where the technician perhaps got oversealous in spraying my rear leaf springs. 2 months later and still getting a few drops!

So, the front. I removed the wheel and cleaned the inside of the wheel and tyre from said fluid. At first I assumed it was brake fluid. The fluid did stain the tyre brown. I looked over the front drivers side area and could not see anything untoward. I pumped the brakes and still nothing so I left it jacked in the air for the night to see if it was a slow one. The next morning it was all dry. I put the wheel back on, took it for a spin and gave the brakes a decent workout on a very deserted B road, just in case something went pear shaped. All was fine. Back up on the jack stands and all is dry. I put it back on the ground and the next day I found another deposit.

Up again and still can't make out what or where this fluid is coming from. I removed the calliper to get a good look and nothing. I checked the bleed nipple and it was on tight. In fact, I undid it and had VERY clear and clean fluid dribble out so there goes my feeling it was brake fluid that is leaking. I'm 100% stumped as to where this is coming from and what it could be.

It's odd that it only seems to leave me a dribble after it's been driven but not when I lift the front end so clearly gravity is having a play here.

Any insights or suggestions on what to look for would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

P

Is it the same side as the exhaust?

If so is the heat melting any underseal?

I would suggest it is grease that has "liquefied" and most likely coming from around the lower pillar spring. As you had the suspension rebuilt the reservoir would have been filled with grease, driving the vehicle will have distributed the grease to all areas for the first time and this is residue. It should stop and not be an issue, but keep an eye around the lower part of the suspension and top up the grease reservoir.

Just a few initial thoughts (but the observations are indeed puzzling)

1 Is the one-shot lubrication system still connected? That can deposit "old oil" if a valve is leaking , (or it is being used over enthusiastically)

2 Did you have any underseal or rust treatment done during the service , that can be a sticky oily waxy fluid.

3 When the king pins were replaced were the wheel bearings re-greased? Any excess can work its way out somehow.

4 Have the new king pins been over-greased and there is excess grease which is now working its way out. (very unlikely)

Apologies if you have already tried these.

Keep us posted

PS What year is the car , a 1.6 4/4 can be a modern Sigma engined car , or much older Kent powered.

Crazy suggestion maybe, have you 3 in 1 oiled the seams recently and it's creeping it's way out in the heat.

Another possibly daft idea .... if there's no deposit if the wheel isn't present ..... how new are your tyres? ..... it's not tyre bead gloop working its way out?

K

Thank you all for the input and suggestions. To avoid doing a reply to each one, I'll summarise below.

1. As the fluid is dripping onto the side of the inside wall of the tyre and creeping down to the floor, there isn't any underseal in that area to point to this but will triple check.
2. I shall double check the grease used on the king pins and for any excess in case I missed something. I've always used the red stuff which I liked as I could then be 100% certain on what I'm looking at. I'll give it a good wipe down and check again.
3. I don't have the one shot system
4. The car is a modern 1.6 Ford Sigma
5. I've not personally oiled any of the seams but a good shout. I'll look around the body seams and see if anything can be seen.
6. Wheel bearings - no idea if they did this. Let's just say the service visit wasn't a pleasant one and I left without getting much info or wanting to stick around.


It just occurred to me that I could put a small washer on the end of a string, hold it up inside the wheel wheel and line it up with where the drip is happening this might give me a better clue on where it might be coming from.

Thanks again everyone!

P

Andy's third point above............Check the hub/inside of the disc, because an overpacked bearing can weep when it gets hot.

Will do Dave and thanks Andy for the tip. I shall check this tomorrow after work,

and, it could be getting over-hot because it is badly worn or mal-adjusted (too tight)? A quick spin and shake of the wheel, whilst it’s off the ground?