99 T5 - Leak the night before road trip!

Post by **cn90** » 17 Dec 2013, 22:43

For long trip, carry a small plastic container (Rubbermaid etc.) for fluids, in case the fluids spill, it is contained in the container:
- Windshield washer fluid
- Engine Oil 1-2 qts
- PS Fluid (Dexron-III type)
- Pre-mix Coolant

At every gas fill up, check your fluids.
I think you should be fine for the 8h trip...

Post by **j-dawg** » 17 Dec 2013, 22:52

cool. I'll clean up the hoses and reservoir and check for PS leaks at the res and oil leaks underneath when I get to advance auto to buy some fluid. I also put a fresh sheet of cardboard under it tonight so I can see how much drips overnight and from where.

I think it'll be okay. I was mostly worried that it was the trans fluid. Once I'm en route, I'll make a point of taking breaks to look at the fluid level tomorrow.

Thanks again for the help!

cn90, that is a good idea. I always keep some oil on me because my car has a thirst for it, but what sort of coolant should I have on hand? I'm around the cold min line so I'd like to top off. I will be replacing everything soon with 50/50 distilled water and Volvo coolant I've got at my destination, which is also what's in there now (blue); is it the orange Dex-Cool I'm supposed to avoid like the plague? Green premix stuff is safe to mix with Volvo blue?

EDIT: or whatever i'll just carry plain distilled. It's not that low and it's not that cold out.

Post by **cn90** » 17 Dec 2013, 23:10

I have been using Green Prestone for 25 years, zero problems.

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Dec 2013, 02:15

It's better to not mix one coolant chemistry with another. If you are just topping off en route then I like your idea to just use distilled water if needed. But I wouldn't mix green stuff with the Volvo HOAT coolant.

Post by **Ben850** » 18 Dec 2013, 07:26

cn90 wrote:For long trip, carry a small plastic container (Rubbermaid etc.) for fluids, in case the fluids spill, it is contained in the container:
- Windshield washer fluid
- Engine Oil 1-2 qts
- PS Fluid (Dexron-III type)
- Pre-mix Coolant

At every gas fill up, check your fluids.
I think you should be fine for the 8h trip...

That is everyday driving precaution for my 20 year old Sedan. Plus brake fluid, a floor jack, a full size spare, wheel chock, breaker bar, LED flash/flood lights, power inverter, jumper cables etc... There is little room for luggage if I were to take a long trip.(not really that bad)

I do trust the car. I have done most all the work that has it road worthy but It is the boy scout credo.
"Always Prepared".

Post by **abscate** » 18 Dec 2013, 10:04

Almost certainly PS fluid. The reservoirs often develop a leak at the seam between the top half and bottom half of the reservoir IMHE

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Dec 2013, 10:48

My fear is that this could be trans fluid; I have noticed shifting being a little tougher lately, but I had thought the clutch just needed a bleeding. I am going to take the wheel off right now to get a better look, but I just wanted to ask if anyone has any opinions while I do that. Has anyone got advice on checking the transmission fluid level? There's no dipstick, but can I peek in? The fluid doesn't smell strongly; trans fluid does, right?

Manuals get much harder to shift in the cold. It may be time for *new* fluid, or even a synthetic fluid in there, but don't be alarmed when it's hard to get into gears in the morning before driving a little bit.

Post by **j-dawg** » 18 Dec 2013, 20:45

update: the car was fine. actually when i was getting off the interstate i almost thought the car felt better, like it was grateful to be out of pittsburgh and get the turbo spooled up. nice city, but i swear there's nowhere safe to drive faster than 20mph...

abscate wrote:Almost certainly PS fluid. The reservoirs often develop a leak at the seam between the top half and bottom half of the reservoir IMHE

i will keep an eye on this. i checked the level and reservoir every 150 miles or so and there was no drop in level or new wetness on the outside. i will be checking frantically under the hood every day now for the next few weeks, and i'll add ATF to the list of fluids i carry daily, which now consists of motor oil only.

is leaking from the lid a regular thing? may have been that based on the fact that the top half of the res was as wet with fluid as was the rest. or that may just be the wind blowing it all over the place.

jblackburn wrote: Manuals get much harder to shift in the cold. It may be time for *new* fluid, or even a synthetic fluid in there, but don't be alarmed when it's hard to get into gears in the morning before driving a little bit.

okay, good to know. now that you mention it, i have mostly taken note of the stiff shifting when the car has been cold. after eight hours of driving it was smooth as butter. the transmission shows no sign of leaks, so i don't think i'm losing fluid.

speedyt5 · Post by **speedyt5** » 23 Dec 2013, 16:50

any news?

speedyt5 · Post by **speedyt5** » 23 Dec 2013, 16:53

JDS60R wrote:no dipstick for manual. make sure to say 5spd manual in the future as most of these cars are 5 speed auto's

Some scrubbing with dish detergent "Dawn" and water tonight would leave a nice clean dry car in the morning

I thought most auto s70's are 4 speed.

99 T5 - Leak the night before road trip!

Re: 99 T5 - Leak the night before road trip!