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Today was going to be a fantastic day. Many of us Michiganders I'm sure were getting the 'itch' with the weather these last couple days, especially since it has been an exceptionally cold winter. Today was the second day of 65+ degrees. I was looking forward to getting the elise out the first time this year and taking the wife to dinner.
I go around the car and pick up all the "anti-mouse" dryer sheets, set tire pressures, and off I go right?
Not so fast. I noticed a darkened area on the garage floor centered at the left front corner of the car. At first I passed it off as an old stain from a previous 15 year old car that had been parked there in the past. Then I decide to feel the bottomside of the elise, just to be safe. And what do I find, my hand comes back wet with motor oil. I get a flashlight and see a 3" diameter pool of "fresh" oil.
I think the old stain is just that, an old stain, but that fresh oil is obviously from the Lotus. I can only assume it is the oil cooler or the fittings for the lines.
I made sure there were no mouse furnishings in the vicinity to rule out animal damage. The only thing I can think of is the exceptionally cold weather caused the cooler or fittings to crack. I suppose the leak could be slow enough that only when the car was sitting long enough did I notice it (dipstick showed 75% filled)
Anyone else had this happen?
I guess its first trip this spring will be on a carrier to the dealer
I go around the car and pick up all the "anti-mouse" dryer sheets, set tire pressures, and off I go right?
Not so fast. I noticed a darkened area on the garage floor centered at the left front corner of the car. At first I passed it off as an old stain from a previous 15 year old car that had been parked there in the past. Then I decide to feel the bottomside of the elise, just to be safe. And what do I find, my hand comes back wet with motor oil. I get a flashlight and see a 3" diameter pool of "fresh" oil.
I think the old stain is just that, an old stain, but that fresh oil is obviously from the Lotus. I can only assume it is the oil cooler or the fittings for the lines.
I made sure there were no mouse furnishings in the vicinity to rule out animal damage. The only thing I can think of is the exceptionally cold weather caused the cooler or fittings to crack. I suppose the leak could be slow enough that only when the car was sitting long enough did I notice it (dipstick showed 75% filled)
Anyone else had this happen?
I guess its first trip this spring will be on a carrier to the dealer