Fluid dripping from engine?

[mrfella71]

After the season last year I did standard summerization stuff. Greased the sled, stablized the fuel, stuffed to exhaust so rodents wouldn't get in, etc...

I also took the powerwasher to the sleds to clean them up. On my 2006 AC Crossfire 700 I think I got water in the engine compartment... So when I was done, I pulled them to the back of the pole barn, and jacked the back ends up. All summer long I have had fluid under the Arctic Cat. Doesn't appear to be colored. I haven't taken a finger to it to test the viscosity... What does anyone think?

 

[polarisrider1]

I recommend putting "Kitty Litter" under it. lol

 

[fcat700]

Maybe gas from the overflow. If you jack the back up to high and if the tank was filled it will drip from the overflow. I would think you would smell gas though. Otherwise coolant, chain case or injection oil just have to look.

 

[ezra]

if it was DD oil it would only be 3 oz

 

[mrfella71]

I can check those things fcat...

My main concern, is it possible to get water into a place where it would be harmful to the engine? Will it blow up if I try to start it?<font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font> oil?

 

[xcr440]

Um, if your afraid of blowing it up when you try to start it, polish it and look at it all winter.

Seriously, figure out what the fluid is before you panic.

 

[tyeeman]

If you power washed the sled you might have gotten some water under the seat or some nook or cranny and maybe it drained to the lower point of the belly pan. Go grab one of the wifes (don't tell her) 8" X 8" brownie/cake pans and put that under the sled to catch some of this mystery liquid. Run your finger through the liquid, see what if feels like, have a smell. Five will get you ten it's just water.

 

[skylar]

And if all else fails, there is the old stand by, the taste test! It has to be quick, and you don't want to swallow it. LOL.

 

[mrfella71]

Alright. I'll try to catch some of it and test it out. I'll let you know!

 

[classic_rider]

powerwasher ? yikes CATS dont like water, probably just coughing up a few hair balls from drying itself,,,,,,,,lol

 

[joey_t]

It's likely oil seaping through and dripping out the intakes. Most Cats do that durring the summer when the tank is full and the oil is warm. It's like one drip a day. Pull the air box and if the intake boot has oil in it, that's where it came from. Wipe it up, put it together and ride! Here's a thread on the problem.
http://www.arcticchat.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=115311

 

[mrfella71]

Now that the snow is flying I got back to this. I placed a cup underneath the engine and waited for some drips. Either it was done dripping or it was to cold to drip. At any rate when I picked the cup up there was residue on the bottom of the cup. It was brownish oil, not the 2 cycle oil that I use.

Now what??? I am by no means an engine geek...

 

[jimfsr]

Take it for a short ride to warm things up, pull it in and see if anything new drips out. The residue could be brownish from anything in the belly pan, even just dust and dirt will turn a liquid brownish. I wouldn't sweat it too much, not without a more definate leak to trace.

 

[zimmbob]

Could it just be exhaust residue? Moisture from the pipe that perhaps got in there when you washed it and now it rusted the inside of the pipe a little and that was the last of it working out?

 

[dave_m]

It's just marking it's territory..

 

[mrfella71]

Zimmbob,

I don't think it is exhaust. I have the exhaust plugged so mice don't get in there. It is on the other side of the belly pan towards the back.

 

[zimmbob]

Just keep in mind that where it drips out of the bottom of the sled isn't necessarily where the leak or source of the fluid is. It could pool up in the engine compartment, follow a channel or low area, or along a part or something, and end up on the other side of the sled.

Hopefully you are able to figure it out. Would bug me too. It's probably nothing to worry about, especially if you said it's slowed to almost nothing. Still have a feeling it has to do with you washing it last spring. If it was clear during the summer, and now it's 'brownish', that would indicate to me that it was water and then sat somewhere to cause rust, and then found a way out again.

Anyway, I'll cross my fingers for you that it's nothing, and your ride treats you well this season!