Getting worried by stains on the drive

[paulus]

I've started to notice stains on the drive where the car stands. Not sure what it is, but located in a few places. The car is not telling me anything - but should I be worried? Any ideas?

 

[jpk]

I've started to notice stains on the drive where the car stands. Not sure what it is, but located in a few places. The car is not telling me anything - but should I be worried? Any ideas?

Any photos, could be a reoccurrence of the breather leaking again from the my22 models

 

[paulus]

My trophy is a MY22 - first registered in June 2023.Photo attached.

 

[Adam C]

I’d 100% get it checked if you can’t be sure where it’s coming from

Have a look at this thread. I know a few MG4 had issues with the gearbox oil leaking, I believe most of the issues were caused by it being overfilled.

MG4 Reduction Gearbox Oil Leak

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

My trophy is a MY22 - first registered in June 2023.Photo attached.View attachment 24722

If you reverse onto your drive then probably as per Adam C

Unless that's where the front of your car is when you park it, then it's something else.

 

[paulus]

I do normally reverse onto the drive, but further back, so I would estimate these to be in the middle of the car. If it is the breather leaking, is it dangerous? anything I should be topping up?

I have over 600 miles to do in the next 7 days, and probably no chance of getting the dealer to book it in.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I do normally reverse onto the drive, but further back, so I would estimate these to be in the middle of the car. If it is the breather leaking, is it dangerous? anything I should be topping up?

I have over 600 miles to do in the next 7 days, and probably no chance of getting the dealer to book it in.

Have a quick look at your coolant levels.

At least you can rule that out.

Not sure it would stain your drive though and should? eventually evaporate I would have thought.

Have a look at the gearbox thread, might have the answer in there somewhere.

It's not been an issue for me so can't really comment.






(Although I seem to have still managed to comment )

 

[paulus]

Will check your suggestions this evening (wife currently away in the car).

 

[siteguru]

Look underneath the car from the rear ... if it's the oil leak you'll see streaks across the rear undertray from front to back. (Oil tends to leak from the breather, accumulate on the tray and then drip from the front of the tray, hence why it seems to come from the "middle" of the car). You could also wipe your fingers on the undertray ... if it's gear oil you should be able to feel - and smell - it quite obviously.

 

[MGCamb]

Diesel?

 

[paulus]

Nothing obvious underneath. All reservoirs under the bonnet are ok. Am just having to hope it all holds together for my journeys in the next few days!!

 

[Alb]

As mentioned above, gear oil has a very distinctive smell so you should be able to determine whether that's what it is.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Shove an old bit of cardboard underneath weighted down to try to isolate the position. Or have you had any workmen in with an old Transit?

 

[Tuareg]

I would put a plastic sheet under the car so that any fluid will remain unabsorbed and can be inspected/sampled.

 

[MSvirus]

As mentioned above, gear oil has a very distinctive smell so you should be able to determine whether that's what it is.

Not all. What you smell is the sulfur which is used as an extreme pressure (EP) additive, mainly used to get an API GL-4 or GL-5 rating in differentials with high hypoid offset. Can't see any GL rating on the Shell MG4 oil. It can be it is not needed in the MG4, then the smell is way different.

 

[siteguru]

The oil in the MG4 diff is very obviously gear oil ... if you've smelled gear oil before then the MG4 oil smell is very familiar.

 

[MSvirus]

The oil in the MG4 diff is very obviously gear oil ... if you've smelled gear oil before then the MG4 oil smell is very familiar.

Then it is probably confirmed it is a gear oil that does contain the sulfur as an EP agent. Never analyzed or smelled the MG4 oil myself.

 

[siteguru]

Mine had the oil leak, so I have.

 

[Norfunk]

One day one of these threads is going to end up being the wife's boyfriends car leaking diesel.

 

[Rolfe]

I was just thinking, I couldn't tell because my drive still has stains from my Golf, which did tend to drink oil a bit.