Oil drips from Lights !!? Very strange

[Drdogface]

I had my SC sitting out in the sun yesterday for a couple hours between trips around town. The front was sitting on the apron of the garage. When I moved the car later I found two large oil spots, about 10" dia... just below both driving lights. They are pretty new Hella driving lights...not fog lamps...which have been mounted for about a month but not yet wired. The covers had been left off cuz I've lost one already. Anyway, on the bottom surface of the light housing a thin oily substance was dripping. Some small amount was also on the inside...only on the bottom and no where else on the light or anywhere else on the car. I checked repeatedly and nothing else. I place a call to Hella USA customer service and they were equally puzzled. They say no such oil is used in mfg.

Anyone ever see this before?

[Paulporsche]

Do you have oil lines or oil coolers near those lights?

How about AC? Do you have a front condenser?

What about your windshield or headlight washer fluid lines?

[MotoSook]

Blinker fluid..sometimes used on driving lights to make them flicker at on coming cars. You have a leak.

(JK.... that is strange. maybe your car is crying...I just can't pass this up!)

[Drdogface]

Do not have headlight washer, windshield washer tank was just replaced and all is dry in there. I took AC out a few months ago and condenser was in the rear below the grille. Only oil line in front is the trombone cooler which is no where near these lights and this stuff is coming from both lights in about the same amounts.

This oily stuff is clean and thin, but definitely oily...not water and not motor oil. The spots on the driveway are still there today....no different. None of this stuff is anywhere but the bottom inside and out of the light housing. Like I said, Hella told me they do not use any such oil in the lights. All very strange.

[Paulporsche]

Must be light weight oil.

Or maybe it's lamp oil.

Seriously, did you open up one of the lamps to check inside?

[efhughes3]

probably oil from manufacturing and/or corrosion protection liberating itself due to heat...??

[Drdogface]

Originally posted by efhughes3
probably oil from manufacturing and/or corrosion protection liberating itself due to heat...??

That's my present best guess too but there sure is a lot of it... I will take out the light reflector unit/bulb housing and see what's inside that if it comes apart.

[tdatk]

Hate to say this but, you wouldn't have a half quart of oil in the trunk under the cover near the front bumper would ya? Just a guess.

[Drdogface]

Tim,
Nice guess...but no. This is very thin oil and is nowhere to be found except on the bottom of the light housing...inside and out....almost gone now. My guess now is, like a previous poster said, that it is some kind of mfg. oil/finish that has gotten thinner with the heat of late. When I first noticed the oil spots...about 10" on each side...it was alarming.

[DavidI]

Crazy thought, but what about brake lines? Maybe one is leaking and it is blowing to a low point and collecting while you are driving. It could become dark if it was sitting in a dirty area.

David

[kqw]

Check the overflow line from the brake fluid reservoir. When the reservoir overflows, the fluid should exit from under the car about where you are describing.

[Emission]

Originally posted by kqw
Check the overflow line from the brake fluid reservoir. When the reservoir overflows, the fluid should exit from under the car about where you are describing.

Good idea.

(The blinker fluid comment a few posts above is classic!)

[buster73]

The brake fluid reservoir overflow hose and the gas tank overflow should only leave a mark on the driver side. If its on both sides and directly below the headlamps, it sounds more like some kind of corrosion protection (Waxoil, Dinol, etc...) which would be a good sign.

[kqw]

Originally posted by buster73
The brake fluid reservoir overflow hose and the gas tank overflow should only leave a mark on the driver side. If its on both sides and directly below the headlamps, it sounds more like some kind of corrosion protection (Waxoil, Dinol, etc...) which would be a good sign.

Unless the overflow line is mis-directed and not directed to the ground.

[john walker's workshop]

the oil companies may be interested in your lights.

[Dan Owens]

I deal with plastic mfr every day and there are some plastics the exude "oil" from the process over time but nothing in the quantities you are describing. I'd look for another source, brake fluid that's overflowed from your reservoir, a canister of fluid in the trunk that's leaking etc.

[Drdogface]

Most brake fluid I've ever dealt with has a distinctive smell to it. Is it different stuff on P cars? This stuff doesn't smell like your normal brake fluid.

[pwd72s]

Is it possible another car left them there, and you didmn't notice them when parking the car? Better send this one to "unsolved Mysteries"..

[Quicksilver]

I assume the Hellas are halogen instead of HID...

If their was oil inside the housing the halogen bulbs would be toast. A fingerprint will take out the bulbs.

Similar to the brake fluid suggestion: Any chance you have or had a spare quart of oil under the hood that is leaking?

[RANDY P]

fluid from the bumper dampers (bumper shock absorbers) is my guess....