oil drops in the garage

Hello Guys,
Yesterday I took the car for a ride after two weeks being out of the country, this morning I noticed a couple of oil drops in the garage floor, I also noticed that the steering fluid reservoir cap was loose and had oil around it. Is it feasible for the steering fluid to make its way down to the floor from the top of the reservoir? are there any areas/parts on the way that would potentially have an issue with oil dripping on them? how do I fix this issue? do I need to replace the complete steering oil reservoir?
Thanks,
355Blue

 

1st you should fill out your profile with the year make model of your car. 1995 F355 came with a bad power steering reservoir. The caps on the reservoir come off the original all the time.
http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=204781

 

I noticed my power steering fluid cap just refused to stay on properly and would often notice dampness on the adjacent cover (presumably from PS fluid sloshing out). If you have the original PS resevoir with the cap engineered by a donkey - it has a diameter of maybe 4 inches - then I would recommend getting it replaced immediately with the updated part (which has a cap that's maybe 1.5 inches across and fits securely). Fluid and hot engines do not mix...there's a chance it could start a fire.

If you're feeling sporty, you can do the fix yourself. Follow this thread for a pictorial.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292079

The job is quite easy, even more so if you get the updated OEM part and bracket from Daniel at Ricambi.

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=204781

The thing to watch out for is that your hoses and clamps may be on their last legs and about to fail when you put it all back together. Mine did and they leak something terrible now. Just can't wait to get Scuderia Rampante hose kit on there!!

Now, as for the oil leak. I kind of doubt the spots on the garage floor are from the PS resevoir. I think you have 2 unrelated issues going on. Can you describe the color, consistency, and smell (don't taste it unless you want instant Stooge Stardom) - maybe post a picture?

 

Try to get a bearing/fix on where the drops are dropping from. Let it sit a while and see if more drops show up and take a look under the car before you move it.

Motor oil has a very distinct smell and you should be able to identify it right away. On the other hand, many brake fluids have a similar golden/brown color and are nearly odorless. Since the clutch hydraulics are actually filled with brake fluid, it could well be brake fluid weeping through the inspection plate on the bottom of the clutch housing.

Have a look at the inspection plate (it's a perforated plate about the same surface area as a deck of playing cards). If it's just a couple drops now and then, my money is on the triple seals leaking - at least that's what my issue was under similar circumstances.

If it's more substantial, then all bets are off and I'd get some advice from someone a lot smarter than me (probably should do that anyway ).

 

You will have to put it on a hoist to find the leak. Even then it can take some time but usually right away. Oil on the floor is not a reliable indicator of where the oil is coming from because the underpanels can collect the oil and it will drip elsewhere. Ferraris have a way of leaking in one place or another. There is a saying that goes "the only place a Ferrari will not lose oil from is the tires" If your power steering is leaking then you will be able to tell because its thinner even on the concrete floor and will have a red color usually. Either way you should update your power steering resivoir.

 

+1 on all counts above. My car ended up with a small leak after the major service, it was from a bad oil hose between the remote sump and the engine. The fitting between the engine connection and the hose was bad...interestingly enough, the replacement hose developed the same leak a few months later, and got replaced under warranty.