2001 Windstar Leaking purplish fluid

Hi, I have a 2001 Windstar LX. Bought it new in 01 and it has 94,000 miles on it. I noticed today that it is leaking fluid and it comes out underneath by the oil pan. We just got an oil change 1K miles ago and everything was ok. The fluid looks like it is purple. I at first thought it was oil but the color makes me think differently. Any comments as to what this would be and how much $ to get fixed?

Hello

Do you by chance use purple windshild washing fluid?

Dan

upon further inspection, it is more of a brownish color, not the purple like I said. No I don't use purple wash fluid. I know that this is too brownish to be oil. I am thinking transmission fluid or power steering fluid. Again, it is dripping right off the oil pan onto the ground.

have you visually seen from underneath the car that this leak is coming off the oil pan? can you trace it further up from there?

anything new or recently done to the car?

Hi, I have a 2001 Windstar LX. Bought it new in 01 and it has 94,000 miles on it. I noticed today that it is leaking fluid and it comes out underneath by the oil pan. We just got an oil change 1K miles ago and everything was ok. The fluid looks like it is purple. I at first thought it was oil but the color makes me think differently. Any comments as to what this would be and how much $ to get fixed?could it be possible that they topped off your power steering when you got the oil change and put too much fluid in.there is a small hole on top of the lid of the power steering with a small hole in it(at least in mine)that i noticed that will squirt straight up in the air if overfilled,when you turn the steering wheel.

I have not been able to trace it farther than the oil pan. Thanks for the replies from everyone though. I am going to look at the power steering res. to see if it was topped off too much.

Hi, I have a 2001 Windstar LX. Bought it new in 01 and it has 94,000 miles on it. I noticed today that it is leaking fluid and it comes out underneath by the oil pan. We just got an oil change 1K miles ago and everything was ok. The fluid looks like it is purple. I at first thought it was oil but the color makes me think differently. Any comments as to what this would be and how much $ to get fixed? Hi , I use to see purplish stains on my asphalt driveway it turned out to brake fluid. But it your case it seems to be oil drain plug that that is slightly loose. It can't hurt to tighten it up a little with a 5/8 's wrench, just to eliminate a possiblity. Oh btw does the oil drain bolt have an external washer on it.

Have you ever done a Tranny Fluid Flush on this vehicle before? If so, how long has it been? I'm pretty sure your leak is tranny fluid coming off the vent tube when it expands and boils overflowing at the vent tube. The fluid flows down in between the engine and trany making it hard to trace since the fluid looks like its spreading all around the engine/tranny pans.
Buy a new quart of Mercon V and compare the color, smell and consistency to the one inside your tranny, that should give you a good idea of the condition of the fluid since must of us don't have a clue on what it's supposed to look, smell and feel like!.
Read here for more info http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=632821&highlight=Ed_Strong

Just a thought- have you turned the steering wheel while the van was off (engine not running)? I did this once only because I didn't wan't to start my van and back it up a few feet and move over on my sloped driveway. Turning the steering wheel with the engine off (power steering pump not operating) caused some fluid to be sprayed out of the top of the resevoir. I guess it may have been overpressurized. Really freaked me out when I saw a bunch of fluid dripping out from underneath. This has happened only once, btw.

Bottom line is this. 1) Very few choices as to what kind of fluid it is, and 2) you are going to need to trace it to the source.

All fluids can appear to be brown if they are old, worn, and dirty. It is important to find the location, then you can report back here and someone will be able to tell you what to do.

Just a follow up on my problem. The fluid was trans. fluid. I took it in and had to get a new torque covertor. There was a groove in the shaft of the convertor, if that makes sense to anyone. Anyway, got it fixed ($850) and have not had any more problems.