Hi,

I noticed a steady leak from the back fright rear end of my '98 Forester. its been very cold and snowy here and at first I thought it was just ice, but it seemed funny for it to be in only one spot. The leak has pretty much stopped and it doesn't smell like gas. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

There are only so many fluids at the rear end of the car. Gasoline, brake fluid, gear oil, moly grease, shock oil and washer fluid. Brake fluid is clear, but has a relatively high viscosity. Gear oil is a very dark colored fluid, usually dark green or black. Moly grease is really not a fluid and doesn't leak the same way as the others. It tends to get flung everywhere as the axle spins. Shock oil is usually clear or kind of light brown(?) and very oily. Washer fluid is usually blue, but it is available in some other colors, too.

did you have anything in the back in a jug that might have tipped over?

I carried a transmission in the back of mine once, it flipped on the side nd for the longest time i had ATF leaking down from the inside quarter panel.

I have also carried old motor oil in a milk jug back there and it tipped over and spilled. There are numerous possibilities.

Axle boot torn?

 

Even once a battery tipped over and spilled battery acid.

There are half a million things it could be if you carry junk back there.