what could have happened?

[Nsxotic]

last night I had the car up to 160mph for about 3-5 mins. Everything was fine and smooth. I got off the highway and was sitting at the light. I noticed smoke bellowing out from the back of my car. I got kit home and looked underneath. There was oil (or what looked like oil) all over the driver's rear wheel area and suspension. I left it alone overnight and cleaned it all off in the morning. I started to think it might be brake fluid. Golden color but clean. I drove it to wok today and it's dry as a bone. What could have happened? Brakes feel great and everything else seems normal. Any ideas?

 

[Chuck]

Check the half-shaft boot for a pinhole. At that speed, you could be forcing out grease.

 

[Nsxotic]

ok. Would that explain the oil looking liquid dripping from the bolts here and there or not? Other points of interest. The inside of the tire was wet and as I wiped it, it was sticky. Maybe the mystery fluid ate away at the tire somewhat unlike oil would do? So, what was it? Also, the undercoating on the car was turned to a liquid. I could wipe it with my fingers making me believe that it was oil or grease when, in actuality, it was just melted undercoating. I've noticed this before about the undercoating when I got the car hot. It's a good way to clean up the poorly sprayed on stuff. Anyway, by morning, it was hard again. So did the liquid eat away at it or was it just like before and just due to the heat? Yet the golden oily substance was still here and there underneath the car and on the rear bumper/tail lenses. Still confused. Oil and brake fluid levels are normal. What dies the tranny fluid look like on these cars?

 

[Lud]

The tranny fluid is basically motor oil. During an extended ultra-high-speed run as you described, the tranny oil may foam and vent out of the case. That would be my first guess. If you plan to do that on a regular basis you might try synthetic tranny fluid which foams a bit less.

 

[Nsxotic]

Hmm? Thanks Lud. I just gave it a little spirited run tonight but nothing like last night and when I got home, I got right under it. The undercoating is a liquid again from the heat I guess. Does anybody else notice this? I always noticed an oilish smell around NSXs especially after spirited drives. Could this be the cause? Is it possible that the undercoating melts down and then leaves and oily substance behind even after the undercoating rehardens? Ah, whatever, thanks for the responses.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

Dude you are lucky to have a place near your residence that you can do that kind of speed. Cops around here make sure we don't get to have any 'spirited' driving options.


------------------
ALL NSX
92 RED/BLACK 5-SPEED

 

[sjs]

I think Lud nailed it. Axle grease if far to thick and either milky color or dark. Nit clear. The only odd part is the sticky stuff around the tire. But oil is real easy to tell from brake fluid when you rub it between your fingers.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

I also think Lud nailed it. The other thing to use is your nose

. Oil has a distinct smell vs. Brake Fuild.

HTH,
LarryB