Hi,
Got a C230 Coupe, was coming home after driving ~40 miles.
I pulled into the garage, then had to adjust the car. I backed up a little bit. noticed a very dark/black oil/fluid was dripping from the underneath the car on the right side, approx near the front right wheel.

Didn't want to get the garage floor dirty so backed out and parked it on the street. I looked at the drip trail, and it was weird. There was no drip on the front of the driveway, only started about half way up the driveway just as i pulled into the garage. It was like it didn't start dripping until i slowed down when i pulled into the driveway.

Was able to wipe the drips off the driveway with kleenex, it seemed kind like if you took oil and mixed it a bit with water. It was black/dark brown and oily, but still watery enough i could wipe it off with a kleenex and not leave any noticeable residue on the concrete.

Left the car on the street for an hour, and went back to check. It left a small puddle on the street under the car, about the size of a fist, but it was no longer dripping. Pulled the car into the garage and laid a big piece of cardboard underneath. This morning i looked, and there was no oil/fluid dripped onto the cardboard. So whatever it was, it has stopped dripping...

Any ideas what it is? Transmission fluid maybe?

This car used to belong to my Mum, and she never drove it much, her roundtrip to work was 10 miles. So it has less than 30,000 miles on it, never dripped any oil or fluid before. Was wondering if I should get it checked out, but don't know what to tell the mechanic now since it's not dripping anymore ... Any guesses?

Thx

 

Have a look at a garage to find out whats is the black fliud leaking out... just for precaution..

 

Where are you located?
Is it just A/C condensation mixed with engine grit/dirt/dried oil that is dripping off the car? Most cars drip lots of dirty condensation in hot months with the A/C on. Once the car slows down, it appears to increase since the wind isn't wicking the condensate away.
If not, then get it checked out.
Just a thought.

 

SoCal, so yes, i had the AC on for the whole drive home.

I think you could be right. I left the car in the garage all this week with a piece of paper underneath and drove my other car to work, and the C230 didn't drip anything at all.

The AC condensation water getting dirty/oily from the undertray sounds like it could be it. I will drive it today with the AC off and monitor it.

Thanks.