I recently found a puddle of fluid under the engine on the driver side rear of my wife's 98' honda accord EX. The engine is a vtec 2.3lt. The leak is located on the rear of the engine just to the right of the timing cover. Its originating from a small (1/4 inch) hole set above a large screw plug. At first I thought it was some type of freeze plug, or maybe something to do with the water pump. Then I thought maybe It had a screw plug that fell out but there are no threads for such. I dont want to plug it in case its a breather of some sort.

Other then the puddle I found (about a quarter of a cup) it hardly leaks, just weeps a little when the car is running. I couldnt figure out what type of fluid it was either...it was a grayish color. My coolant is green, wasn't thick enough to be either engine or tranny fluid, and brake and power steering fluid are at the same levels as they have been for months.



Any help Identifying the area, name, or what its for and how to fix it would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

grey is normally power steering fluid but that wouldnt be coming out there. Is one of the hoses from your power steering nearby and possibly leaking?

 

Grey could be dirty coolant. Check your coolant level. PS steering fluid is really yellow but it's thick. Can you actually see the active leaking?

 

Isn't the weep home for the water pump right there? If its leaking from there I believe it means the internal seal in the water pump is bad and replacement of the whole pump is necessary.