Strange fluid in Front V Berth Bilge

[gbittner]

I just came in from a trip today and had a weird bright orange fluid in the front bilge. I do not know where it came from. Anyone have any ideas?01968f0921d32d0ed573dae1199fd6f19082cbdd88.jpg

[MikeP]

Some of the long-life engine coolant types are orange. That's the only thing that comes to mind that might be that color...

Possibly a ruptured bottle of coolant or a leak in the engine's coolant reservoir or engine coolant overflow if you don't have a reservoir/overflow bottle/tank.

This just added for further consideration - If you have ruled out engine coolant, does it have an odor that you can detect? Does it feel watery/oily/solvent-like?

[bobk]

Is it water soluble?

Bobk

[q240z]

It looks like the diaper is soaking it up quite well, so presumably it's oil-based.

[saltshaker]

looks like emulsified hydraulic fluid

[gbittner]

I checked the engines and they all have Green antifreeze. I have no fluids in engines that are this bright orange color. The bilges in engine departments are perfectly clean. The only thing I have not checked is the generator which sits just behind this area. I will crawl down there today to check it out. The fluid is a little oily as you see the pads I put down there are soaking it up as those pads do not soak in water. The smell after putting my fingers in it is a little like turpentine. Of course it leaves a nice sheen on the water when the pump went off. I cleaned it all out last night with the pads and rinsed it all out. Unfortunately this morning it is back.

[gbittner]

Also this is from a 1977 53 foot Hatteras Motoryacht

[doc g]

Like was said earlier looks like power steering fluid emulsified......

[gbittner]

OK I have a tray under my Generator. In that tray looks like the same stuff. Not much in there. I checked the antifreeze level and it is full. Oil good to. So am digging farther to see where it is coming from. It almost looks like really rusty old water.

[doc g]

Could it be from the trim tabs, the only place I could think of that has power steering fluid ...