I popped open the hood today and notice some liquid directly under the brake master cylinder. It's a clear, almost looks and feels like water. I check the brake fluid level and it's just a little under max. Could this be a brake fluid leak or could it just be water from outside the engine bay? It's been raining a lot lately. Installed a catch can a couple of weeks ago and screwed it down with one of the bolts on the brake master cylinder, so don't know if that would have anything to do with it.

 

does the liquid smell? brake fluid has a pretty interesting smell to it. Will quickly tell you if it is water or not

 

I put my fingers in it and I couldn't smell anything, had no odor.

 

You would smell it if it was brake fluid and you touched it.

 

I dipped my fingers in it and smelled my fingers, and couldn't detect any odor. I cleaned it up with a paper towels, and couldn't smell any odor from the drenched wet paper towels. Does brake fluid have a very strong odor? Also, does brake fluid have an oily feel to it, or watery? The liquid I just cleaned up looks and feels like water, with no odor, so I'm thinking it's just water - although I don't know how water could of gotten in there.

 

Sounds like water..or window washer fluid

....check to see if the nozzle or the hose is leaking

 

I wouldnt worry about it. Seems like its safe.

 

Lol you could always dip your fingers in the res for the brake fluid to compare if you really wanted to. But yes it would have a different consistancy than water and would smell like sweaty grundle

 

There is a drain for rain near the master cylinder and it could be backed up.

 

Break=as in take a break or go break something

Brake=brakes on a car

 

Just by looking at your pics I can tell you for a fact that that is not brake fluid....

brake fluid has a yellowish twing to it, that liquid is clear. Also brake fluid has a consistency more like oil and will not puddle up like that, it would rather stain anything it comes in contact with. If the brake fluid was leaking, you would see a stain coming from the joint where the master cylinder mates with the power booster.

 

That could be it. But where exactly is the drain located?

Thanks for clarifying. I kinda figured it was water, seeing as the brake fluid level never budged since the last time it was filled. Now trying to figure out where this water is coming from, and if I should even worry about it.

The window washer fluid tank is on the opposite side. I've also never used the washer fluid in months, so I don't see how it could be washer fluid.