it appears to be coolant, not too big of a deal, could be brake fluid too, check under it if you can for any drips or runs. the engine will be running hotter in the winter, mostly because heater and more accessories will be running. so coolant seems to be most likely.\

good luck.

 

I guess you've never experienced a midwest winter. My pat hardly makes it past the 1/4 point on the temp guage.

 

Could it be dog pee dribble?
Is it oily? If its yellow it sounds like clean fresh oil..Did you taste it?

 

I've had that with quite a few different vehicles, it looks to me to be some leftover residue from the roads as I've had it in places where there are no lubricated parts for example off the bumper of my truck, under the rear passenger seat of my XJ.

 

yeap, could be residue of the road, or very common in the pat/cali/compass: the exhaust pipe, maybe is water with little rust...

good luck!!!

 

I would also agree with road residue. If you have been driving around on roads there there is slush/melted snow. It is likely that it is the residue of previous months driving dripping off the vehicle and that you'll only notice it on the snow, as opposed to the black/grey surface of tarmac.

 

Don't be too quick to rule out cat pee You park the Jeep and its warm, plenty of little critters like to get out of the cold. On a side note: a cat or squirell curled in your fan housing will make a huge mess. Sadly, that's based on actual experience.

 

That's a good point weatherman. We have two cats and there are some other cats that also live in the area. I've given up counting the number of times that I've seen where a cat has 'sprayed' the front of my Jeep marking it's territory.

 

It's funny that there should be a thread for this because I noticed the exact same thing on my parking lot the other day. I had no idea what to think of it to be honest but I'm currently baffled that another Patriot owner is experiencing the same thing.

 

does your city use liquid-salt ? they spray it on the streets here before it snows. it's to help with melting the snow as it lands. i think it has a soybean oil in it. could be your yellow fluid ????

 

Remember old eskimo saying: "Never eat yellow snow"...

 

I'm Urine-ing to Know..........

Bad, I know Bad.

Anyway, I'm starting to think It may be something other than vehicle fluid.

I work for the City here and they use salt for winter ice control, not liquid. Road residual is always a possibility.....But.....

This morning I noticed the same colour under my Canyon.....HMMMM!!!

stupid cats.......LOL

I'm still gonna get it checked out during the oil change. Never be to careful..

Thanks,
Igor

 

 

See...

 

I'd think some sort of road transfer. We have a gravel driveway so that silt gets up in the car and when rain washes it loose, it dribbles that yellowish sandstone color all over.

 

I have the exact same issue this morning, a few yellow spots. Look like Pee but it was a few. It was towards the back of the vehicle... any ideas? What liquid can leak thats at the back of the vehicle thats a very bright yellow? Look like Urine.

 

hmm.. the only thing i can think of is winshield washer fluid?

 

So I did a test with all the liquid. The only liquid that seems to be very close to the neon yellow on snow is brake Fluid.

Now does anyone know what color the CVT Fluid is? Dark Green, Neon Green, Light Green, etc?

I want to get the the bottom of this before I bring in the car to the shop.

 

how to find your issue

You need to do a really thorough wash undercarriage and all then park it on a clean surface or even paper. and then crawl under when paper has a spot, and find where on the jeep in dripping and follow the drips ya know.

 

Its just rust, fellas. Motor mount bolts in the front, maybe exhaust coupling bolts. The rear is likely exhaust fittings and mounts. You get iron + salt + water + oxygen = Iron Oxide (rust). Yellow-tinted stains in the snow.

 

Some kind of Critter did it while it was under the Patriot trying to stay Warm.

 

it's snow or water made a reaction on the exhaust just that.

 

Had the same issue but only after a heavy snow where the undercarriage bottomed out on the snow. Seemed like a greasy texture, but when I did my oil change I couldn't find anything that was even damp. So I'd agree that its either rusty road grime or possibly a seal where the drive shaft enters the front or rear end. Maybe while under the pressure of the snow a little axle grease squeaks out?

 

It most likely isnt anything actually leaking at all. If it only appears in the snow, it is likely the water dripping off the exhaust, tinted yellow by a chemical reaction between road salt and the zinc used in galvanized heat shields and exhaust parts.

 

Hey All,

Noticed after Wifey's Jeep sat for the night in the driveway that there were yellow spot on the snow this morning. Not sure exactly where under the vehicle they where.....And no it wasn't cat pee......:icon_rolleyes:

Any thought of which fluid it may be?

It needs to go for an oil change so I will get them to take a look at it, but was hoping to be armed with some knowledge.

Thanks,

For more information on exhaust system visit the website https://www.jeepzine.com/best-exhaust-system-for-jeep-wrangler

What is the liquid they spray on the roads?

 

Magnesium Chloride.

Magnesium chloride - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org