Name that Goo - Perfect Duluth Day

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Name that Goo

Brian Barber Mar 02, 2012 28 Comments

After digging out my car yesterday, I saw this yellow stuff that had dripped off of it into the snow. I also saw it in almost every spot in the street after cars drove away. I can’t imagine all the cars on our block are leaking antifreeze, or that tiny dogs snuck under each car to pee.

Anybody else see it or know what it is? Let the conspiracy theories begin.

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28 Comments

DJ Coco

about 12 years ago

My husband and I were just looking into this on Wednesday! Same situation with all the cars around us. Apparently it happens when snow melts off a rusty exhaust pipe.

moosetracks

about 12 years ago

We had that in our snow too! I was ready to believe that every squirrel, chipmunk, and raccoon in the neighborhood was using the same spot to pee in, but otherwise I haven't the slightest idea what it was from.

madscientist5580

about 12 years ago

I had this recently also.

Some internet research reveals an electrochemical reaction between the dissimilar metals of the exhaust piping and the heat shield, forming a neon yellow/green zinc compound.

I read it on the interwebs so it must be true!

Barrett Chase

about 12 years ago

Huh. I actually thought I was leaking antifreeze and was about to schedule an appointment. Can you link to your research for the rest of us, madscientist5580?

brian

about 12 years ago

Thanks for the answers - that makes sense. On my car it dripped off the back, and spots in the street seemed to run down the middle of where the car was. If you look at the 2nd photo above, it seems to follow how an exhaust pipe runs.

madscientist5580

about 12 years ago

Here are my sources:

An explanation for the yellow snow under your car

Neon Lime Green/yellow Fluid Leak - Solved

If you have an coolant leak, the antifreeze will have a sweet smell.  Especially if it coming out the tail pipe.  However, many coolants are no longer green; yellow, orange and red are common.

Another possible greenish fluid is fluorescent leak detecting dye added to the refrigerant for the A/C.

banjo tom

about 12 years ago

No, no, no, people.

Anthrax! Bin Ladin! Killer Bees!

I specifically read Brian asking for conspiracy theories.  Dissimilar metals, blah, blah, yawn.

The truth is that the (yet unnamed?) Lake Superior sea creature's spawn spend their youth beneath cars most likely to tune in to KUMD because they love Laura Erickson's show, "For the Birds." Then...

banjo tom

about 12 years ago

Creature's pupa stage

[img]http://www.perfectduluthday.com/wp-content/uploads/comments/creature-pupa-stage.jpg[/img]

Ramos

about 12 years ago

Somebody wrote a song about that stuff.

Nyssa

about 12 years ago

How fortuitous, we are visiting from out of town, saw this goo on the driveway under our Honda yesterday and I made an appt for my husband to go have it looked at.  Right as he was leaving to take the car in, I yelled at him to come and see this post.  It made him happy not to have to spend vacation time getting the car serviced.  This is why I always look at PDD. Good snark, good info, it just doesn't get any better than that.

krlars2

about 12 years ago

That is too funny.  I moved my late 1990s Volvo with 100K plus miles and notices said yellow spots and thought, "Oh crap!  My radiator is leaking." I moved the newer (but still high mileage) Ford Escape and saw the same spots and thought, "Damn, both cars have the same problem. I am going to pretend I didn't notice that." Glad it is not a symptom of something that is going to be expensive to fix!

brian

about 12 years ago

OK, here's your conspiracy theory: I've been old enough to drive for 30 years. How have I (and apparently many others) not noticed before March 2012 that exhaust pipes and mufflers drip yellow goo? Is there really some perfect combination of moisture, ionization in the air, solar flares or whatever that made this happen across the city yesterday?

TimK

about 12 years ago

I noticed this, too. It appeared the day after my "Check Engine Light" came on. So, contrary to the wisdom here, I actually checked my coolant level- it was low! Added more coolant and re-set the diagnostic computer. Am I a fool? Only goo will tell...

heysme

about 12 years ago

I noticed it under my car too yesterday - just a couple of drips - a little on the yellowy orange color. My daughter's Subaru had a lot in the snow under her car.

Going to look again this afternoon -- my car is new and shouldn't be leaking anything! 

I'm sort of in agreement with your observations Brian - kind of like the brown/pink tinged snow last week - although that was shown to be from a sand storm.

Mr. Nied

about 12 years ago

Had a few spots of the goo under my Subaru. I shoveled it away. Took care of the gooey problem instantly. Drive way looked fresh. A standard shovel should get the job done.

Beverly

about 12 years ago

I think the storm scared the chipmunks, and they all hid under our cars and peed.

Nick L

about 12 years ago

Our parking lot was covered with yellow spots Wednesday.  I've never seen this before and agree the dissimilar metal theory is boring.  

My rumor is the same stuff pitting steel pilings in our harbor got picked up by lake effect snow.  It fell to Earth and slowly dissolves our cars...before moving on to US!

watergirl

about 12 years ago

My '99 Subaru, as well. And I too thought I was leaking anti-freeze. Thanks for the heads up. This will save me a trip to the mechanics!

Herzog

about 12 years ago

This has been the most helpful money saving thread of all time.

brian

about 12 years ago

The most amazing answer yet - from the PDD Facebook page.
Sorry, Bridgit, no prizes other than the admiration of your friends, a gold star from Mr. Podomino-whatever, and boos and hisses from area mechanics.

[img]http://www.perfectduluthday.com/wp-content/uploads/comments/Screenshot.jpg[/img]

Ramos

about 12 years ago

Some studies suggest the goo is santorum.

DaVe

about 12 years ago

Vantorum.

baci

about 12 years ago

Banjo Tom, I'm with you ... Here's the creature's juvenile stage.

[img]http://www.perfectduluthday.com/wp-content/uploads/comments/MindFlayer.jpg[/img]

banjo tom

about 12 years ago

Yes!  Of course!...and to think I never stopped to consider psyonic abilities.  I'm getting my tinfoil hat on until the snow stops.

De man

about 12 years ago

I wish I could upvote Ramos.

Jadiaz

about 12 years ago

@Brian: You do realize that Madscientist5's first link is what Bridgit posted nearly word for word on FB, right. Give credit where credit is due. 
*I know neither individual, just pointing out that it was one of the first things posted on this thread. Of course they could be one in the same person, and if that is the case, go about your daily reading lol.

brian

about 12 years ago

Oops, yep, you're right. Sorry Madscientist, I didn't read all the links.

TimK

about 12 years ago

The pupa stage tastes good deep fried in a beer batter.

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