[DeTomaso] leaking mystery

[Christopher Kimball]

Armed with the list (sent by so many of you generous list-serve participants) of possible leak causes, I took my car out yesterday in the 75-degree heat and drove it on the freeway for a short time and then around town until all three fans had been on for about 15 to 20 minutes (all five fans, if you count my innovative engine cover contraption).

Before I left I checked the oil and filled the coolant tank (when I checked it was only about 1/4 full).  After driving for almost an hour I pulled into the garage and put fresh, white paper towels under any area up front from where I thought drips might originate.  I positioned myself under the front of the car and waited (I didn't jack it up in case that would have caused the fluid to run backward along the frame or something like that).

And waited.

And waited.

After a while, with no drips forthcoming, I went inside and forgot about it.  This morning, I went out and there were absolutely NO DRIPS of ANYTHING on the paper towels, or anywhere under the front of the car.

There are two words my fellow PNW members always told me to keep in mind when this sort of thing happens.  My imagination?  (no).  It's fixed?  (no).  IT'S ITALIAN? (yes!!)

I'm considering running the car in a parade on July 4 to help promote my favorite local senator--one mile of travel in 2 hours.  If anything will expose the cause of the mystery leak, that should.

Sincerely,

Chris
#3846

PS:  When sitting at a stop light (or in a parade) with many short stops following, is it better to leave the car in gear with the clutch depressed, or is it better to shift into neutral at each stop and then shift back into first gear each time I move forward?  I'm not sure which is harder on the clutch.