Red colored oily something

[bobfino]

Hello, OK over the weekend I crawled forward of my generator on my 2005 396MY to get a look at the head filter. What I did discover was a pool of red oily liquid down in the forward hull of the boat, I would guess about 1 to 2 gallons I cleaned up. Not sure how long it was there, I owned the boat for about 9 months now so I did not notice it before and the surveyor said nothing about it, not sure if he crawled that far in. My first thought was diesel fuel, but it has a smell of varnish or a shellac kind of smell not diesel. If it is old, does diesel take on that kind of smell with time?
All cleaned up now but I would really like to know what it was.
Thanks and Happy Holidays to everybody.
Bob

[Ramsport47]

My first guess would be diesel, but it does retain it's smell, so probably not it. Second thought would be hydraulic steering fluid, although I don't know if it can get to the fwd end of the engine room. Check your steering, if it seems notchy or loose, it's probably that. You'll need to determine where it's coming from.

[After Taxes]

Previous owner / service tech accidentally put / drain winterizing antifreeze in there? Old pink plumbing antifreeze turns darker red with age.
When plumbing lines are disconnected, or opened or even joined together, in the plumbing antifreeze installation process, someone could've been sloppy or unaware that they were pushing anti-freeze into that forward bilge. Anti-freeze does not feel oily to the touch. Do you have a forward head near that location, or plumbing lines that run nearby? Also consider the possibility of a ruptured plumbing line.

Other red fluids are trim tab oil, but it should NOT be that quantity or that far forward. Trim tab fluid feels very oily to the touch. It is typically the same composition as automobile automatic transmission fluid.

Please tell us all the answer, once you find out. It's great when we can all learn from each other.

Best regards,

Steve

[Lyndon670]

I am thinking hydraulic fluid from the bow thruster - right area, right colour.

[bobfino]

Thanks for all the input, I will do my best to solve the mystery and let everybody know. My better half said it smelled like anti-freeze to her as well, but I am thinking anti-freeze is not that oily. I am liking the bow thruster idea, seems like a lot of fluid for a bow thruster but that's where I will start!!
Hope everybody has a great Holiday.

[Lyndon670]

Depending on your thruster - 1 to 2 gallons is not out of the ordinary. I think mine is about 6 litres, just under 1.5 gallons. It may look like more if it is lying in your bilge.