Help needed ... got a leak

[Stewart(oily)]

Gearbox oil usually stinks, especially if used. mop some up with a white tissue or something, check the colour.

[VertVega]

Pic is not very clear but that one drop hanging there looks like transparent therefore might be coolant.
Did you check the hoses where it goes into the cabin?

Gearbox oil has a very distinctive smell, kind of methane gas. it's dark and more grayish than used engine oil.

Start the engine, open the hood. With a torch light try to see it from top of engine or behind the engine.

[Stewart(oily)]

What does it taste like coolant is super sweet and should have you spitting like a goodun .
You dont have the aircon running do you? theres a condensate drain that comes out somewhere there.

[Stewart(oily)]

That hose turns to a steel pipe and runs across the back of the block where it is joined by another rubber pipe to the rear of the waterpump I think, at least on diesels it does and I think the petrols have the same layout.

[Chlorate]

Aircon condensate can be somewhat startling if it catches you off guard, especially if you're not used to it. It doesn't usually drop out onto the engine though, it usually appears in a puddle to the rear of the engine bay on the passenger side and can be quite noticeable if you've had the aircon running for some time on a humid day.

I would second the suggestion of tasting it actually. If it isn't oil then just get a tiny amount on the end of your little finger and touch it onto the tip of your tongue. Antifreeze is absolutely horribly sweet, you'd be able to tell immediately if it was coolant.
Of course have a good spit and rinse your mouth after but that quantity of anything that comes out of a car isn't going to hurt.

[Hell Razor5543]

When the aircon is running, condensation forms on the system, and this then drips off the system. I have come back to cars when the aircon has been running to see a small puddle under the car.

[Stewart(oily)]

You still havent tasted it

[qprdude]

Taste the stuff dripping out, then taste the coolant in the rad.

[VertVega]

Condensation water should be clear and pure but not sticky. Almost drinkable (don't drink it)

Edit: I removed the pic because cond. water dripping location was marked according to a LHD car.

[VertVega]

I'm not sure if this is same as your car but here's a MK1 cooling system. I hope it helps.

XANTIA 5 DOOR SALOON 2.0 i 16v 135

[qprdude]

I would have thought it's not possible to say where the leak is, from where the drip is. It could be spraying on to the engine from somewhere else and running down the path of least resistance.

[Chlorate]

Sounds positively strange, perhaps a core plug has gone pop?
Don't give up on her too quickly, post some pics first, it may not be as bad as you think.

[Chris570]

I really hate to be the bearer of bad news but mine was exactly the same and was it's the Heater Matrix gone. With the engine running you should see a stream of coolant coming out of the drain (depending on how badly the matrix has gone) Please do NOT replace it with a non genuine part, I did, once. 2000 miles later i was doing the job again.

It's not that bad job really. It's doable in a weekend fairly easily.

[CitroJim]

Mike, don't forget there’s a fairly well-hidden turbo water feed pipe in that vicinity, it's a mixture of metal and rubber and almost impossible to see but it can be seen (or part of it can) under the coil...

Chris, it looks the wrong side to the heater matrix so I'd be looking at the turbo water cooling pipes...

Mike, it's not dead yet.

I've known a core plug pop in the head but again that's on 'tother side...

[Mandrake]

Don't give up yet Mike, I know just how you feel, my car has sorely tested my patience over the last year, to the point where on more than one occasion I would have rolled it off a jetty and walked away if I thought I could get away with it!

I see from your signature that you're not short of cars to get you from A to B so have a break from it for a few days and see what a clear head brings. Did you finish fitting and testing the crank sensor by the way ? Does it run properly now, (eg no stalling) aside from the turbo boost controller issue ?