CAPT OF AN MDT RETURNED TO GATE AFTER A PAX RPTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN ENG FLUID LEAK.

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PAX COMPLAINED OF FLUID LEAK FROM R ENG. I QUICKLY WENT OVER AND SAW SOME FLUID ON THE GND BUT NO LEAK. IT LOOKED CONSISTENT TO FUEL THAT HAD LEAKED FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) CAN. I LET THE PAX KNOW THIS; AND THAT IT IS COMMON FOR FUEL TO HAVE LEAKED ON THE GND WHEN WE LEAVE THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVES OPEN. AFTER WE STARTED TO TAXI; PAX COMPLAINED OF ENG STILL LEAKING. WE RETURNED TO GATE. THE MECH FOUND AN OIL LEAK AFTER SOME TIME. FACTORS INCLUDE; PRESSURE TO STAY ON A VERY STRICT SCHEDULE AND; MANY PAX WILL COMPLAIN OF FLUID LEAKAGE (EXAMPLE; EXCESS FUEL; CONDENSATION; OR OIL COMING OFF A DRAIN). WHEN THIS HAPPENS I WILL POINT OUT TO PAX WHAT THE FLUID IS. IN THIS CASE I WAS WRONG OR OIL LEAK STARTED AFTER WE BEGAN TAXI. FATIGUE ALSO WAS A FACTOR. I HAD WORKED A 14 HR DUTY DAY ON OCT/THU/95. I HAD TO SHOW AT XX55 AM ON OCT/TUE/95 LESS THAN 9 HRS OF REST (NOT INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM ARPT). I WAS ALSO RECOVERING FROM BEING ILL. I HAD CALLED IN SICK ON OCT/SAT/95; AND I KNEW THEY HAD NO OTHER RESERVES FOR OCT/SUN/95 OR OCT/MON/95.