Coolant (or antifreeze) usually has a greenish color. Sometimes it’s bright orange or pink. But usually it’s green. It has a bit of a sticky, viscous feel to it.
Antifreeze is one of the most common car fluid leaks. If you find oone these leaks it would be a good idea to get it fixed sooner rather than later. Coolant regulates the temperature in your engine. Left unchecked, a coolant leak can lead to your engine overheating and your car leaving you on the side of the road.
Antifreeze is extremely toxic to pets so leaked fluid should be cleaned. Unfortunately, coolant has sort of a sweet smell and taste which makes it attractive to animals.
Places to check for coolant leaks are the radiator, radiator hoses, heater hoses, and engine core plugs.
Oil Leak
Another common fluid to drip from your car is good ol’ engine oil. If your car leaks oil in drips while your car is parked and leaves a puddle on your garage’s floor, take it into a mechanic and get it fixed ASAP. An oil leak can adversely affect oil levels in your car, and if left unchecked, can cause engine damage.
New oil has a yellowish brown color; older oil looks dark brown or black.
An oil leak can come from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to:
- bad or worn oil gasket
- oil filter not attached correctly
- oil coolant line corroded
- oil plug not secured properly
- high oil pressure
You may notice that your car doesn’t leak oil in drips, but rather “seeps” oil slowly from various parts in the engine. Oil seepage is common in high-mileage cars and that you usually don’t lose enough oil between changes to adversely affect oil pressure. Just keep an eye on it, and if the seeps turn into drips, get it looked at rigt away.
Gas Leak
Gas leaks are easy to identify. Does it smell like gas? If so then we have a gas leak.
If you have a puddle of gas near the rear of the car, it probably means you have a leaky gas tank. If the puddle is near the front, something’s probably wrong with the fuel pump. Also check the fuel lines for the source of the leak.
Transmission Fluid Leak
Automatic transmission fluid has sort of a light red color when it’s new and a dark red or brownish color when it’s old. It’s thick and has an almost oil-like feel.
Transmission fluid serves as a lubricant in you car’s transmission so that your car shifts gears smoothly and correctly. The fluid also serves as a coolant in the transmission. If your car gets low on transmission fluid, you run the risk of grinding or burning your transmission to destruction. Replacing a transmission can big bucks, depending on the car. So getting leaks fixed is definitely worth the investment.
Look for transmission fluid leaks near the front or middle of the car, particularly near the transmission filler tube, near the transmission fluid drain hole, at the selector shaft (it’s the rod that connects your gear shift to your transmission), and between the transmission and engine.
Power Steering Leak
Power steering makes turning your car a breeze. Most power steering systems work using hydraulics. As you turn the wheel, power steering fluid fills a cylinder in your steering’s system, which in turn applies a force to the wheels to help you turn. A drop in your power steering fluid level means a drop in your power steering system’s pressure, which of course means turning your car will be more difficult. Most cars use a power steering fluid specifically designed for power steering systems. It’s slightly yellowish and has a medium thickness.
Your car’s steering system is towards the front of the car, so you’ll find evidence of power steering leaks there. Possible sources for a power steering leak include the power steering reservoir, power steering pump, and hoses connecting the power steering system.
Brake Fluid Leak
Brake fluid is clear to yellowish in color and has a medium thickness and a slightly oily feel. If you see a puddle of liquid with these properties under your car, have your car towed to a mechanic immediately. Get your car towed even if you just suspect you’re leaking brake fluid. Don’t even try to drive your car over there. Your car’s brake system works on a hydraulic pressure system. Brake fluid serves as the hydraulic fluid that maintains that pressure. A leak in brake fluid will cause a drop in pressure, possibly resulting in brake failure. Brake failure is not womething you want to experience.
For more information on auto repair or to speak to a tech visit Drive Auto Repair
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