By knowing what to look for, you can keep your vehicle running safely on the road and possibly save yourself a ton of cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Determine What Fluid is Leaking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As we mentioned, the question is what is leaking and from where. There\u2019s a simple cardboard test you can do to help determine the answer. If you\u2019ve noticed a drip, then you should have an idea of where it is originating. The easiest way is to place a piece of white cardboard under your car drip to determine the color. Once you\u2019ve answered that question, it becomes much easier to figure out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are buying a new-to-you car, always check underneath for any leaks. You can do this with a flashlight. It may keep you from buying a car<\/a> with an expensive issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, you have to be aware that there are six fluids you may need to address either right away or at the earliest convenience. Brake fluid is not included in the list, but is still an important component. Brake fluid doesn\u2019t typically leak, but if it does, it\u2019s a serious matter that needs immediate attention. You\u2019ll know it\u2019s brake fluid because it smells like fish (you can experience this yourself by taking the cap off the reservoir and smelling it). You\u2019ll also know your problem is brake fluid if you start having issues while braking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are six other important \u2013 and possibly leaking \u2013 fluids:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the potential fluid leaks, water should be the least concerning. The reason for this is your air conditioner, through its normal operation, will drain the moisture it removes from the air inside your passenger compartment. Typically, a puddle forms on the ground near where the passenger rests his feet. So, if you see water after running your a\/c, it shouldn\u2019t be anything to worry about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Tip<\/strong>: If your car has the option, leave your air conditioner mode<\/a> in the \u201con\u201d mode, rather than the \u201cfresh air\u201d mode. Recycling your cabin air will remove humidity faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Motor oil will come from your engine and an occasional little drop is no reason to panic. While the color may vary, depending on how you maintain your vehicle, it will range from a light amber color to a dark brown. It may not be immediately obvious from what part of the engine the drips are coming from, but an engine oil leak can be the beginning of a bigger problem and should be checked out by a mechanic. In the meantime, pull out the dipstick for a quick visual inspection and maintain the oil level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Tip<\/strong>: It\u2019s not always clear where oil is coming from since it could be from a crankshaft seal or a valve cover gasket. That\u2019s why it\u2019s probably a good idea to let a mechanic take a look if you suspect oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have an automatic transmission and you spot red or pink fluid under your car, it\u2019s often the first sign your transmission will start slipping and eventually stop moving should you wait to have the leak repaired. Your tranny could be dripping from axle seals (front wheel drive) or the shaft seals (rear wheel drive).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with engine oil, pull the transmission dipstick and check your fluid level. The more fluid on your driveway \u2013 the more serious the problem. Therefore, consult a mechanic as soon as possible to avoid further damage. Some car makers don\u2019t want owners to do this themselves, so if you have one of these cars, you won\u2019t be able to check it yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Standard (\u201cmanual\u201d) four, five, and six-speed transmissions use gear oil, which is heavier and stronger-smelling than engine oil. In most cases, checking the level on a manual transmission will have to be performed by a mechanic unless you know what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Tip<\/strong>: Keep in mind that some manufacturers specify a certain type of transmission fluid. You must use this type or risk voiding your warranty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coolant \u2013 also known as antifreeze \u2013 leaks will typically come from the radiator, the hoses to and from the radiator or heater hoses, which go into the passenger compartment. Because it\u2019s mixed with water, the actual color of the coolant may be hard to distinguish at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although coolant or antifreeze used to be green, it now comes in many colors with each car manufacturer using different colors, ranging from blue to red to orange. Coolant is generally recognizable because it has a sweet smell. Take a peek at the coolant overflow tank to see if the level is at the \u201chigh\u201d or \u201clow\u201d mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be challenging to answer the question of where the drip is coming from, since coolant and antifreeze hoses are all around the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Tip<\/strong>: Never remove the radiator cap<\/strong> when the engine is hot. Also, avoid driving the vehicle if your temperature gauge is pegging in the \u201cred\u201d or you risk major damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The differential is your rear axle gear box that powers the rear wheels. Gear oil and differential fluid are one and the same. Look for a thick, greasy smelling, dark brown or dark amber stain at the rear of your vehicle between the back wheels \u2013 unless you own a four-wheel drive vehicle, in which case, gear oil could also leak from the front axle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the signs that you may have a gear oil leak is a whining or noisy transmission. This may get louder as you increase speed. Another sign is a jerky transmission \u2013 we\u2019ve all felt that awful jolt when you put the car in gear. Although this can be a sign of several problems, one of those is gear oil drip. Another sign is a burning smell, although again, this could have another cause. Any of these symptoms should have you hurrying to a mechanic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Tip<\/strong>: Neglecting to have your gear or differential oil checked may lead to an expensive transmission repair<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some car manufacturers use their own power steering fluid, others use transmission fluid. One of the first indicators you may have a leak is the whiny or squealing sound the power steering pump will make when the fluid level drops dramatically. This normally happens when turning the steering wheel. Increased difficulty turning and steering at low speeds could lead to a complete loss of steering, which could result in a serious crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This particular matter can smell like burnt cooking oil, but the color and smell may change, depending on your car model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hot Tip<\/strong>: The first place to check if your power steering starts acting up is the reservoir. The power steering reservoir will have high and low marks, so you can check it easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It depends on the drip! If you vehicle is saturating your driveway with oil, it\u2019s best to get that fixed immediately or risk major damage to the engine. If condensation from the a\/c is causing a puddle, it\u2019s not a problem. A coolant leak may cause your engine to melt, so that\u2019s one you should take care of in a timely fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Windshield wiper fluid can also leak, but that\u2019s an annoyance not something that may cause major damage. However, anytime something is dripping from your car, it\u2019s best to ask questions sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although car insurance won\u2019t pay for regular maintenance and repairs, it\u2019s still important to be legal when you drive. Car repairs can be expensive, but having a little insight on what to look for can go a long way to keeping those repairs to a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheap car<\/a> insurance doesn\u2019t mean you have to sacrifice quality coverage in order to get a lower rate. Get a fast and free online car insurance quote<\/a>, give us a call at (800) 777-5620<\/a> or stop by one of our locations<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Unless you happen to be an auto mechanic or married to one, figuring out the source of a fluid leak can be like solving a riddle. Those pesky drips on your driveway come from some place \u2013 but the major question is where? They could be coming from the engine or the transmission or from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002598,"featured_media":16668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[310],"tags":[],"importance":[],"type-content":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16666"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1002598"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16666"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16666\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26438,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16666\/revisions\/26438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16666"},{"taxonomy":"importance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/importance?post=16666"},{"taxonomy":"type-content","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-content?post=16666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Six Major Fluids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Motor Oil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Automatic Transmission fluid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Reddish](\"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/freeway-what-fluid-is-leaking-from-my-car.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\u00b7 Coolant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Gear oil or differential fluid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u00b7 Power steering fluid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I Drive My Car With a Drip?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Find Affordable Car Insurance to Stay on the Road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n