How to Identify Common Car Leaks and Fluids

There are many fluids your car needs to do its job, and when your car leaks, you need to know which one needs replaced to get the best service. It can be alarming when you notice that there is something under your parked car that shouldn’t be there, such as an oil leak. There is almost no situation where you shouldn’t try to find out where the leak is coming from as quickly as possible so you can deal with the problem before it becomes worse.

Here are some of the most common car leaks you may find under your parked vehicle.

Most Common Types of Car Leaks

Engine Oil

Engine oil is probably the most common fluid you find under your parked car. It may range from light brown to black, and older oil generally looks darker than newer oil. There are several possible causes of oil leaks, such as:

• a leaking oil filter, which could be caused by not replacing it properly after an oil change;
• a bad gasket, such as the valve cover gasket, the cylinder head gasket, the timing cover gasket, or the oil pan gasket;
• a worn seal, such as the crankshaft seal;
• a loose drain plug or
• a damaged oil pan.

Keeping the correct oil level is vital to the health of your vehicle, so you need to correct the problem immediately when you are losing oil. At the very least, make sure that you are replacing any missing oil while you wait to get into the repair shop.

Transmission Fluid

The transmission fluid is brown, but many manufacturers add a red dye to transmission oil, so you can tell the difference between engine oil and transmission fluid. Transmission fluid also tends to have a strong smell. Transmission fluid leaks can come from multiple places, and if the level goes low enough, you could experience serious problems with your vehicle, including an inability to move.

Power Steering Fluid

The power steering fluid is clear, red, or brown. While it may look similar to other fluids, you can usually tell what kind it is by where the drip is coming from. Older vehicles could usually drive well without power steering, but newer vehicles may be hard to drive when the power steering goes out.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid ranges from transparent yellow to brown. If you don’t have brake fluid, you can be in serious danger if you continue to operate your vehicle.

Coolant

Coolant may be one of several colors, such as pink, orange, or green. Coolant problems can be easy to fix, but fixing them is urgent if you don’t want your vehicle to overheat at an inconvenient time.

Water

If you find a clear, odorless liquid under your vehicle, it is probably water from your air conditioner and completely normal.

Keep Your Car Leak-Free

Our team at Oceanside Motorsports works together to make sure that you get the best, most efficient care possible for your vehicle. We stand behind our work and are committed to providing the best service for everyone. Whether you need maintenance, repairs, or new parts, please feel free to contact us online or call 760-645-8344 today to schedule an appointment.