How to Know if Your Car Has a Fluid Leak

Except for gasoline and windshield wiper solution, the fluids in
your car shouldn't get used up or go anywhere. If you notice
that any are low, there's a good possibility of a leak.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clean Rags
• Markers
• Cardboard Boxes
• Flashlights

1. Understand that the fluids you may have in your car are gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, gear oil, power steering fluid and automatic transmission fluid. All cars will have at least gas, oil and brake fluid. Air-cooled engines (like old VW bugs) do not have coolant. Your model of car may or may not have power steering or automatic transmission fluid.

2. Open the hood and visually inspect the engine block and engine compartment. Many leaks are easily detectable with just a simple look.

3. Note that you don't need to know the name of the fluid that's leaking or the name of the part it's leaking from to be able to find a leak.

4. Inspect underneath the engine and the car with a flashlight. Look for wet areas or drips clinging to the underside of the vehicle's carriage.

5. If you don't see any signs of a leak, lay down a large piece of corrugated cardboard and park your car so that the engine sits over it. With a pen, mark the position of the wheels.

6. Remove the cardboard the following morning. Note the position of any drip marks relative to the wheel markings. This information will help your mechanic diagnose the problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Green, sticky fluid is coolant. Bluish, watery liquid is windshield wiper fluid. Honey- or dark-colored, greasy fluid is engine oil. Honey- or dark-colored thick fluid with a chestnut smell is gear oil. Clear or yellowish liquid with a very slippery consistency is brake fluid. Slippery reddish fluid is automatic transmission or power steering fluid.
• Gasoline will evaporate when it leaks out and may not leave any residue, but it's easy to smell.
• Ignoring a leak, even if there are no noticeable symptoms, can leave you stranded and/or cost you more in repairs later.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Ask a Mechanic Online Now

[qanda]

on 3/8/2009 how do you remove condensation from your oil? I was making short trips in cold MN winter and I guess I wasn't burning the condensation. I "flushed" and changed oil...still honey colored. Any Ideas?

[anniefb]

on 3/22/2008 today i went to check my water in my 1989 Nissan, Pulsar and i noticed there was green fluid in the water. what could that be? could it be coolant? and what does that mean if it is leaking into my water compartment? should i not drive it until I can get my mechanic to check it? thanks heaps.

Anna, Australia.

[zeus1439]

on 9/30/2007 i would like to know in one of the articles about leaks.
it mention nothing should leak ,but what about the water you get from running the air conditioner ? I've always been told that it is just condensation is this true or not ?
[e-mail]
Joseph Marini

[Diablo2]

on 9/24/2007 My car was recently declared dead because of this; my lack of kknowledge with car problems. Thanks for the advice!

[Emmo]

on 12/8/2008 The brake fluid reservoir will decrease for one or two reasons.....a leak as reflected above, but also as the brake pad lining wears down. As the brake pads are used, friction will wear away your brake pad lining. The brake pads will still make contact with the wheel rotor to stop the vehicle but the difference in "wear space" will be taken up by a drop in the brake fluid reservoir. If you find that your reservoir is low and there are no leaks to the system, check the brake pads. They may need to be replaced.