It’s never a good feeling to find a puddle of automotive fluid under your car—especially if you’re not very familiar with the various types of fluids. You might find yourself wondering if your car is even safe to drive. Before you get too worried, it’s best to identify the type fluid and the location it’s coming from. Here’s a rundown of the different types of fluids in your car and how to identify them.
Clear Fluid: Water
Have you recently been using your air conditioner? The water is likely from condensation. This is very common and nothing to worry about. Another common cause of water leaks is the windshield washing system. These can develop cracks over time. While you will want to get this fixed eventually (visibility is important for safe driving!) it’s not going to affect how your car runs.
Black, Brown, or Amber Fluid: Oil
If the fluid is black, brown, or amber, it’s probably engine oil. Try rubbing a little between your fingers; it should feel slick to the touch and have a slight smell. Pay attention to where it seems to be coming from, too, as this can help us figure out where the leak is coming from faster.
Common areas for oil leaks include the valve cover gasket, oil filter, oil plug, and timing cover. Once you’ve determined it actually is oil, check your oil level. If it’s low, you can top it off, but keep in mind that you’ll need to keep doing that until you get the issue repaired. The biggest concern with oil leaks is driving your car with little to no oil, which can cause friction, overheating, and wear on the moving parts, even total engine failure.
Red Fluid: Automatic Transmission Fluid
Like engine oil, automatic transmission fluid is slick, but it’s usually red or pink in color and doesn’t have an odor. You can also confirm that it’s transmission fluid if it’s leaking near the middle or front of your car. As with oil leaks, check the transmission fluid and top it off as needed—but schedule an appointment soon to have the issue checked out. Driving without enough transmission fluid can keep it from shifting smoothly and could even damage the transmission.
Red or Brown Fluid: Power Steering
Power steering fluid also tends to be reddish (or brown), but it has a slightly sweet, burnt smell to it. You’ll usually find these leaks neat the steering rack or the hoses that attach to the power steering reservoir.
Bright Colors – Coolant
Coolant comes in a variety of bright colors, including yellow, green, pink, blue, and red.
The good news is that few fluids come in these colors, so it’s pretty easy to identify. The coolant should feel slimy and have a sweet smell. You may find puddles under the radiator, its overflow tank, hoses, or the water pump.
Brown Fluid: Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is typically light or dark brown (depending on how old it is) and will have a slick feel to it. It will be found under the wheels or around the brakes. This is one fluid leak you shouldn’t attempt to drive with, as you may not be able to stop your car. Instead, have your car towed to the shop.
Visit Express Auto/RV Care Center for Fluid Leak Repairs
If the puddle under your car is 3 inches or wider, it’s considered a serious leak and should be addressed right away. If the puddle is between 1 to 2 inches, it’s considered “seepage” or a “drip.” While you shouldn’t ignore it, it’s not as serious. Either way, it’s best not to wait too long to get a repair. Contact Express Auto/RV Care Center today at (928) 305-0767 to schedule an appointment.
