As a car owner, it’s very likely that at one point you may ask yourself “why is my car leaking oil?” Unfortunately, leakage is a lot more common than you might think. Fortunately, it doesn’t always mean something is wrong with your car.
The only way to know which of these situations you’re dealing with is by identifying the liquid coming from your car. Below, you’ll learn more about what the color of the leaked liquid can tell you about what’s going on with your vehicle! Then, be sure to schedule repair at one of our four body shop locations near Bloomington, Fishers, Indianapolis, and Plainfield.
Red Fluid Leaking from Car
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission and/or power steering, red fluid leaking from your car is coming from one of these two systems. New automatic transmission fluid will be bright red. The older it is, the darker and more brownish it’ll be.
One way to decide which of these systems this liquid is leaking from is by thinking back to the last time you drove it. If it was more difficult to steer than normal, it’s coming from your power steering system.
Yellow Fluid Leaking from Car
Yellow liquid is engine oil. This is the type of leak you need to take care of right away. If you lose too much of your engine oil, your engine can overheat and even catch on fire. Take it to your mechanic right away. Top off your oil at home before you go if you have the means to.
Old oil can take on a brown or even black color. So, if you encounter a liquid that’s one of those colors, it’s likely to be engine oil.
Green Fluid Leaking from Car
Green fluid leaking from your car is most likely coolant or antifreeze. This liquid is one of the most common fluids that leaks in vehicles. The liquid can sometimes be orange or pink, but it will be green most times that you encounter it.
While this leak is not as time-sensitive as your engine oil, you’ll still want to get it checked out at your earliest convenience to prevent overheating.
Blue Fluid Leaking from My Car
If you find blue fluid leaking from your car, it’s windshield wiper fluid. This is easy to check and fix right from home. Pop the hood of your car and check to make sure the windshield wiper fluid cap is screwed on tightly.
Also, check to make sure the tubes connected to the windshield wiper fluid reservoir are secured and not punctured. If you can’t find anything wrong, you’ll want to take your vehicle in to have it looked at because not having a functional windshield wiper system can be dangerous.
How to Prevent Fluid Leakage
Most leaks coming from your vehicle can be prevented by simple routine maintenance. Doing regular visual checks and keeping your ears open for strange sounds in between visits to the shop will go a long way in terms of maintaining a healthy vehicle.
Still Have Questions?
We hope this guide to fluid leaks gave you all the information you need to diagnose your fluid leakage problems. However, if you still have questions or think you may need to bring your vehicle in to be checked out, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Andy Mohr Collision Center. We’re just a short drive from Plainfield, Indianapolis, Fishers, and Bloomington!
