info@raynerdiesel.co.uk
info@raynerdiesel.co.uk
We’ve all done it, walked up to our car and noticed a small puddle underneath. Our immediate thought is “is that going to be expensive?”. Actually, there are several reasons for your car leaking and not all of them will break the bank. But there are some fluids that are meant to stay in the car, so if they’re leaking it may be cause for concern and definitely worth checking out. Our latest blog looks at what these leaks can be and whether you should do anything about them.
On first discovering it, a pool of fluid under your vehicle may set off alarm bells. But on many occasions the leak may not have even come from your vehicle. It may have been there already from another vehicle. Or a neighbourhood cat or dog could have been there first (if you know what I mean).
The first thing to do is to check if you can see a drip coming from your car. The best way to do this is to get a torch and shine it on the place directly above the leak. If you don’t see anything dripping, look for signs of fluid on the components around it. If nothing is apparent, you can place a piece of cardboard, preferably white, under the spot and leave it.
When you come back, if there are spots on the cardboard then something is leaking. If not, it’s probably from another source and no need to be concerned.
If your car is leaking, the colour of the fluid can give some tell tale signs as to what fluid it may be and therefore the source of the leak.
So what colour can the fluids be?
If your car is leaking a clear fluid then it’s more likely just water. There are no major fluids used in a vehicle that are clear. So where is the water coming from? Well, there are several sources and not all of them are a cause for concern:
In both instances, this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. If the leaking continues overnight then there may be a bigger problem and it’s worth getting your vehicle checked out.
A brown or rainbow coloured spot or puddle is an indication that your vehicle is leaking petrol or diesel. If it’s this, you’re definitely going to be able to smell it. This is something that needs to be looked at urgently.
Every forecourt across the land has these stains, but these are mostly from overspills when filling a vehicle. There is no reason for that to happen away from this scenario (unless you’re filing the car from a jerry can).
The most common cause of this type of leak is a cracked fuel tank. So get it checked. We have managed to patch up many a crack or hole in a petrol tank without having to replace the whole unit.
We synonymize the colour red with danger. And it’s no different if you see red fluid leaking from your vehicle. The likely culprit is that you have a transmission fluid leak. Especially if the leak is near the front/middle of your car.
Nasty stuff transmission fluid! Not only is it vital for the safe operation of your vehicle, it’s highly corrosive (so don’t touch it) and can stain badly. Not great for driveways. And if your car is leaking it, it’s definitely not great for driving.
Our advice is not to drive the vehicle and get it checked out as soon as possible. The source of the leak can be from a number of places including worn gaskets, cracked fluid pipes or broken seals. All of these need to be looked at by a professional mechanic, so get it to your local garage as soon as you can.
Or it could be brown. Either way you’re probably looking at engine oil. Dab it with a tissue. If it’s a treacly consistency then it’s oil. Again, if you’ve ever smelt oil it will be easily identifiable if you have a sniff.
It may be that when you put the key in the ignition and turn it on, the oil light stays on. So next check your oil levels using your dipstick. Anything below minimum, or if you’ve filled it up with oil and the level has significantly dropped, your car is leaking oil somewhere.
Have a look under the bonnet and see if there are any tell tale signs of oil leaks. These can be around gaskets, valves or the sump itself. But check it’s not from the last time you filled up with oil, especially if very recently.
A small oil leak will allow you to keep driving, so checking in to the local garage is advised. A more serious leak is a problem.
A major oil leak for your car can be bad. Very bad. Serious oil leaks can be incredibly expensive if you ignore them. So always get a professional to diagnose the problem and affect repairs.
This is a biggie. If your car is leaking a brown, slimy liquid, especially around your wheels (and if visible, your brakes) then you’re leaking brake fluid. This is potentially lethal so DON’T drive the vehicle until it’s been looked at.
No brake fluid = no safe stopping = very dangerous. Get the local garage to come and pick the car up as soon as you can. They can check the braking system and repair any leaks, replace the missing fluid and bleed the brakes. If the cause is defective brakes or pads, these can be replaced at the same time.
Luckily, brake fluid leaks are quite rare. So if you’ve got one, take action immediately.
Power Steering Fluid – this is associated with your car leaking a red/brown liquid. Another one to get checked straight away. This is instrumental to being able to steer your car properly so don’t take chances.
Coolant – tricky one this, as there are many different colours of coolant nowadays depending on what you buy and for what vehicle. Most times it’s leaking from the radiator at the front but can drip from pipes that circulate the coolant around the engine. One way to identify it is by smell. It’s commonly a dead ringer for candyfloss, very sweet and almost always slimy in texture. Coolant is important to stop your engine from over heating so, guess what? Yep, a trip to the garage!
While some leaks are not of any major concern, some are. You may be skilled enough to tackle leaks yourself. But if you are in any doubt, get a professional to do it. You can get in contact with our friendly team who can book you in to our garage in Newbury.
We’ll have a thorough look, diagnose the problem and let you know what our suggested remedial action should be. And if you go ahead we can get the work completed quickly and efficiently and get you back on the road in no time. Car leaking? No problem, get it to Rayners, your One Stop Shop for car repairs and servicing.
