Tools
Needed:
A keen eye
Time Needed: 5 minutes
Notes:
Keeping your eyes open for stains and puddles beneath
your car can save you quite a few headaches down the
road. This quick guide will help you diagnose where
the leaks are coming from.
An occasional
stain or drop of fluid under your vehicle may not be cause
for concern. However, if you consistently find the ground
wet, or ever find a "puddle," check it out immediately.
Here's what
to look for in some of the most common leaks.
1. Bright
colors including green, pastel blue, and orange usually
indicate an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak
caused by a bad hose, water pump, or leaking radiator.
2. Red spots
indicates that you are losing either transmission or
power steering fluid.
3. Dark
brown or black spots let you know that the engine is
leaking oil. This could be caused by something as simple
as a bad seal or gasket.
4. A clear
puddle of water is usually not a problem. Quite frequently
it is the normal condensation from running your vehicle's
airconditioner.
Once you've
diagnosed the leak, you have a couple of options. I
usually recommend trying out a simple "stop leak" product.
These run around $5-10/can and for that price you don't
have much to lose. If the "stop leak" doesn't shore
up your problem, your options become fairly limited.
If you have a radiator fluid leak, you may be able to
find the source of the leak and fix it yourself. Oil,
transmission fluid, and power steering leaks, usually
take a few more tools than the average person has on
hand.
