If you own a car, it's just a matter of time before you notice small drops of liquid substances on your driveway. Some drips, like the condensation from your air conditioner – are normal occurrences – while others may signify hidden dangers for your car. It can be tough to determine what the different drips actually mean. However, if you understand the colors, you can figure out what the drips mean. Here are three types of liquid you might find dripping from your car.
Motor Oil
If you've found brown or light amber colored drips on your driveway, chances are that you have a motor oil leak. In most cases, the motor oil will drip from directly under the engine compartment, which means the leak will be towards the front in most cars. However, if the engine is located in the rear of your car – as with VW bugs or Porsches – the motor oil leak will be towards the back of the car. If you have a motor oil leak, you should have your car looked as soon as possible. Driving with insufficient motor oil levels may cause your engine to burn up.
Coolant
If you've discovered a drip under your car that is either green, blue, orange or red – and smells sweet like candy, you probably have a coolant leak somewhere in your engine. Take a look at the coolant reservoir and see if it's low. If it is, refill it and watch to see how fast you burn through it. If you continue to see coolant drips, or you suddenly have to refill your reservoir more than you used to, you should have your radiator checked out.
It's also important that you watch the temperature gauge in your car. If you notice that the temperature is rising when you drive, you may have hidden problem with the cooling system that will need to be checked out by a professional like those at Alaska Professional Auto.
Transmission Fluid
If you've noticed a light pink or red liquid dripping from your car, it may be coming from either your transmission or your power steering unit. That's because many cars use transmission fluid for both systems. If the drips are forming towards the front end of your car, it's most likely coming from the power steering unit. However, if the drip is forming in the center area of the car, it's probably coming from the transmission.
If that's the case, you'll need to have your car inspected as soon as possible. Driving with insufficient transmission fluid can cause your transmission to seize up, which will cause your car to break down wherever you are.
If you've started seeing drips on your driveway, you need to identify the source of the leak as soon as possible. Use the guide provided here to help you identify the liquid that is leaking from your car. To keep your car running smoothly, you should have leaks and drips repaired by a professional mechanic.
Share26 May 2016
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