Dashboard lights dimmed while driving at night.
Driving At Night? Here’s How To Keep Safe
August 18, 2021
refill car with fuel and cash money showing how expensive fuel is today
Gas Prices Still Up: Here’s How To Improve MPG
October 4, 2021
Old oil is leaking from a car

Old oil is leaking from a car

There are different fluids that are used in the vehicle to make it run efficiently. Do you know the different fluids in your car? If your car has been involved in an accident and the damage caused fluids to leak out, it would be best to have your car towed than try to drive it. Lack of fluids in your car would cause further damage that can be costly to repair.

Sometimes, fluid leaks could also happen even if you are not involved in an accident. It is important to know the different kinds of fluid leaks that could happen so you can immediately find a solution to it. We’ve listed them all below and given you a few tips on how to identify such fluids.

Water

One of the most common fluid leaks you can find in cars is a water leak. This could be due to a variety of things such as the exhaust system, the air conditioner, or the windscreen washer. However, the most common source for water leaks is the air conditioning system.

Sometimes, the water leak is simply because of the high humidity inside the vehicle. When this happens, the air conditioning system removes the humidity as the water outside the car. In other cases, there can be water leaks when the air conditioning unit is dry or clogged. Such issues would require a mechanic but the car can still be safely driven.

Antifreeze

Another fluid that could leak out of the vehicle is antifreeze. This is easily distinguishable due to its color. It is sticky and could be greenish, pinkish, or yellowish in color. When you find this kind of leak, there could be moderate or severe issues involved and should be dealt with immediately.

The antifreeze would leak if you have a hole on your radiator, radiator tube corrosion, worn-out hose, faulty sealing gasket, or a blown head gasket. With a leaking antifreeze, the engine will eventually overheat. The antifreeze will help control the temperature your engine works properly without overheating.

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid is usually reddish or brown in color. It is viscous and the spot of fluid will form in the ground around where the center of the car is. This could be due to a crack in the pan gasket, the pan isn’t properly secured after the fluid change, and if the torque converter is having issues.

Power Steering Fluid

If the pool of fluid is found towards the front of it could be due to the power steering fluid. It could also be reddish or brownish in color. The cause of this leak could be due to a break in the o-rings or if the seals are loose due to age.

The older the car, the more prone it is to power steering leaks. This makes turning more difficult. Also, you may hear a low noise while turning the wheel.

Oil Leak

A dark brown or yellow puddle of liquid under the vehicle can be oil. There are different reasons why you may have an oil leak. It could include the following:

  • Hole in the oil pan
  • Worn out the oil filter
  • Degraded engine gasket
  • Corroded oil seal
  • Missing or broken filler cap
  • The valve gasket has a poor connection

You can go under the vehicle and check for yourself to see what is the most likely reason. That helps you know how much the probable cost of repair would be.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid could be light brown to clear in color. It is oily in consistency and is usually found on the passenger side of the vehicle. If such a leak is found, it should be immediately dealt with. This leak could come from brake calipers, master cylinders, rubber hoses, or wheel cylinders. When the brake pads are worn out or when the bleeder valves are loose, then it could also cause brake fluid leak.

This is a serious type of fluid leak and is very dangerous for you to drive in one. You should have the car towed instead of risking driving it. Sometimes, you may not easily identify which fluid it is. That is why it is best to have the car towed when you find fluid leaks.


When your car is leaking fluid, don’t risk driving it anywhere. Get hold of the affordable and reliable flatbed towing services provided by Capstone Towing Company for those in Philadelphia, PA…

Towing Service – Safely Delivering Your Vehicle With Flatbed Services

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *