There is a Burnt Orange fluid leak from a car.
You go out to your car in the morning or at the end of the day and there is a big puddle underneath it.What is leaking and how bad is it?You don't need to have the car towed or call a mechanic.You can figure out what the fluid is with a little knowledge and testing.
You need to capture the leaks first.If you can't get a good look at them on dark pavement, put a piece of butcher paper, newspaper, cardboard or aluminum foil underneath your car.If you want your car to not get blown away by the wind, you have to weigh it down.It is time to identify the fluid after you have caught it.You will have to use your senses to do this.
Where it is coming from is the first clue you will use to identify your leak.A differential fluid leak in a rear wheel drive vehicle is most likely caused by a leak from the rear of the car.There is a leak in the rear from the gas tank.
There are fluids in the engine bay.There is a chance that brake fluid will leak near the back of the engine bay or along the brake lines.The front of the engine bay is more likely to leak power steering fluid.The oil pan at the bottom of the engine tends to leak the most oil from throughout the bay.Depending on the model of car you have, the location of the fluid tank in the engine bay can be different.
The back of the engine bay is where the transmission is located, so a leak there could be transmission fluid.There will be water around the middle of the car.
Take a look at the color of your leak.Different fluids have different colors, which can help identify your leak.
Both power steering fluid and transmission fluid can turn brown with age.
It can be either yellow or green.Some of the fluids are pink or orange.
It is clear that gasoline can be any number of different colors.The best way to identify a gasoline leak is not using color.
Pick up some of the fluid with your fingers.When you do this, you might want to wear gloves.
You might know what consistency engine oil has if you change your oil.It is oily.The transmission fluid and power steering fluid are thinner than engine oil.The differential fluid is thicker than the engine oil.
There are a couple of fluids that have distinct smells.You don't need to stick your nose in it, just take a whiff of what's on your glove.
The smell of gasoline is familiar to you.The smell of transmission fluid might be similar to gas.
It smells like maple syrup.It is important to clean up leaks if you have pets or small children.
If you don't know what the leak is, you could always compare it to the fluid in your car.Other symptoms can also show what your leak is.Oil leaks can cause a smoky smell in the cabin.It could be your steering fluid.A transmission fluid leak could be caused by an automatic transmission that doesn't shift properly.
It is not safe to drive a car if you are leaking gasoline or brake fluid.You can either fix the problem yourself or have it towed.You may need to replace the brake lines if you have a brake fluid leak.If you want to learn how to bend and flare the brake lines, you can watch our how-to videos.
A hole in the gas tank is the most likely source of a gasoline leak.You can find a video specific to your year in our how-to video library.
The power steering fluid leak needs to be fixed asap.Replacing the steering rack or the power steering pump is possible.If you read our article and watch our how-to videos, you will learn how to fix leaks and replace a power steering pump.
A coolant leak can cause more damage to the car and leave it broken down on the side of the road.The severity of a leak depends on the size.You might be able to drive with a small leak, but make sure your coolant level isn't dropping too quickly.You will want to find out what part of the system is leaking, since we have how-to videos for all of them.
Keeping the level high is important because low differential fluid can wear on the gears inside those parts.Wear to the differential cover is the most likely cause of a differential fluid leak.Changing the transmission oil pan is relatively easy if you have a transmission fluid leak.
Sometimes water drips off your A/C evaporator.It is not a problem if this leaves the biggest puddles of all.The water in the A/C system condenses on the outside of the evaporator and drips into the housing.A lot of water can be let out through a valve at the bottom of the housing.It makes a big puddle, but it doesn't indicate a problem with your car.If you have a leak in your A/C on a hot, humid day, it may be water and not cause for concern.
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