How To Know What is Leaking From Under Your Car: A Color Chart

Before you take your car into the mechanic, it helps to be informed. If you know where the problem is coming from, it will help you to determine if your mechanic is honest or if it’s time for a new mechanic. You may not know how to fix your car, but at least you will know where the problem is stemming from. This is a very handy little color chart to determine what is leaking from under your car.

Things You Will Need

If you have an oil leak the puddle under your car will be brown.

If you have a gas leak the puddle under your car will be clear. If a gasoline leak is suspected, smell the liquid for the tell tale gasoline odor.

If you have a brake fluid leak you will have a light clear brown puddle under your car.

If you have a power steering fluid leak the puddle under your car will be a red color. Be aware some mechanics will use transmission fluid interchangeably with power steering fluid.

If you have a transmission fluid leak the puddle under your car will be a pink red color.

If you have an antifreeze leak the puddle under your car will be a bright blue green in most cases. Antifreeze always has a very bright almost neon color to it. It does come in other colors, but the most common is a bright blue green.

To determine the color of what’s leaking from under your car especially if your car is parked on blacktop, use a white paper towel to soak up some of the puddle. Don’t be alarmed if you have a clear water puddle under your car if you have been using your air conditioner, it is most likely condensation dripping from the air conditioner.