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

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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 auto mechanic is honest or if it's time to find for a new mechanic for your car and wallet. You may not know how to fix your car, but at least you will know where the problem is stemming from. It is very easy for anyone to determine what part of their car has a problem. Sometimes automobile mechanics will sense that you have no idea what you are talking about and try to take advantage of you. If you walk into the auto mechanic shop armed with just a tiny bit of knowledge about your car and possible problems, they will be less likely to try to con you into something you don't need and can't afford for your car. This is a very handy little color chart to determine what is leaking from under your car.

Things You Will Need

this color chart and a white paper towel

Step 1

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 i™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.

Once you determine the color of what it leaking from under your car, it can be very helpful to do a Google search or a Bing search on the color of the leak and any other symptoms your car may have. The search result will at least narrow down the possibilities even further. Don't forget to put the make, model and year of your car into the search.

Tips & Warnings

If your auto mechanic is less than honest and you feel it is time for a new one, ask around for recommendations from friends and co-workers. You may not find the perfect auto mechanic, but you will at least be able to pin point who you should stay away from.