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LeaksWhat are those drips and puddles under your car?by Larry E. Hall

There are nearly a dozen liquids that can leak out of your car. Only one type of leak is desirable andone other is of minor importance. Leakage of other fluids, however, can lead to an expensive

breakdown if not corrected.

Some leaks affect driving safety. Gases leaking from the exhaust system can let deadly carbonmonoxide enter the passenger compartment. Air leaking out of a tire can create a serious handlingproblem. Of the liquid leaks, fuel and brake fluid are the most serious, windshield-washer solutionthe least.

A puddle of clear water under your vehicle on a warm day is probably condensation from the airconditioner the only desirable liquid that vehicles produce. If no condensation is formed, the airconditioner is not dehumidifying the air inside the car.

Leaks make themselves known in various ways. Oil leaks can slowly coat the outside of an engine.Or perhaps you've noticed a spot or puddle on the garage floor or frequently used parking space.

A frustrating thing about fluid leaks is they do not always show up in obvious places. Sometimesbrake fluid or oil will run along the outside of a pipe or body flange to drip at a point several feetaway from the source.

Fluid in Motion

When you see the telltale signs of a leak, don't ignore it. The first thing you should do is identify thetype of fluid so you can identify the source. If you are lucky, simply tightening a clamp may yield apermanent repair.

If you're not sure what liquid is leaking, first check all fluids in the car to see if any are obviously low.If this fluid check doesn't reveal anything, place a large piece of cardboard on the ground and parkthe car over it. Some leaks are only apparent when the engine is operating, so run the motor forseveral minutes, revving it occasionally.

After letting the car sit overnight, carefully inspect any spots that have appeared. Familiarizeyourself with these common types of fluids and what (if anything) to do about them.

Black or dark-brown slippery fluid most likely is motor oil. A few drops once in a while is OK, butif your car starts to leave puddles, have it checked out. Oil leaks are most often found under thefront of the vehicle under the engine, but can occur the length of the vehicle.

Clear, oily liquid with a pungent odor is usually brake fluid that shows up around the wheels.Consult your mechanic immediately it could lead to brake failure.

Pink, red or clear drops may be either automatic transmission fluid (ATF) or power steering fluid.ATF will leak under the front seats; power steering fluid leaks are under the front of the enginecompartment. Check both reservoirs and refill them as necessary. If such leaks are a regular

occurrence, see your mechanic.

Green, yellowish or redish spots with a faint, sweet smell indicates that antifreeze is leakingfrom the cooling system and is usually found under the front center of the car. Check the coolantlevel in the overflow tank immediately, and have the system checked for leaks. Too little coolantcauses overheating and serious engine damage.

Heavy, light tan or black oily liquid is a sign that gear oil is leaking from the steering gearbox,manual transmission, axle or differential. Because of the various types of components, gear oil canappear anywhere under a vehicle. Delaying repairs will become expensive.

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A dark stain on the shock absorber body gives this away as shock absorber fluid. This fluidusually does not appear under a vehicle. The shock needs to be replaced. (Shock absorbers are bestreplaced in pairs.)

Thin fluid that smells like gasoline probably is. It can leak from the tank (generally in the rear ofthe car), from a fuel line that runs from the tank to the engine, or from the engine itself. This leakneeds to be repaired immediately. Fuel leaks are a leading cause of car fires.

Light oil that smells like home heating oil is diesel fuel and should be treated like a gasolineleak above.

Blue or pink tinted water points to a leak of windshield washer solution and will be found in abroad area under the engine compartment. It many not seem important, but when you need thestreaks on the windshield cleaned on a dark rainy night, you will most likely wish you had taken careof this.

A clear fluid that smells like rotten eggs is probably sulfuric acid leaking from the battery andcan appear in a number of locations under a vehicle. Sulfuric acid is corrosive and poisonous; if ittouches skin, wash it off immediately and flush with water immediately. Have the battery replacedat once.

Clear water is just condensation from the air conditioner that drips under the front of engine. Don'tworry about it.

Larry Hall writes extensively about cars and the automotive industry. He lives in Seattle.