Backing out of your garage and seeing spots on the floor is scary, not only because there could be something wrong with your automobile but also because you may not know which fluid is leaking from the engine. One thing that the automotive industry does is make auto fluids different colors so it’s easier to identify them when they leak from a car, truck, or utility vehicle. Meadows Automotive lists below the common colors that automotive fluids come in so you can figure out what is leaking from your vehicle.
Blue
Blue auto fluid is the washer found in the reservoir to clean your windshield when you’re driving. The only thing that will happen if the windshield washer fluid leaks out of the reservoir is you won’t be able to clean your windshield. Other than that, you don’t run the risk of damaging your engine.
Brown
Amber, light brown, and dark brown can be brake fluid, motor oil, or old transmission fluid. Where the fluid is leaking helps you determine what fluid type it is. If you see the spots next to your wheels, it’s brake fluid. If you see the spots underneath your engine, it could be motor oil. If the spots are toward the center of your automobile, it’s probably transmission fluid.
Clear
Clear spells water. Your vehicle produces condensation naturally when you are driving it, especially from the air conditioner in the summer. You may have seen water dripping from your tailpipe, as well. None of these things is anything that you need to worry about.
Green
Coolant is usually green, blue-green, red, or yellow. The quickest way to tell the color of your engine coolant is to look at the radiator overflow in the engine. Coolant generally leaks toward the front of the engine, and if the spots are in the center, it’s likely that your water pump is leaking.
Pink
Pink fluid is red fluid that has been diluted. The most common thing that causes pink fluid is a breach between your cooling system and your transmission. Engine coolant mixes with transmission oil and turns it pink and frothy. This is a serious problem. Do not drive your automobile under these conditions.
Red
Clean and fresh transmission fluid is red as is power steering fluid. As we said above, if the fluid is leaking more toward the center of your car, truck, or utility vehicle, it is likely transmission fluid. If it’s leaking from the front of your automobile, it’s probably power steering fluid.
Yellow
Finally, antifreeze can be yellow as can engine coolant. Antifreeze/coolant comes in the widest variety of colors, which is why we recommend you check your overflow reservoir to determine the color in your engine. If your engine is leaking coolant, don’t drive it as it will overheat.
Meadows Automotive in Waterford Township, MI, can find out what fluid is leaking from your automobile, where it is leaking from, and we can fix it. Call us today.
