Log In. Leaking transmission fluid is most likely due to a pan gasket, cooler lines or external seal. Brake fluid was leaking from driver side just behind the front tire. If you can get a clear look at the transmission, check for leaks around the seals or gaskets. I recommend you check the consistency first, if it feels like water, it probably is water, if it feels oily, it could be brake fluid, if it's greasy, it could be differential fluid. Do you think it is just Condensation or should I take in, My car leaks something on my foot when in tight turns. The cost to replace this seal may be a little less then than on a front-wheel-drive vehicle because there are fewer parts to be removed to perform the job. This leak has caused my car to run a bit lean, and has drained my coolant completely. If you see red or pink fluid under your car, pull the transmission dipstick and check your transmission fluid level. They claimed to have fixed the leak, but it was still leaking. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 11, 2019: What is the year, make, and model, does it have a sunroof, do you have roof rails? Answer: Most likely an axle seal or input shaft seal at the differential. It can overheat and ruin the engine. Battery acid is very corrosive and would actually cause a really bad surfer smell and cause a lot of surface damage. Place marks on the paper. What does that mean? Leaks can come from the overflow tank, the radiator, the water pump, coolant hoses and elsewhere. The vehicle was taken to the shop. The cost to fix a transmission fluid leak would depend on what is leaking and what type of vehicle it is. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 06, 2020: If the coolant is mixed 50/50 it shouldn't be evaporating. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on January 03, 2020: I don't think the fluid leaking has anything to do with the accident because there was minimal damage and not enough impact to da any type of damage. On very humid days, the water will pour out of the air conditioner drain onto the ground like from a faucet, until the cabin humidity is almost gone. Nonetheless, the tahoe started leaking clear fluid until i had no coolant. Almost since the first gasoline-powered cars hit the road, people have been inventing ways of making them go farther on a gallon of fuel. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on November 26, 2018: It sounds to me like you have a temperature sensor starting to fail or it is not operating properly. These can cause the engine to overheat or "seize," to stop running and start melting. Is that spot a joke, as it is not mentioned in the article? Coolant or oil can leak past the head gasket and out the side of the engine causing either a low-oil or low-coolant condition. The leak is near the - Answered by a verified Auto Mechanic. I recommend using the manufacturer's coolant, but if you can't do that, at least use the same color coolant. Any idea? In this article, I will cover the six most common fluid leaks from a car—from the leaks that will leave you stranded to the leaks that should be in fact be happening. Let me know if you have more questions, thanks. I noticed this morning after I got to work, so water under my car. It pumps vital fluid through your radiator, cooling system and engine block to prevent it from freezing. If it’s watery, it could also be windshield washer fluid. It means you have a leak, lol. Water leaking from a car is very common, especially when using the air conditioner. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on October 15, 2019: You're welcome Samsheer, let me know if I can answer any questions for you :). Engine oil, or “motor oil,” may vary in color from light amber to dark brown, depending on how well you maintain your car. I touched and it felt kind of like transmission fluid but when I put a piece of white paper down it was brown like oil is. Notice that the fluid is red. Once you figure out the oil is dripping from the engine, all you have to do is pinpoint the leak. As soon as you notice that fluid is leaking, stop driving, and determine the source of the leak. To check which liquid it is, place a bit of paper underneath the leak. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Any ideas as to what may be wrong? Another symptom of low transmission fluid is "surging": the transmission will slip in and out of gear causing a surging feeling while driving at a steady speed. Any help would be appreciated. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on May 07, 2019: Pink is usually transmission fluid or coolant depending on the color of the coolant in the radiator. Thanks for your time in writing this! Engine coolant can be green, yellow, pink or another color, so check your coolant overflow tank to see what’s in your radiator. The fluid helps to both get rid of heat from the engines internal parts and activate gear changes. That said, any leak should be a wake-up call to keep an eye on things before it becomes a gusher, and to regularly check fluid levels (all of them) to make sure you aren’t running low anywhere. If you're burning coolant you would see heavy white smoke coming from the tailpipe. It seems to be an oily texture that is clear. If the vehicle is leaking coolant you would most likely smell a sweet smell when the engine is hot (sometimes the coolant will burn off before it hits the ground in a leaking situation). Like engine oil and transmission fluid, this fluid will feel oily to the touch. Answer: Maybe an axle seal leaking or brake fluid leak at the caliper? If you think you might have a power steering fluid leak, the first place you should look is at the reservoir. If you suspect you have a coolant leak, you may be able to smell it. Cement on garage foor is pitting where water from air conditioner is leaking from the overflow. Let me know if it's RWD, thanks. The average cost to replace an axle seal in a non-4-wheel drive vehicle would range from $200 to $400 US dollars. You're welcome, thank you for the kind feedback :). I recommend you call the garage back ASAP and have them double-check their work. Answer: The leak could be coming from a lot of different sources, so it would be very difficult to give you an estimate. It can leak into the combustion chamber and cause the spark plugs to fail. You can either keep an eye on your garage floor or find a mechanic who will clean the fluid leak and add dye to the system that may be leaking. Check the power-steering reservoir and hoses to see if you notice cracks or leaks or if the fluid … Could that be transmission fluid according to the article? Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on March 21, 2019: Sometimes oil will splash on the undercarriage during the oil change and if the mechanic doesn't clean it up completely it can drip small spots for a couple of days. I am desperately hoping that it won't be a $400+ repair when I am able to take it in. The recirculated air will lose humidity on each pass through the evaporator, and your air conditioner will be working at maximum efficiency (see my article on how to defog car windows fast). Transmission fluid is a crucial part of your engine. Is the overflow tank empty? It doesn't smell and is very thin. On the front driver side, I have some brake fluid leaking. Question: I have a 2009 Kia Sportage 4X4. It does seem to hesitate when switching gears; it also has a lag when changing gears. It is makes quite a puddle. Oil can leak from gaskets and seals on the front or rear of an engine, from valve covers or from the oil pan underneath, so there are several possible sources of an oil leak. :). Where is it leaking from? Something to keep in mind is that in most newer vehicles, when you are in defrost mode, the air conditioning automatically comes on to remove moisture from the windshield area to give the driver a clear view inside and out. Master cylinder seems to be fine. Let me know if this helps. I have one last tip; I do not recommend using any additives that claim to stop leaks unless it is absolutely necessary. For your own safety, wait until your engine is cold before opening the radiator cap. Brown fluid that’s leaking from your car could be almost anything. Is it a transmission leak still?! Leaks are typically located on the front, left side of the car, near the engine. If you see red or pink fluid under your car, pull the transmission dipstick and check your transmission fluid level. My VW is leaking clear oil underneath the driver side it looks like cooking oil .!!?? First, if it smells like gas — and it’s not just a few drops you spilled while filling the tank — treat it as a big deal, because it probably is. Question: I recently purchased a used 1998 Toyota RAV4, and there is a steering fluid leak. Since it can be hard to tell these fluids apart, it can be helpful to identify where the spots are. No, a leaking differential seal won't pervent it from going into gear but it would leave residue all over the back of the car. At the same time, the mechanic can check the transmission fluid level and condition and advise you on that as well. Honda doesn't use pink fluid in their vehicles so unless you are using Rain-X in your windshield washer tank I'm not sure what it could be. What could it be? In rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the most common transmission fluid leak is the output shaft seal where the drive shaft connects to the transmission. A look at the history of electric vehicles and two of the main options today, the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3. Any suggestions? The best way to do that is to slide a piece of white cardboard or a piece of plywood under your car and let the car drip onto it. I have searched but can’t find what it could be. The fluid is thick black but didn’t really smell. ... Luckily, I did not need to stop immediately, and there was no car in front of me. You may need to call your mechanic for further inspection. If you ever experience this phenomenon, reach over and push the recirculation button. With an engine that age it's very possible the piston rings are not doing their job well anymore and gas is leaking by them and filling up the crankcase. is it hot and humid where you live? I have a 1986 305 5.0 T P I which I just discovered after changing the oil that a lot of gas was in my crankcase. Minimal frame work damage, a flat, and liquid leaking under the driver’s wheel I believe. I think it is leaking transmission fluid, but I am not completely sure. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on November 21, 2019: It sounds to me like you have coolant mixed with oil. That’s a good reason to treat a brake fluid leak as an emergency. Once the car is on the lift and the insurance adjuster is assessing the damage he should have an idea of what is leaking. Freon sometimes has dye in it to help diagnose leaks in the AC system, and this is what you might be seeing. Something dripping from a car might or might not indicate a dangerous situation that needs attention. If you notice an oil leak, I recommend you make an appointment with your mechanic to have it at least diagnosed to determine the severity of the leak. Keep me posted on what you find, thanks. With the huge downpours we have been having here west of Baltimore, I just started to notice water coming into the cabin. Other signs that fluid is low is that the power steering pump will whine when trying to turn the steering wheel, or the steering wheel will feel tight when turning in a parking lot or at low speeds. A car’s air conditioner needs to do something with the moisture it removes from the air inside the passenger compartment. We have started it up and driven it some, but only enough to get things warm really. What do you think this might be? Could you help? I have a power steering fluid leak. This could be due to a faulty transmission seal or a hole in the return line that feeds the fluid between systems. This is what I meant earlier when I said that some leaks are supposed to happen. Was told my coolant was low, never told of a leak from coolant, only oil gaskets. Another symptom of a brake leak from a wheel cylinder is your car pulling to one side as you drive due to uneven fluid pressure. The main symptom of low transmission fluid is the transmission slipping: the engine will rev up, but the car will not move, or it will move very little compared to engine RPM. I have a brake line leak up by front drivers side ,double line the repair man said that the seal that separates the flow of brake fluid was leaking ,he said it was a 400 hundred part ,but found a used one for 20 bucks ,something dont sound right ,I have a 04 Pontiac grand prix ,any answers. Is the engine temp normal? This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Don't take the cap off a hot radiator. Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. I recommend you have it checked ASAP, and if it's leaking a lot, have it towed, you wouldn't want to run out of oil and destroy the engine. Differential fluid, hypoid, gear oil, or gear fluid: whatever you call it, it’s very thick, it looks like honey, and it smells like a warm, greasy Mack truck sitting at a truck stop. Or worse, the leak could destroy your engine. Heed the warning! i have green oily substance on garage floor where condensation drip is on 2012 taurus there r no green fluids on this car. Having your motorhome's powered entrance steps stop operating is one of the problems that motorhome owners will run into. Dry the leak up with a Transmission System Evaluation. Let me know if you have any questions :). Ive noticed pink liquid drinking in front down on my plastic cover guy i had look sayss he doesnt see a leak its on a 2007 honda pilot. I took my car into a repair shop that does brakes they looked at it and said it wasn’t the differential. If the fluid is oily, it most likely will be something else. I have yet to find anything on leaking fluid from a vehicle's with that smell. It could be a faulty oil filter gasket. If the oil leak is not pouring out of the engine, or dripping onto any hot components like an exhaust manifold, a car with an oil leak can be driven. If you think you may have a blown head gasket, I recommend getting it checked so you know exactly what is wrong and whether it is safe to drive in that condition. If your rear differential is leaking, or your standard transmission has a leak, you will find this fluid dripping. Like a gasoline leak, never drive a car if you suspect a leak in the brake fluid hydraulic system. I have a Peugeot 508 2015. what would drip from front end only when running I took pics of my driveway but don't know how to post...not low on oil ....will have it towed in morning but just asking. … read more It was leaking pink fluid on the front passenger side. If you have water leaking into your car, you need to deal with it promptly because of the many serious problems it can cause. Answer: If the leak is just water, most likely it is coming from the AC Drain. Yes, there are times when fluids should leak naturally from your car, and we will cover that as well. Amber, dark brown or even black fluid is probably motor oil, but it could also be brake fluid. Is there any way to determine what the fluid is or should I just take it into the garage and have it looked at? Answer: When you use the windshield defrost mode the AC automatically operates to remove moisture from the windshield area and passengers compartment so it's possible you are using the AC without even knowing it :). That should give you a better look at the color and help you find where it came from, either by looking up from underneath the vehicle or down from above the engine. Gear oil is dark brown, or dark amber if it’s new and clean. Maybe you’ve found your problem. Oil leaks can come from some pretty obscure sources, like a crankshaft seal under the timing cover, or they can come from something easy to spot like a valve cover gasket. Bad wheel cylinder: If you see brake fluid on one of your tire’s walls, then you probably have a bad wheel cylinder if you have drum-style brakes. The most common place the power steering will leak is on each end of the steering rack. Very often, the first sign of an automatic transmission leaking is that the transmission will start to slip (the car will rev without going into gear). Ghanem says power steering fluid has a dull, mechanic smell. Keep an eagle eye on the temperature gauge. Question: Battery acid?? I am a single mother on a fixed income. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 29, 2020: Do you know the color of the coolant? Leaking axle seal. The air conditioner removes moisture from the passenger's compartment and drains it under the vehicle via a drain hose. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. Answer: Check your brake fluid level, if it's low, check all your brake lines for leaks. I Just parked my 2007 ford ranger in a garage and noticed a drip coming from under my radiator. It’s unsafe to drive a car that’s leaking gas. Sometimes you will see oil being slung from the center of the wheel all over the wheel rim of the vehicle. If you have a massive oil leak do not drive your car at all. It's -10 Celsius outside and the garage is heated, not sure if that's a factor. My Taurus seems to have a fluid leak under the center of the car. Hi there, I have a 2001 Chevrolet tracker. Question: I have a small amount of oil collecting in my right wheel hub. Question: I have a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. It is amazingly fun to drive and the fuel economy is a wonderful added bonus. Answer: Yes, you could try washing down the engine in the affected area, run the engine for a while, and then check again. It is a 2002 VW Jetta. The more you know about your car, the easier it is to figure out if it's worth fixing, even if you just bought it two days ago. These products were designed to temporarily stop small oil leaks and I don't recommend using them unless it's absolutely necessary. I recommend you have someone inspect the vehicle for fluid leaks so you don't ruin the differential if that is the leak. If water sits for too long in a car's carpet, mold can grow and cause bad smells. I used a white napkin to soak up some of it and its blue the color of the coolant put in my bmw. Eddie spent 35 years in the automotive business with Honda. Some coolant hoses (the heater hoses) go into the passenger compartment itself. I just got the car two days ago for $900. Question: I just picked up my car from the dealer after an oil change. They thought it was either the timing cover leak or front seal, which they didn’t do. If there is no smell and it feels like water I recommend you just keep an eye on it or crawl under the car with a flashlight to verify where the leak is dripping from. It is dangerous to drive a car with little brake fluid or engine oil. What could it be? Will feel oily but thinner than engine oil, and usually has a heavy petroleum odor. Should I pay the dealer the $120 diagnostic fee for them to look into it? Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on October 29, 2019: Most likely it's just the drain from the AC evaporator. advice Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on March 15, 2020: It is not normal to ever have fluid leaking from your vehicle except water draining from the AC evaporator. That may be the cause combined with the water. Here is a huge list of over 800 awesome car name ideas, sorted by type of car, personality, color, and more to help you name your sweet set of wheels! The recirculation button should be on when using air conditioning, but should not be on otherwise; it will fog up your windows. Any ideas? If so, by how much? The steering rack has end seals on both sides of the steering rack; they are the first to start leaking because they go through the most wear and tear. Question: I have Suzuki Mehran VXR 2017 Model, purchased seven months ago. Powerful, noisy, smelly, rattly. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on October 23, 2019: If it feels oily it could be brake fluid so check the brake fluid reservoir level, if it feels more like water, maybe it's water draining for your AC? The axles have a seal and a bearing. Coolant usually feels like slimy water and has a sweet smell. I have to keep filling it up with water because its getting expensive to keep buying coolant to just see it pour out after I park.... Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on June 17, 2019: Sounds about right, you can email me, there should be a link by my profile picture at the top of this page. It is a pretty hefty DIY project, but very enjoyable if you're patient and thorough. Show where each of the four wheels is resting, and indicate the front and rear ends of the vehicle. Don’t laugh: on a front-wheel-drive car, your engine could be located at the front left or front right, depending on where the transmission sits, and the engine could be in the rear of the car if you’re driving a Porsche or a VW bug. You might want a mechanic to take a look at it if you can’t find exactly where it is leaking from. Let me know what you find, thanks. Is it normal to have coolant leaking after new water pump and thermostat? If the leak continues, eventually the car will not move at all. What liquid could that be? Let me know how it feels and if I can answer any questions you have :). Both the timing cover and the oil pan gaskets are a liquid sealer. How can I check what may be going on? Question: My 2005 Opel Corsa is pushing out gear oil from the top gearbox nozzle. I just had a oil change and its never leaked anything till I got home and there was a small leak on pavement, is this common? Did a quick assessment; checked all the fluids - everything is normal by all appearances. It could blow hot coolant or steam into your face and cause severe burns. Question: I have a leak that looks like water in the front left (driver side) in my 2010 Jeep. They are not small puddles. If you leave the car in “fresh air” mode, it will continue to drag humid air into the car, the vehicle’s cabin will never reach optimum temperature, and sometimes when the weather is extremely humid, the air will turn into fog as it pours from your vents into your car’s passenger cabin. Power steering fluid may have a distinctive smell, kind of like burnt cooking oil. It is leaking in a strange place. The three H’s—hazy, hot and humid—are probably the most common cause of fluid leaking from a car, in the eastern U.S. at least. Access them anywhere. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 22, 2020: If what you are seeing is in the water that drips from your AC evaporator, most likely the evaporator is leaking freon. Could it just be from the AC or something more serious? First of all, before you start worrying, make sure the fluid leak is coming from your car and not the vehicle that was parked in that spot before you got there. Just got home from an 8hr drive and noticed a dark fluid dripping on the inside of my front driver's side tire. Let me know if this helps. When im idle, I cant see a leak, but when I move and stop, there is a puddle of fluid on the ground. You don’t want to drive a car that has lost a massive amount of coolant. I'm confident Ray would have told you if he found something wrong so I would worry about the drips and keep an eye on the driveway for any new spots. Most of the fluids that start out honey-colored or semi-transparent (i.e., engine oil, gear oil, etc.) P.S. Touch and smell each puddle or trace of liquid. I have a 2015 Chevy traverse. What does it mean when you ut antifreeze in and it comes back out under the car on the drivers side by the oil pan. Just grab a flashlight, get down on one knee, and take a good look under your car. I'll give you a couple of examples of what could be leaking, moisture from the exhaust, brake fluid, differential fluid if the vehicle is AWD or 4WD, and fuel, but you would most likely smell fuel. Any of these fluids can leak from your vehicle, leaving a distinctive residue on the ground. I think maybe the power steering may be leaking. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on September 17, 2019: Is the HVAC system ever in the windshield (defrost) mode because the AC will automatically turn on in this mode? I was told that it could be an oil leak, but as far as I know I didn't think that oil leaks could be clear. How long does it take to empty out completely? Notice the brownish color of the motor oil or engine oil. Honda uses its own proprietary power steering fluid which is light amber in color. I am not sure precisely from where it is coming from. Answer: It's most likely that the air conditioner is draining water out of the evaporator. Thanks for the update and make sure you bring your car to Ray when you need maintenance :). Does not appear to be leaking so much that the coolant reservoir is too low and does not seem to be directly under the radiator. The cost to fix an oil leak can vary greatly depending on what's leaking and where. The brake warning lamp illuminated and I had to engage the emergency brake, and maunal breaking in order to stop the vehicle. The color of antifreeze has changed over the years and it now comes in almost every color in the rainbow. Have you ever seen this before? Transmission fluid: Light red/pinkish (when new) to dark brown. If it appears to be coming from under the hood, narrow the possible culprits down by placing clean cardboard, such as a flattened box, under the engine and transmission immediately after the car has been driven, then check it later. The level was correct on the dipstick. If you suspect you have a brake fluid leak you should diagnose it with certainty, even if you need to take it to a repair shop. Don't neglect your vehicle's coolant system. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on December 17, 2018: If it dries like water and doesn't leave an oil spot, most likely it the water from the air conditioning system. Hi Eddie, thank you for responding. 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