Without various fluids, your car or truck won’t be able to run optimally. Occasionally, you’ll notice some wet spots beneath your vehicle after it has been sitting for a while. You know this means a fluid leak of some kind, but you’re not sure what or why. Your vehicle uses six different fluids, but engine oil is the most common one to leak. Here are the other fluids so that you can more accurately diagnose a leak:
- Antifreeze — This fluid will be either yellow, pink, or green, provided it’s not contaminated. This is what it is if you see a liquid of this description pooling or dripping beneath your car or truck. Antifreeze is particularly dangerous, so it’s best to clean up the mess when you spot it. Domestic pets are at particular risk of ingesting some of this sweet-smelling but toxic liquid.
- Water — This is a clear, odorless liquid even when it drips from your vehicle.
- Brake fluid — Brake fluid is oily and can be either clear, brown, or red in color. When it leaks, it’ll drip and pool near the passenger side seat or around your vehicle’s wheels instead of near the front.
- Steering fluid — Steering fluid can be either brown or red and is usually thin instead of thick and oily. It will usually leak near the front of the car.
- Transmission fluid — This fluid is brown or red and thick. When it leaks, it will drip and pool around the mid-section of your automobile.
A mechanic should always address leaking fluids, as a part likely needs repaired or replaced to fix the problem. Problems that are left unaddressed are likely to grow, especially if the engine oil is leaking.
What’s Special About Engine Oil?
Engine oil does many things for your vehicle, such as keeping it in motion. A car or truck is a useless tool without being able to drive. The engine oil lubricates the many components that work simultaneously as your vehicle moves, reducing the amount of friction and enhancing the lifespan of your engine.
If your engine oil starts leaking or isn’t changed regularly and becomes soiled (you usually want it changed every 5,000 miles), it will lose its viscosity and ability to lubricate, so the friction will increase. Your engine’s components will begin to grind and wear out, sometimes even breaking.
Failing to change your oil when prescribed can also lead to leaking. An oil leak looks like a puddle of brown, greasy liquid beneath the front of the car. Some vehicles, however, now have a cover beneath the engine, making it more difficult to spot a leak. An engine oil leak will cause the engine to become oily and for small pools to collect around the engine.
What Can Cause an Oil Leak?
Engine oil leaks cannot be fixed by adding more oil, so a mechanic will have to determine what caused it. Three common problems result in an engine oil leak.
1. Components That Were Improperly Installed
Sometimes the oil filter itself is loose, causing the oil to leak out as it tries to flow into the engine. Other times, the oil pan and gaskets are too tight. These are, luckily, easy fixes, and nothing needs to be replaced.
2. Worn Out Oil Pans and Gaskets
Even though your gaskets and oil pan may have been properly installed, that doesn’t mean they haven’t worn out. These components hold the engine oil in place and then pump it. Since they’re located at the bottom of the engine, they’re susceptible to damage. If you drive on rocky roads, the debris can especially cause damage as it bounces up and cracks the pan and gaskets.
3. Defective Valve Seals and Rings
Small leaks can easily occur if your valve seals and rings become damaged. These can cause leaking even when the vehicle is in motion, though it’s more difficult to visually spot the leaks that way. However, there will be a noticeable odor as the heat from the engine burns up the leaking oil. There may also be light-colored smoke, as sometimes occurs if you accidentally spill oil on an engine.
If Anything Is Wrong, See a Mechanic ASAP
Engine oil leaks can cause serious damage to your engine, even eventually requiring the entire engine to be overhauled or replaced. Luckily, having your oil changed regularly and your vehicle inspected can prevent most problems and the costly, time-consuming repairs associated with them. Even dirty oil can cause lubrication problems that lead to damaged components.