LIGHT
BROWN OR BLACK STAINS - MEDIUM CONSISTENCY Ah, you're thinking, "That's
easy ... engine oil!" You're right, we'll start simple and stay
simple -- we're all familiar with this the brown/blackish color of
motor oil. Because of the oil system has many gaskets, lots of
heat (weakens seals and gaskets over time), and lots of pressure,
engine oil tends to be a frequent visitor. While a little oil seepage
is not a problem, any drips should be investigated. Pay
particular attention to any lines, filters, or coolers external to the
engine. Replacing an O-ring or pressure line that is starting to
leak is a wise move, as it offers peace of mind. Engine gaskets that
leak need careful assessment -- they are not likely to fail completely
and may be damn difficult to replace in-situ. Note: Did you add
new oil to the engine recently? Sometimes a simple mistake can lead to
oil spills appearing later. Oil leaks that have continued for some time
should lead to the buildup of dirt -- can you see any on your block
or sump?
REDDISH, LIGHT BROWN OR BLACK - THINNER OR
THICKER CONSISTENCY Stains, drips or puddles that look similar to
engine oil, but are thicker to touch and located near the center
of the car, are usually from the transmission. While automatic
transmissions used to use a reddish fluid thinner than engine oil,
recent units employ a reddish fluid that is thicker. Note:
overfilling the transmission with fluid seems to be a common
source of leaks -- check the temperature/ volume relationship.
Actual leaks are most likely to come from the clutch side shaft
seal or the output shaft seal. Leaks are also possible from the
pan gasket. Some engines (M70) have external coolers with connection
lines and these can also leak.
REDDISH OR LIGHT BROWN -
THIN CONSISTENCY Sound like a familiar fluid? It should. If your car is
equipped with power steering, then it has a fluid in the steering
system that is either identical or similar to your car's automatic
transmission fluid. Luckily the power steering system is
localized so any leaks should be easy to spot.
CLEAR,
SLIGHTLY BROWN AND SLICK - MEDIUM CONSISTENCY This is that critical
fluid for your brake hydraulic system. When brake fluid is new, it is
usually either clear (like mineral oil) or tinted slightly brown. But
after time and with the accumulation of dust, rust particles and other
contaminants, it can turn entirely brown. What you need to
remember is that brake fluid is characteristically slippery to
the touch -- more so than engine oil or automatic transmission
fluid.
DIFFERENTIAL FLUID - THICK CONSISTENCY Your car's
differential uses a fluid that is similar to the standard transmission
fluid. The key to distinguishing the fluid origin is where is drips. If
it drips from the rear of your car, then the chances are that it is
from the differential. Since this fluid is not pressurized, leaks
indicate that something is significantly loose.
YELLOW,
GREEN PINK AND SLIMY - THIN CONSISTENCY Here it is: coolant. Slimy to
the touch and one of the easiest fluids to identify, coolants come in a
range of bright colors. Older cars simply dumped the coolant on the
road or driveway when the engine got too hot. Of course, overheating
maybe a sign of some other problem. Today's cars have closed systems
that capture and recycle any blow-off. So, if you have a late
model car you shouldn't ever see coolant on your driveway or on
your carpet. If you do, it's a sign of potential trouble (e.g.,
leaky water pump or hoses).
CLEAR, SHINY LIQUID - VERY
THIN CONSISTENCY ... LIKE WATER? If you ever come back to your car in
your driveway or in a shopping center parking lot and see a puddle of
clear water under the front and on the passenger side, you don't need
to panic. But, if you've been running your car's air conditioner, then
the spot is most likely water that has condensed on the air
conditioning hardware and is harmless. The air conditioner has a
water drain tube to drip this innocuous condensed water out to the road
-- and there's no problem. If all fluids were only so innocent! |