(510) 343-5260
9801 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA, 94603
[GEOTITLE]
[GEOADDRESSONE]
[GEOADDRESSTWO]
[GEOPHONE]
Directions
Store Hours
[GEOHOURSMONDAY]
[GEOHOURSTUESDAY]
[GEOHOURSWEDNSDAY]
[GEOHOURSTHURSDAY]
[GEOHOURSFRIDAY]
[GEOHOURSSATURDAY]
[GEOHOURSSUNDAY]
Change Location
Current Location
[GEOTITLE]
[GEOADDRESSONE]
[GEOADDRESSTWO]
[GEOPHONE]
|
Directions
Store Hours
[GEOHOURSMONDAY]
[GEOHOURSTUESDAY]
[GEOHOURSWEDNSDAY]
[GEOHOURSTHURSDAY]
[GEOHOURSFRIDAY]
[GEOHOURSSATURDAY]
[GEOHOURSSUNDAY]
Change Location
Go
Use current location
Home
Tires
Car, Truck & SUV Tires
Tire Care Tips
Commercial Tires
Shop for Tires Online
Wheels
Wheel Brands
Automotive Services
Our Services
Schedule Appointment
Car Care Tips
TPMS Service
Warranties
Promotions
Financing
Tire Pros Credit Card
About
Our Story
News Center
Reviews
Find Us
Contact
Jobs
News
25
What's Leaking From My Car?
posted on
8/25/2016 7:17:32 AM
You go out to your car, start it up, pull out of your parking space and see a puddle of...something...where you were parked a moment ago. This is never a good
feeling. What could it be?
Fortunately, some automotive fluids are dyed different colors to make this a little easier to narrow down.
Does it appear to be water? Were you recently running your A/C? Chances are that's just condensation from the A/C system, which drips out through a rubber tube and is perfectly normal. No worries there.
For years, antifreeze was dyed a bright green to make it easy to identify. Today, other antifreeze formulations can be colored pink or orange, but it's still not hard to figure out -- antifreeze has a sweet-ish, unmistakable smell due to its ethylene glycol content.
Gasoline is a pale yellowish or orange color, and also has a distinct smell that you'll recognize right away. Gasoline evaporates quickly and may feel cool on your finger if you dip it into the puddle. It's also, of course, very flammable!
Motor oil is honey-colored or perhaps darker, depending on how long it's been in the engine, and is slippery when rubbed between thumb and forefinger. Transmission fluid has the same slippery feeling as motor oil, but is dyed a magenta color and may have a somewhat sweet smell.
Power steering fluid is clear and often may feel more slippery than motor oil. Brake fluid is also very slippery and may have a more hazy yellowish color.
What To Do About A Leak
If you regularly see a puddle under your vehicle that's bigger than an inch or two across, slide a sheet of cardboard under the engine and between the front wheels when you park it in the evening.
Leaks can be difficult to pin down on a vehicle that's already grimy and oily underneath (especially since the path of the leak will be blown backwards while driving). One way to isolate the source of a leak is to safely lift and secure the vehicle, get underneath it and clean the bottom of the engine and transmission with brake cleaner or a similar solvent. Spray the entire area with foot powder, which should then clearly show where the leak is originating.
Leaks can be troubling, but older vehicles with high mileage tend to have gaskets and seals which dry up and shrink, causing at least minute leaks. Got any concerns? Make an appointment with us and let us track down that leak and fix it!
Categories:
Auto Repair 101
| View Count: (31) |
Return
Related
Tips On How To Keep Your Car Organized!
8/25/2016
The Different Types of Engine Oil
10/11/2018
Longest Lasting Vehicles to Buy
8/9/2021
Our Recommended Tire Safety Checklist
2/11/2021
Flat Spots? Let’s Clear Up Some Myths About That…
1/12/2017
Winter is Coming
10/5/2015
About
Home
Tires
Wheels
Automotive Services
Promotions
Financing
About
Find Us
Visit Our Shop
Contact Us
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
(510) 568-4442
Fax:
Address:
9801 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94603
.
Powered by Net Driven
Login
Oakland Tire Pros & Service Center
9801 International Blvd.,
Oakland, CA 94603
Phone:
(510) 568-4442
Fax:
94603
37.74389,-122.1705
Uh oh!
Page not found!
Sorry the page you are looking for may have been moved or deleted.
Please click anywhere to
continue browsing our site.