As Chevrolet and Cadillac drivers your favorite part of being a car owner is the excitement of the next adventure, but if your vehicle hasn’t been serviced in a while you could find yourself running into issues down the road! A common maintenance issue ALL drivers run into is fluid leaks. These can be overlooked and cause problems down the road. However, we have an easy way to diagnose the issue and get your vehicle back in road trip ready shape in no time! All the fluids in your vehicle have a specific color and thanks to our color guide below, you can figure out this issue quickly! So go ahead, take a peek below and schedule your service appointment with the pros here at Joe Cooper Chevrolet today!

Light brown to black:

• If the fluid leaking from your vehicle is a brownish/black color, chances are its motor oil. This can leak from various spots of your vehicle, but if it is leaking from the center and the odor smells like rotten eggs, the culprit could be a lube oil leak.
• This won’t stop your vehicle dead, but it means that there is an ongoing issue and you should bring your vehicle in for a professional examination

Light yellow to dark brown:

• Brake fluid stars out as a clear/yellow color and as it ages it becomes dark brown, similar to motor oil. An easy way to distinguish is simple, just feel the fluid. If the fluid feels slippery, it’s likely brake fluid. If this is the case, your vehicle is not safe to drive and you’re going to want to bring it in for repair as soon as possible.

Red(ish):

• If the fluid leaking from your vehicle is a red or reddish color, it’s generally power steering fluid. Power steering fluid will leak from under the front part of your car and is thin in texture. If this is the case, there is an issue with the power steering pump.

Orange:

• If the leak is from the center of your vehicle and the fluid is an orange/reddish-brown color, it could be transmission fluid. However, rust from your radiator mixing with an antifreeze leak can appear orange-ish as well. However, the antifreeze will be thin and can leak from anywhere, which could help you determine the difference.

Yellow, Green, or Pink:

• These leaks will be the easiest to spot, and typically the simplest to diagnose. More times than not, the cause of such bright puddles is a simple coolant leak. In these cases, your vehicle’s age comes into play. Older vehicles tend to blow off a bit of coolant when the engine gets too hot, so a few little spots are nothing to worry about.
• If your vehicle is newer, this coolant shouldn’t be dripping any excess liquids so it might be a good idea to bring it in for a look.

Clear:

• If the fluid leaking from your vehicle looks like water, it probably is water. The air conditioning can build up excess condensation and result in puddles of water underneath your vehicle. This occurs in properly running cars, only be worried if it becomes constant and a lot.

Service Your Ride at Joe Cooper Chevy!