What is my Car Leaking?

Cars today use a wide variety of fluids to keep them cool and well lubricated.  These fluids are kept in place by gaskets and seals which will wear out and breakdown, even in a well maintained car, causing leaks.  These leaks can certainly be a hassle when trying to keep your driveway or garage clean, but they can also be a danger to your vehicle.  If a leak is left unattended, it will drain your engine or transmission of essential fluids and cause premature failure.  These failures will leave you with a hefty repair bill and can possibly leave you stranded.

The first step to leak repair is leak detection.  An essential part of maintenance on any vehicle is routine fluid level checks.  This should include checking the coolant level, engine oil level, transmission fluid level, power steering fluid level and, in a truck or SUV, the transfer case and differential fluid levels.  Check your car’s owner’s manual for recommended fluid check intervals.  In general, engine oil can be checked every week and other fluids once per month, but more frequent checks should be performed if a leak is suspected.  Routine fluid checks are the best and most reliable way to discover if your vehicle is leaking.  Burning smells, wet spots, and drips can also indicate a fluid leak in your car or truck.

If you have diagnosed your leak by regular fluid checks, you can be confident where your leak is coming from and treat it accordingly.  If you have discovered your leak from puddles, smells or other means, it can be difficult to diagnose where the leak is coming from.  The first thing to do is to determine what type of fluid is leaking, then it will be easier to determine the location and appropriate repair.  Here is a list and description of common fluids used in cars and trucks today:

• Coolant or Antifreeze:  Coolant comes in a variety of colors depending on the make and year of the vehicle.  Stereotypically, coolant is a florescent green color, but also can be red, gold, yellow, blue, purple or orange.  Coolant will often smell sweet and be watery in appearance.  Coolant is contained in the radiator and the engine block and will often leak from the radiator, hoses or head gasket.  Leak Solution: BlueDevil Head Pour-N-Go or BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer

• Engine Oil: Engine oil is held in the oil pan and circulated through the engine for lubrication.  It is gold to brown in color and can be slippery or sticky to the touch.  Engine oil will usually leak from one of the many gaskets or seals in your motor and leave puddles just behind the front wheels.  Leak Solution: BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak or BlueDevil Rear Main Sealer

• Transmission Fluid: Transmission fluid is used to lubricate and operate an automatic transmission.  It is circulated through the transmission and often through an external transmission cooler mounted near the front of the vehicle or through the radiator to be cooled.  Transmission fluid is often red in color and thinner than engine oil.  It would be leaking either from the center of a truck or SUV or between the front wheels of a passenger car.  Leak Solution: BlueDevil Transmission Sealer

• Transfer Case and Differential Fluid:  Transfer cases and differentials take a variety of fluids depending on the year and make of your vehicle.  It also can be difficult to determine amount of fluid present so service may be required by a professional.  Transfer case and differential fluid will often have a distinct bitter smell and will leave spots at the center of the vehicle, or between the wheels.  Leak Solution: BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak

• Power Steering Fluid:  Power Steering fluid is pumped through your car’s steering system to assist in turning the wheels at low speeds.  Power steering fluid is often red or brown in color and can easily be confused with transmission fluid.  Power steering systems are often contained to the front of a vehicle near the front wheels.  Leak Solution: BlueDevil Steering Stop Leak.

Identifying and repairing leaks is essential to maintaining any vehicle.  Fortunately, repairing leaks does not have to be costly or difficult.  BlueDevil has a full line of products formulated specifically to seal any leak your car or truck may have.  The seal is safe for your vehicle and is a permanent fix.  Stop wasting time and money continually adding fluid to your leaking car or truck and don’t take the risk of driving your vehicle with dangerously low fluid levels.

Visit gobdp.com to see which product is right for you!  Also, check back weekly for more information about how to quickly and easily repair the leaks in your vehicle.

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