If you notice light brown or black stains that are of medium consistency you are leaking oil. A few drops is normal, but anything larger should be investigated. Reddish, light brown, or black stains that are near the center of the car is usually transmission fluid. If the color is similar to the transmission fluid (or could also be a purplish hue), but is located in the front of the car, it is your power steering fluid. Finding a pale brownish stain that is very slippery would indicate a brake fluid leak. A spot of brightly colored fluid is coolant (sometimes called “antifreeze”). Coolant comes in a variety of colors including green, red and yellow. If you find a clear liquid leaking out, this is sometimes condensation of air conditioner water that is normal. However, if this spews out continuously, you’ll need to have your car’s radiator and air conditioner system checked.
If one of the warning lights is lit on your dashboard, you can check the manual for what the light indicates (usually oil or coolant). When one of these lights are on, it is a sign that a leak is possible. [2] X Expert Source Jason ShackelfordAuto Technician Expert Interview. 11 June 2019.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe it off with a paper towel or rag, and reinsert it. Pull the dipstick out again and examine it horizontally. There are two indicator marks, one is the top level and the other the lower level. The amount of oil should be between these two marks. [3] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source Wipe off the dipstick with a towel and place it back into the reservoir tank if it is at a normal level. If it isn’t between the two lines, this indicates a possible oil leak.
Sometimes you may have to take off the radiator cap to see clearly, depending on the color of your tank. If the fluid is below the cold line or is completely empty, you definitely have an antifreeze leak.
If the fluid is very low or gone, you have a leak. It is normal to have a slight decrease in fluid if your brake pads are worn down. If you think this is the case, add fluid up to the fill line and monitor it for the next several days. If the amount of fluid changes you have a leak, otherwise you can assume that it was normal wearing of the brake pads. It might be a good idea to wipe away dirt from the top of the reservoir before opening it. If any dirt falls into the fluid, it can cause the internal seals of the master cylinder, as well as the brakes themselves, to fail. A “soft” pedal can also be a signal that your car is running low on differential fluid, which can be caused by a leak. [9] X Expert Source Jason ShackelfordAuto Technician Expert Interview. 11 June 2019.
Since you deplete your washer fluid more frequently, it can be difficult to detect a leak, but if you just filled it a week before and it is very low or empty, you probably have a leak.
