How to understand drop by drop what liquid is leaking from the car
- May 25, 2022
- 0
When approaching the car after a stop or long parking, the driver is alert when he sees drops or a puddle under the car. How to recognize what
When approaching the car after a stop or long parking, the driver is alert when he sees drops or a puddle under the car. How to recognize what specifically flows out of the car, and what the consequences are of leakages, says the AvtoVzglyad portal.
The simplest and most harmless is condensate, that is, water from the air conditioner. Even after a short stop, when the yard is hot, a puddle appears on the sidewalk, which the novice driver is afraid of. This is just water that condenses in the cooler “kondeya” or climate control system. Moisture flows onto the asphalt via a drain pipe at the bottom of the engine compartment. That is, there is nothing wrong with that.
Even worse, if drops or smudges appear in the right rear wheel area. This is gasoline whose smell is difficult to confuse with anything else. As a rule, you can feel it well in the cabin in the event of a leak. If we talk about the reasons, then there can be many. This is a perforated fuel tank, which was neatly “fixed” on a stone in the road. Or the steel tank of a heavily used car has corroded to holes. Or the fuel filter may be broken. Another reason is that the plastic holders of the fuel lines have torn out. This happens in winter on German cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan. Hard melted snow literally breaks the clamps and a puddle of petrol appears under the car.
If we talk about brake fluid, then it drips in the area of the wheels, near the braking mechanisms. There are no large puddles, usually only a few drops appear, which you can not pay attention to. Meanwhile, this leak is very dangerous. The biggest risk is that during a sharp deceleration, the increased pressure in the system will squeeze the cuffs that have lost their tightness. In the worst case, this will cause the car to stop braking. Therefore, regularly check the level of the “brake” in the tank. The liquid has an alcoholic odor and has a yellowish color. Therefore, if you notice such drops, urgently look for a leak and go to the service.
Oil may leak from both the engine and gearbox. Reasons galore. Let’s start with the fact that after measuring the lubricant (both in the engine and in the box), the grumpy craftsmen just didn’t tighten the drain plug at the right time. Or maybe the owner saved money and didn’t replace the cork gasket. And it is disposable.
If the engine is old, heavy drops may be visible on the engine pan or on the oil filter. And then the drops fall on the asphalt. The grease that “ran away” from the engine can be recognized by its dark brown color and pungent odor. And on the surface characteristic oily spots are visible. As for the oil from the gearbox, or from the rear axle, it has a lighter amber shade.
Finally, antifreeze has a specific alcohol smell and high viscosity, and you can recognize it by its color. For example, the Volvo 850 is filled with green and the Opel Astra H is red.
If such drops are noticed under the engine compartment, this is a serious reason to be wary. First you need to check the level of “coolant” in the expansion tank, and if it is lower than normal, top it up. Then you have to look for a leak. It can occur due to a leaking radiator or damaged cooling system pipes.
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Photo: carstuckgirls
The simplest and most harmless is condensate, that is, water from the air conditioner. Even after a short stop, when the yard is hot, a puddle appears on the sidewalk, which the novice driver is afraid of. This is just water that condenses in the cooler “kondeya” or climate control system. Moisture flows onto the asphalt via a drain pipe at the bottom of the engine compartment. That is, there is nothing wrong with that.
Even worse, if drops or smudges appear in the right rear wheel area. This is gasoline whose smell is difficult to confuse with anything else. As a rule, you can feel it well in the cabin in the event of a leak. If we talk about the reasons, then there can be many. This is a perforated fuel tank, which was neatly “fixed” on a stone in the road. Or the steel tank of a heavily used car has corroded to holes. Or the fuel filter may be broken. Another reason is that the plastic holders of the fuel lines have torn out. This happens in winter on German cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan. Hard melted snow literally breaks the latches and a puddle of gasoline appears under the car.
If we talk about brake fluid, then it drips in the area of the wheels, near the braking mechanisms. There are no large puddles, usually only a few drops appear, which you can not pay attention to. Meanwhile, this leak is very dangerous. The biggest risk is that during a sharp deceleration, the increased pressure in the system will squeeze the cuffs that have lost their tightness. In the worst case, this will cause the car to stop braking. Therefore, regularly check the level of the “brake” in the tank. The liquid has an alcoholic odor and has a yellowish color. Therefore, if you notice such drops, urgently look for a leak and go to the service.
Oil may leak from both the engine and gearbox. Reasons galore. Let’s start with the fact that after measuring the lubricant (both in the engine and in the box), the grumpy craftsmen just didn’t tighten the drain plug at the right time. Or maybe the owner saved money and didn’t replace the cork gasket. And it is disposable.
If the engine is old, heavy drops may be visible on the engine pan or on the oil filter. And then the drops fall on the asphalt. The grease that “ran away” from the engine can be recognized by its dark brown color and pungent odor. And on the surface characteristic oily spots are visible. As for the oil from the gearbox, or from the rear axle, it has a lighter amber shade.
Finally, antifreeze has a specific alcohol smell and high viscosity, and you can recognize it by its color. For example, the Volvo 850 is filled with green and the Opel Astra H is red.
If such drops are noticed under the engine compartment, this is a serious reason to be wary. First you need to check the level of “coolant” in the expansion tank, and if it is lower than normal, top it up. Then you have to look for a leak. It can occur due to a leaking radiator or damaged cooling system pipes.
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Source: Avto Vzglyad
I’m Sandra Torres, a passionate journalist and content creator. My specialty lies in covering the latest gadgets, trends and tech news for Div Bracket. With over 5 years of experience as a professional writer, I have built up an impressive portfolio of published works that showcase my expertise in this field.
