Keeping car fluids at their proper levels is essential for a vehicle to run at its optimal performance. Fluids are essential to the smooth operation of many of a car’s systems including the engine, brake system and transmission. Letting them drop below the fill line or, worse yet, dry out can be a recipe for disaster. A leak is a sign that something is not working properly and requires the attention of a trusted repair shop before more extensive and expensive damage occurs. If you’ve got a recurring spot in your parking area, now would be a good time to figure out what’s leaking. Unfortunately looking under the hood or at the underside of your car or truck doesn’t always reveal an answer. But the best thing you can do is to be aware of the color, smell, texture, or location of the leak to help your technician easily identify the leak and get to fixing the problem. This will also save you money by decreasing the amount of time it takes the repair shop to figure it out.

Some leaks are more serious and dangerous than others, but all are essential in making sure things are working properly and you are keeping your passengers safe. Autos.com created an informative list of the 7 types of fluids in your vehicle and we have also added some descriptions and characteristics to help you identify the fluid that may be leaking from your vehicle.

Motor Oil: Motor oil is the most important fluid in every car with an internal combustion engine. Oil lubricates the moving parts in a car engine’s crankcase, preventing the high heat and friction that results during engine operation from destroying the pistons, valves and other components. Without oil, a running engine will seize up in a short time, making the engine virtually unusable. To know if that’s what your leak is, look at it and smell it. Used engine oil is dark brown and smells slightly gassy.

Brake Fluid: Brake fluid is by far the most important car fluid in terms of passenger safety. A car’s brake line system is a fully-sealed network that uses hydraulic pressure to control the car’s ability to stop. If brake fluid leaks or if too much air gets into the brake line, a car’s ability to stop will be compromised. Brake fluid is of medium thickness and has a dull, mechanical smell. It is slightly yellow in color.

Coolant: Coolant is most commonly a 50/50 combination of water and specialized radiator coolant.  Coolant is a heat transfer fluid. From there, it is transferred to the air. Without proper coolant levels, a car will quickly overheat and be inoperable. “Coolant leaks will slowly deplete your engine of precious coolant leaving it susceptible to overheating. But that’s not the only negative to a coolant leak — coolant can be deadly to animals. Even a small amount of coolant ingested by an animal can kill it. Coolant can be pinkish or greenish, but most of the time you’ll find the green variety. It has a sweet smell.”

Transmission Fluid: Transmission fluid is reddish in hue and usually does not have to be checked by a car owner. Similar to motor oil, transmission fluid cools and lubricates the inner parts of the transmission, ensuring that the engagement of the car’s system of gears works without a hitch. “Dextron type automatic transmission fluid is deep red in color. It is fairly thick and will tend to sit on top of a driveway and soak in slowly.”

Power Steering Fluid: This fluid, pressurized by a small hydraulic pump powered by the engine, helps to make turning a car easier. When working at proper levels, power steering fluid increases the ability of the steering mechanism to direct the tires. “Power steering fluid is a slightly yellowish liquid that is of medium thickness, kind of like cheap waffle syrup compared with water. It soaks into concrete quickly. It has very little smell but a keen nose will detect a dull, mechanical scent.”

Battery Fluid: Cars with maintenance-free batteries don’t require checking the battery fluid. Other car batteries, however, must have their individual cells refilled from time to time.

Windshield Wiper Fluid: While this is a non-essential fluid in terms of a car’s ability to operate and stop, windshield wiper fluid provides a fast means of clearing the windshield of dust, bug residue and other particles while driving. “Windshield washer fluid is very thin and has a slightly sweet smell that’s like a mix of coolant and window cleaner. It can be blue, green or orange.”

During our preventative maintenance services, we will do a complimentary check of your vital fluids and make recommendations. But in the meantime, should you suspect a leak, we recommend bringing your vehicle to our shops for repair. We believe that what we put in your vehicle and repair or replace fluids with is just as important. We use the top automotive products such as BG products to extend the life of your parts and vehicle, and keep it running in a safe and optimal manner. At the first sign of a leak, come and see us or your local trusted auto repair shop.