Ever noticed a leak under your car? While most of us generally expect this won’t be something we have to contend with particularly, there are many different reasons for why there might be a leak under your car. In line with this, today, we’re looking at some of the key things you should know – and what you can do to help prevent or resolve this issue.
Why’s There a Leak Under my Car?
There are countless different reasons you may notice a leak under your car, and keeping these in mind is naturally highly important. To pinpoint the source of a leak, consider purchasing a vehicle check to review the MOT history. This will reveal any previous failures, offering valuable insights into potential areas where the leak may originate. However, we strongly recommend considering the following points to help you determine the right approach.
#1 Check It’s Not Water!
One of the most common causes of leaks underneath your car is simply because water appears to be leaking from the underside of your car. Indeed, this could be due to a myriad of reasons; a key one
Is running the air conditioning unit. If you’ve recently driven through deep water, there’s also the chance that liquid could still be dripping.
#2 Oil Leaks
Oil leaks are one of the most common types of leaks after dripping water, so these are well worth keeping in mind. Engine oil is usually black, brown, or amber in colour and will (unsurprisingly) have a particularly greasy nature. Not a nice one to be handling, needless to say!
Unfortunately, oil leaks are generally more serious than a generic water leak. As such, you should try to keep a close eye on the oil levels in the car (and get it to a mechanic, if needed).
#3 Power Steering Fluid
Generally speaking, if you see a leak that’s reddish-brown, power steering fluid might be the culprit. This is vitally important to keep your car running smoothly.
Thus, if you’ve noticed a leak in the power steering fluid, make sure to top this up and get the car looked at as soon as possible. Failing this, you might find that steering the car becomes significantly harder!
#4 Coolant
Coolant is an integral component of modern engine systems, helping to keep everything running smoothly even when the engine gets hot. As such, if you notice leaking coolant (which is usually a yellow/green liquid, although it can sometimes be other colours), topping this up and getting the leak repaired as soon as possible is vitally important.
#5 Brake Fluid
Brake fluid plays a vital role in keeping your brakes lubricated and working safely. In line with this, checking that the brake fluid is always topped up is crucial – and, if you notice a brown leak under your car (especially near to the brakes themselves), this could be something you’ll want to get checked.
6 Fuel
As a final (and significantly concerning) leak, it’s worth checking that the leak isn’t fuel. Indeed, any damage to your fuel tank could leave the car leaking a potentially large amount of fuel. This can be easy to notice while driving if you see that your fuel consumption is significantly higher than you’d normally expect.
Depending on where the damage is, this could result in a large amount of your fuel tank leaking out. As such, the importance of tackling this issue cannot be stressed highly enough.
Preventing Leaks Under the Car
With the cost of buying a car these days being so exceptionally high, it’s hugely important to check that your car is secure against leaks to begin with. In line with this, preventing leaks is vital. This will largely come down to regular checks and ensuring the car’s MOT history is clear of advisories.
Luckily, a car history check allows you to quickly see whether a vehicle may have had any past issues. In turn, this could help you decide on the most suitable approach for your needs.
Final Thoughts
If you think that there might be a leak under your car, getting the issue fixed professionally is highly important. However, it’s also vital that you start out with the right choice of vehicle; indeed, wherever possible, make sure that you have checked any second-hand car purchase with a car history check to help verify your purchase.
Don’t get caught out; make sure you’ve taken the necessary steps today!
