Leaks, and What Do They Mean?

The human body is made of mostly fluids, like water, blood, urine, and some others that we are not going to get very specific about. When your body is leaking unexpectedly, you probably freak out. So why is it that when your car is leaking, you tend to ignore it. A leak is the first sign that something is terribly wrong with your car and it should get looked at immediately. This is why it is very important to keep those eyes opened and look for leaks. Be proactive about it if you can. Some easy things that you can do is to observe the parking spots before and after you are parked. If you pulled into a spot with no wet spots underneath it’s a perfect occasion to see if your car has any leaks. Park it and when you return, check for any signs of a drip or leak. If you can touch the liquid afterwards and note the colour of it and also note a rough idea of where it came from (i.e center of the front end) it can better help your mechanic to determine what’s leaking. If you are able to make out the pattern of the leak, this can help too. As a gravity drip will usually be in one spot, where a pressure leak will often result in a splatter. In any case, a leak is a serious issue because it will slowly drain all that fluid out and cause a very expensive repair that could have been easily avoided. Imports such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, or Volkswagen use very high quality fluids and oils, so never replace any fluid in your car before you check with your mechanic, or owners manual. Using the correct fluids will ensure the longevity of your vehicle, and keep you safe. No we’re serious, some fluids are hydraulic fluids that control your brakes. If this fluid leaks out and you don’t notice, you could be without brakes and be in some serious trouble. So if you think of cars more like people, you should start treating them similarly. That means if you see a puddle of “blood” under your car, take action! And always remember to start or drive the car with caution, as some fluids if not at the correct levels can cause a car to be unsafe to drive, or cause serious damage. It’s best to call us at Top Gear before you do anything. Watch those fluids and stay proactive by looking under your car. Drive safe!