Why is Water Leaking from Under My Car?

The sight of fluids or water leaking from under your car can be concerning for many Nashville-area drivers. Depending on the type of fluid that’s leaking your car, you shouldn’t worry or you should be concerned. If you do notice that your car is leaking water, use this helpful guide to determine the leak’s level of severity. If you notice a problem with your car leak, have it serviced with a specialist near Hendersonville to determine a cause and solution!

Is My Car Leaking Water or Something Else?

Before panicking and taking your car to the mechanic, the first thing you need to do is identify if it’s fluid or water leaking from under your car. You can do this by placing a single sheet of white paper under the spot that’s leaking to get a better look at what exactly is the fluid. Use this guide to determine a problem:

• If the fluid is clear and translucent, its water
• If a large amount of water is leaking it can signify a blown gasket. This will cause air conditioning coolant to burn with the car’s gasoline and cause white smoke to fumes from the exhaust
• If it’s coolant, check the levels in your radiator. If it’s low, bring your car to a Clarksville-area mechanic promptly
• Your windshield wiper fluid can be cracked and it’s leaking fluid.

Leaking Fluid Color Guide

Now that you’ve got an idea of what causes leaking fluid, determine what fluids can leak from your car. It’s pretty easy to know water leaking from under your car, but if the fluid is not water, you need to know what it is. Learn more about the different fluids and colors that can leak from your car:

• Red: Transmission or power steering fluid 
• Orange: Power steering or radiator coolant
• Green or Pink: Antifreeze from the water pump, hoses, or radiator
• Blue: windshield wiper fluid
• Dark brown: brake fluid or old engine oil
• Light brown: fresh engine oil or gear lubricant 

Learn More at Music City Autoplex! 

As you’ve learned, if your car is leaking water, there’s no need to worry. But, if something other than water is leaking from under your car, you should service your car quickly at a specialist in Franklin. If you have more concerns about your car, see some of our service and maintenance tips for more information!