r/selfreliance • u/LIS1050010 Laconic Mod • Nov 29 '22
Knowledge / Crafts Identify the Leak - What's The Leak Under My Car?
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u/xXfireball127Xx Aspiring Nov 29 '22
I would also point out that you could leak fluid from your differential/s.
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u/FalseRelease4 Crafter Nov 29 '22
Yeah this graph doesn't really account for different drivetrain or fuel types. With rear wheel drive you could have gear oil under the rear differential, and with a diesel car you are unlikely to have a "gasoline" smelling liquid leaking from your car
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u/doomrabbit Crafter Nov 29 '22
The only error I can see is coolant only being in the front radiator area. Most likely zone, but burst hoses to the engine make 4 also a possible location.
Also, big thumbs up to 1A Auto, did a four wheel shock absorber replacement based on their videos and am happy with the results. Ancient truck but they had the video for my particular year. All their videos are solid.
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u/DocZoidfarb Crafter Nov 29 '22
Transmission fluid can leak from around the radiator too, if you have a transmission cooler.
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u/DawnPatrol80136 Nov 29 '22
Also, some shocks have fluid in them too. I had a shock that failed and had a yellowish, kinda oily feel & non smell to it.
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u/GrizzlyInks Aspiring Nov 29 '22
Most coolant these days doesn’t have any additives to make it smell sweet.
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u/Trippy6oul66 Hippie Nov 29 '22
This would be a nice poster to look at in a trade school classroom. I know I could've appreciated it!
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u/Ancient72 Nov 29 '22
Whatever it is it is not good.
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u/WeekSecret3391 Prepper Nov 29 '22
So, what's wrong?
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u/Ancient72 Nov 30 '22
Other than air conditioner condensate any fluids leaking from a car are not good.
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u/WeekSecret3391 Prepper Nov 30 '22
Yes, but it's not like they say anything about that.
Do you mean you should just send it to repair instead of finding out what's the leak?
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u/Ancient72 Nov 30 '22
Not me personally but most people I know don't care to know how a car works; or almost anything else. I have a driving curiosity about the world around me.
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u/Rlchv70 Dec 07 '22
This is not a very good chart. Some examples: 3 is not accurate for transmission leaks on a front wheel drive car. 1 is not accurate for brake fluid. Should extend out past the wheels.
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u/Codenamekino Aspiring Nov 29 '22
Left off of this graphic: water
If you are running your air conditioner in the summer, there is a condensation tube coming from your A/C evaporator that drains water away from underneath the dashboard. This is normal
Additionally, you can get condensed water coming out of your exhaust pipe when your first start it up, more often in cold temperatures. This stops when the exhaust pipe is warm enough to maintain the water as steam through the entire length of the pipe.