You are already running late for work and you see a puddle of fluid on the garage floor when you back out. Automotive fluids come in different colors to help identify them. If you sop up some of the fluid in a paper towel or tissue, you will be able to see the color of the fluid easily. Check our guide below to determine the fluid that has leaked onto your garage floor.

Blue

If the fluid is blue, it is probably the washing solution and de-icing solution for your windshield. This is generally the only automotive fluid that is blue. In rare cases, the antifreeze/coolant may also be blue. Check the radiator overflow reservoir to see the color of your antifreeze/coolant.

Brown

If the fluid is brown, your engine may be leaking motor oil. It’s also possible that you’ve got differential oil leaking from the bottom of your automobile. Finally, brown fluid can also be brake fluid. In this case, you may see the puddle of fluid behind one of the wheels.

Clear

If the fluid doesn’t have any color to it at all, it’s possible that the puddle on the garage floor is just water. This being said, make sure to smell the paper towel or tissue to see if the fluid smells like fuel. If it does, you have a fuel leak that can make driving your vehicle dangerous.

Green

If the fluid is green, it is antifreeze/coolant. The color green is usually neon green. It may also be green-yellow. It is not a good idea to drive your automobile if it is leaking antifreeze/coolant. The reason why is that your engine can overheat even if it is cold outside.

Orange

The fluid may also be orange if it is antifreeze/coolant. The antifreeze/coolant can turn orange if you have a rusty radiator. This may be the case if your vehicle is quite old. Depending on the brand and type of antifreeze/coolant that you have in the cooling system, it may also be orange.

Red

We mentioned above that brake fluid is brown. Some brands and types are also red. In addition, the transmission oil is red. If you have a hydraulic power steering system, the power steering fluid is red. Finally, the antifreeze/coolant can be red or yellow.

Bring your vehicle to our shop so we can find out which fluid is leaking and from where. Once we know what the problem is, we will fix it.