Encinitas Auto Leak Detection & Repair

Services

The longer you own a car, the more you will get to know its sounds, rattles and quarks. If you sense that something may be wrong with your car, based on odd symptoms, sounds or smells, it is good to bring it in for an Encinitas auto inspection as soon as possible to prevent any long-term damage.

Some indications that your vehicle may have a leak, include (but are not limited to):

• Whistling noise coming from beneath the hood — this could be a sign of a vacuum leak in one of the vehicle’s hoses or in the weatherstripping
• Burning smells may be the sign of an oil leak
• Smells of exhaust fumes may be a sign of a faulty exhaust pipe that is leaking gases through the floorboards
• The smell of gasoline inside your vehicle could indicate a leak in the fuel injection system, the carburetor, the fuel pump or the fuel lines and hoses leading to the fuel tank
• Oil stains on the ground where your car was parked may also be a sign of a possible leak; something to keep in mind is that fuel evaporates rapidly, so even if the spots are dried and look they’ve been there a while, they may be fresh
• Light or dark blue smoke coming from the tailpipe could be a sign that oil is leaking into the vehicle’s combustion chambers

How to Detect a Leak?

If you think your car may have a leak, it is important to bring it in for a check up immediately. If you run your vehicle with low fluid, it can cause serious damage. The following are some steps to take to determine if anything is leaking from your car, truck or SUV:

• Park your vehicle over clean white paper or over clean pavement for the night
• In the morning, check for small puddles or stains
• Touch and smell the fluid

Here are some things to look out for:

• If the liquid is clear and seems watery, it may be coming from the air conditioner
• If the liquid is dark in color (brown or black) and feels greasy, it is most likely oil
• If the liquid is dark in color and feels thick and oily, it may be gear oil coming from the differential, axle or manual transmission
• If it looks red or pink in color, it may be transmission fluid
• If is feels watered down and has a tint of red, green, blue or yellow, it could be coolant
• If it smells like eggs, it is likely battery acid
• If it is clear or lightly colored, it may be brake fluid

What Should You Do if You Find a Leak?

The best thing to do, no matter what color, smell or texture the fluid is, is bring your car in to Furgerson’s Garage for a thorough inspection. Vehicles run off vital fluids. When the fluids are low, serious damage can occur. Contact our Encinitas auto repair service today if you are in or near Encinitas and would like to have a potential leak checked out.