When you see a puddle underneath your vehicle, it’s never a good thing. Whether it’s oil, transmission fluid, or coolant, you’ve got a problem, but it’s not the end of the world – Just don’t wait to get it checked out!
Today we’re going to talk about leak repair and cover some of the different types of leaks, as well as how you can prevent them, and we’ll also share some frequently asked questions on the subject.
Got a leak? Let’s talk about it so that you’ll know what you can do to get it taken care of!
The location of a leak can help you to quickly identify its source, so let’s review some spots where you might see a leak so that you can isolate their issue. Here are some common leak locations and what they mean:
Any of these leaks are a good reason to bring your vehicle in for a checkup, but now that you know the locations, you’ll have a better idea of what the problem is when you are going into the shop.
The thing with leaks is that barring rough handling of your vehicle or the occasional fender bender, you can maintain the valves and hoses that your engine uses by simply getting your manufacturer-recommended preventative maintenance done on a regular basis.
Your engine is a finely-engineered piece of machinery, after all, and you’ve got to maintain it if you want to keep it in tip-top shape. Provided that you do, your engine will always be running at its best and you’ll be able to protect your resale value as much as possible until it’s time for an upgrade.
It’s as simple as that!
When your radiator is leaking, how far you’ll be able to drive is going to depend on a lot of different factors. For instance, if it’s cold outside and raining, you’ll get more mileage before overheating than you would on a hot summer’s day.
That’s only if you have plenty of coolant, though, and the speed that you are traveling at is also going to make a difference in how quickly your vehicle is going to overheat. As such, it’s really best to pull over and call a tow truck to get your vehicle safely to the shop. The less you risk your engine overheating, the better.
If you’ve noticed that your transmission is leaking, then it’s not a good idea to keep driving your vehicle at all. If it seems to be a very small leak, then a 10 – 15 mile drive to get home or to a shop might be okay, but you really don’t want to push it when it comes to your transmission.
Your best bet is to get your vehicle to the shop right away before it gets worse. Slipping gears, overheating, delayed engagement… or even just a few odd noises are usually going to be soon to follow, so don’t wait. The longer you do, the more expensive the repairs might be and your transmission could fail completely.
A leaky gasket is nothing to trifle with, so if you are noticing signs of leakage, such as puddles, white smoke from the exhaust, or a sweet-smelling engine then you should get your vehicle to the shop right away.
A leaky gasket can quickly lead to overheating and this can do a lot of damage very quickly, so don’t push your luck – Get your vehicle into an expert right away.
At Louden Motorcars we have over 4 decades of experience working with quality German import vehicles, so if you’ve got a leak, we’re going to isolate the issue and we can get it fixed in record time. While you could trust a general mechanic with this kind of work, they’re not necessarily going to be familiar with your vehicle’s design.
At Louden Motorcars, we won’t just know the make, but we’ll have experience with your specific model and this makes an enormous difference in the time it takes to get your vehicle fixed the RIGHT way. Come and see the difference that having an expert on your side can make – We look forward to earning your business!
Louden Motorcar Services, Inc.
11454 Reeder Road, Dallas, TX 75229
Mon To Fri: 07:30 AM – 05:30 PM
Sat - Sun: Closed
Call today for an appointment: 972-241-6326
Theresa - theresa@loudenmotorcars.com
Jon - jon@loudenmotorcars.com
