How to Find Fluid Leaks in a Vehicle
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2024
- In this episode of Saturday Mechanic, Ben Wojdyla explains what are the best techniques on how to find fluid leaks in a vehicle.
Fluid leaks explained in this episode:
*Engine oil
*Brake fluid
*Antifreeze
*Transmission fluid
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Who says you can't work on your own car anymore? Follow Popular Mechanics associate auto editor Ben Wojdyla as he leads viewers, step by step, through repairs, upgrades, and troubleshooting tips. Got car questions? Email Ben, and he may answer them on the show.
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great video ! well explained, keep em coming !
Good job man, you picked a tough topic to simplify, there's a lot of different ways a car can leak any number of fluids and you did a good job shot gunning it without making a 2 hour video, thanks.
This is a very nice primer on finding leaks. Well done. The foot powder trick is genius. Learn sumpin new every day...
Great video and clear to understand. Thank you!!
This video is great, thank you for making it.
You should have been my teacher in school, I would have passed everything, great video.
EXTREMELY HELPFUL. THANK YOU!!
BRAVO.THE BEST TUTORING ABOUT OIL LEAK.DETAILED AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.THANKS.
Exatcly with all details.Good job Ben.
Great view on investigating fluid we have a truck that seems to be leaking fluid . But i am going to peform the same technique that you've done THANK YOU VERY MUCJ : )
Thanks, my man. Good job!
This video was very good and informative :)
Thank you for the tutorial video. Very helpful. One of the main issues I've always had with vehicles I've owned. What was the first spray that you used before the foot spray?
simply amazing video guys...
Great video, thanx
great tips thanks
Very good advice, would you have any videos or anything on checking leak from a windshield wiper resovoir such as removing and where to look on a 2006 Nissan Titan
Great tips.
Very nice video for general info on leaks. Thanks
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This was a brilliant video, who'd have thought, foot powder? So glad his was just a stone chip into the filter. Hope mine is as cheap!
Grat job !
Hi, just send a salute from México. I´m the mexican guy in the press conference of new Chevy Silverado/ GMC Sierra. Nice work this about fluid leaks! See you.
Thanks, the foot powder tip is just gold.
This vid helps me understand how to fix your car its very fun and important.☺👍🚘
Great demo, thank you very much! :-)
Thanks a lot. It was good.
Good video.
I like it. but anyway do you have video about how to set up geometry?
Good explanation on leaks . I liked it.
John Pinto I've got a situation where there is kind of oily liquid in the coolant radiator. garage technician suspect that gear drops leak inside coolant. however, I didn't got any shortage of gear oil ! . xterra 2008
hi how are you my car oil leak 2004 cadillac escalade can you what problem?
i paid $831 but sam oil leak i take back he want $ 976more i dont know what do to please tell me
Hey thanks Ben, I really appreciate it. Well im hoping it's a simple fix like shift solenoids or something. But do you think a cable running to the intake manifold may have been installed incorrectly when I did the swap?
Man.. I hope to find that this is my problem as well.. Will find out tomorrow!
Hi, thanks for the video. I just replaced the clutch slave cylinder after having to keep refilling the master clutch resovoir. This morning I checked and the clutch resevoir is empty. The car is a 1993 hyndai elantra 1.6 with 105k miles on it. It shifts okay but will look for more leak points. Any thoughts on this?
Brake fluid clean my oil residual well and foot power work well. Thanks
Hi Ben I have a 99 nissan quest and it has a leak in by the front passenger tire not sure if it is the brake or power steering fluid.
Hey thanks for the tips Ben.
I have took My 2003 GMC Yukon
Truck to many shops and
End up losing money from
Them all any of them
Couldn't fix my oil Problem.
It still leak till this day.
Ok over the months
I've been deciding to
Buy My own tools and fix
My own vehicles because
Some mechanics out here
Just No Good at all and
I live in Atlanta Georgia
And I haven't found
A good shop yet.
How do I know if there is a problem of leaking on the break bluid or a problem with the pressure sensor? I have not noticed break fluid in the floor... Thanks for the help
Nice video, shame you didn't use the AW11 MR2 in the back to hunt for leaks.
It would be informative since I have a '85 mkIa myself and it's very compact and hard to follow leaks in that chassis.
i see few dried oil spots every next day underneath my right front tire, i recently noticed and changed my power stering fluid as it was below than minium ( well below), do you think it is power steering fluid? it leaked because it was lower than minimum ? i recently drove a long distnace and my car was fine until few days ago. looking for ideas. nissan micra s, 2000 , right hand side driving.
Thank u
In addition to gear oil possibly leaking from your differentials, it can also be leaking from your transfer case.
I've been using the fram tough gaurds, its fine, but I have noticced a noisy engine start up maybe cuz the oil drain back valve wasn't doing its job? Idk I've used it the past 6 months and now I'm noticing a lil more engine noise while crusing.. also should I be using "high milage" synthetic blend oils? Since I have 97,000 miles. I've been using castrol full syntheticc
hey i have a brake warning light up on my dash and i see that there are two liquids leaking (i suspect coolant and brake fluid) its a 1999 chevrolet Lumina 55,000 miles both are leaking from the front whats your advice?? im just not sure if its either please i need some advice
I had a bad coolant leak for a while. It was a 3 inch rubber pipe. Worst thing I've ever changed.
I have a 2008 ford fusion with 2.3 4 cyclinder manul transmission engine and it's leaking fluid around the radiator not coolant but fluid I think it has a cooler on the radiator what could be the problem?
Hi Ben,after installing a new radiateur in my car Opel corsa B, I found that there is a leak.The coolant houder mark.60 % lower to 10 % everyday.Waht is the problem.Please help.
I want to know if your mileage light is flickering on and off is that a fuse? I have a 2000 Malibu.
what was that can that u used to clean off..u said not as strong as brake cleaner..so what is the name of that white can ..thanks for the tip
Like the video - very informative. thanks I would also like to know what he white and red can was. thanks
brake clean
Hey Ben quick question.. I recently replaced an engine in my 93 Lexus SC400, and for some reason my transmission does not want to upshift forward gears.. it stays in first.. I don't think its a mechanical problem because I changed the trans filter and fluid and it didn't look too bad and there wasn't anything on the magnets. I'm thinking its an electrical problem.. any ideas?
I have 2 questions first I have a coolant leak which I believe is coming from a freeze plug on my 1991 ford f150 with the 300 6cyl. how should I go about this? Second could fuel system cleaner help my engine run better?
Could reusing a oil drain plug crush washer or leaving it out be a source of a oil leak? When I stock up on oil filter at the dealership, I make sure the crush washers are included.
Very helpful video, time to find where my cars leak is.
Hey man, we have a 2010 Honda Civic Sport with about 30000K on it and when we park it in the garage over night, in the morning there is a clear fluid on the floor where the engine are is.
I'm guessing that is A/C water? But we don't use A/C, and plus this car is only 2 years old, should it even be leaking anything?
Cheers from Canada,
Andriy
I had a lot of oil leaks on my car. Rear main seal, oil cooler o-ring, cam cap seal, oil pan gaskets (both). The problem is almost my entire engine is soaked in it or has a lot of film. I replaced my clutch because it was bad plus the bad rear main seal. My transmission was covered inside and out. I managed to clean it up really good (except around axle inputs). How can I clean every inch underneath the car without pulling out everything in my engine bay?
I've got a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier with 234k on the clock. A mechanic deduced that my oil leak wasn't rear main seal, as he said the flywheel would have been drenched with fluid if it was (it wasn't). I forgot what he thought it may have been. The oil hasn't dipped below the F line yet. Should I just keep making sure that it doesn't get down to E? It's a very small leak, think of 3 quarter drops every 2 days it sits.
Thanks!
what did you clean leak stains with
Hi I have a plm wit my bmw the old leaking how can if find the plm and fix it I need help
I have a 1999 ford escort I have a leak in the transmission inter cooler line but I can't find where it is leaking
The car is not leaking it's just marking it's territory!
I cant find spray foot powder that is white powder. Everything, even at walmart, is clear liquid. Can you give the name brand?
How can I contact with u
I have some causations
hi what was that your spraying with to clean the engine bay.
brake clean
I have a oil leak but my oil levels are fine, can't fine were it coming from,oil light flicks on and off when driven it a little.
Thanks. I just don't have access to a pressure washer or an engine lift to really do that.
.How much it cost to replace a leaking hose of a power steering? What else should be replace?
Oil leak at axle that mean is leaking transmission oil right ? Not the engine oil right?
i would be too, I have never seen a hole in an oil filter unless it was dented or something. Very weird, I wonder how it got there.
This is awesome because you don't need special diagnostic parts.
He used Brakleen, ie brake cleaner. He said that you should really use something gentler than brake cleaner, but ended up using it anyway.
Wonderful explanation. Thank you. I have a question. I recently took a car trip and realized the engine oil is disappearing at a rate of 1 bottle/2000 miles. I put a piece of cardboard under the engine for a night and there was no sign of oil on the cardboard. Could you suggest any possible suspects? Thank you.
Do you have white smoke coming out the rear exhaust?
NU MOO
i have a similar problem and i have seen white smoke before, suggestions?
***** if its white smoke youre burning antifreeze...and should have a 'sweet' smell to it.
head gasket
Chip Caddy or cracked head cylinder
Brakleen will also remove your eyes if you get it in it,or make you think it is going to remove them...Safety glasses,and or a face shield when spraying Brakleen above your face,or near your eyes...
"It's crazy poisonous and you don't wanna lick it."
Good video. You must have a horse shoe up your truck. Luckiest leak possible. I like the foot spray idea. Thanks for sharing.
i've had a bad calliper, leaking brake fluid... but I knew because my board indicator was lit even with handbrake down.
what's that can you use for clean up the oil stain?
leo xu probably brake fluid and high pressure water.
Dawn Ultra! It works real good on baby ducks.
my 91 buick lasaber leaking transmission fluid but the fluids never low
I have a '02 Monte Carlo LS & it just started leaking something near the front, passenger side of my vehicle. Can't really tell if it's an coolant leak or something else. Any ideas?
Something else.
what kind of foot powder is that
This video seems really helpful. I think a face mask would be a good idea though.
A lot of those car sprays are made of some pretty toxic stuff. And, gravity
takes the spray droplets down into your breathing space.
my mechanic told me I have a rear main engine oil seal leak and would need to take car to transmission shop. My car is a 91 maxima W/116,000 miles I can not spend $1,000+ to replace seal. He says it's a slow leak and would not fix it, due to cost and age of car. How about using the product "BARS REAR MAIN SEAL REPAIR" or "LUCAS OIL 10278 ENGINE OIL STOP LEAK"? Any thoughts on that?
The ways those product works is basically swelling the broken or cracked seal. They could work for a little while, but i would change the seal as soon as you can so you don't have to deal with it again. Maybe try another mechanic and check prices.
Man… I replaced my valve cover gasket and it’s still leaking some oil. Hopefully mine is as easy as a hole in my filter… but it doesn’t drip until after I drive and let it sit for a while.
Yeah, don't use brakleen. Use d-limonene or Simple Green spray followed by a pressure washer water rinse then go for a drive. The acetone in brakleen can hurt hoses.
Dealership imformed my oil leak was a rear oil seal and charged me 3100.oil light came back on 21 days after repair ruining motor but dealership only offered half money back or install motor free if I brought motor.file in small claims for a knew motor and all money back it was there diagnosis’s
what the sprays you used?
Ali G
Probably brake/clutch cleaner
What was the first can used. I didnt catch the name.
Matthew Andrade brake cleaner
Will transmission oil leak at passenger side of car?
What about a fuel leak on a 5 speed 89 Toyota Tercel.
What about the fluid in the hydraulic clutch or slave ! BIKERB
what did you use instead of brake cleaner you never said.
A degreaser such as Simple Green.
spray yourself car wash, then use Brake cleaner, after it drys, spray foot power on to be able to have a contrast to see leaks.
I think he did use brake cleaner but said you'll probably want to use something less harsh or abrasive
8:33 mark for coolant leak
That's the reason I always use AC delco filters. In your case I would only use motorcraft filters. The ones from Napa are fram and fram is utter crap. Motorcraft shouldnt cost any more than a few bucks extra. I use full synthetic so I only change every 10k miles so the extra few bucks are worth it.
have transmission leak
Is this a compression test or something different? Thanks
A pressure washer works wonders. Just make sure you don't soak the alternator and ignition system.
safety glasses would be nice
I wish you would be my neighbor, so you could lift up my car and find a leak under engine.
I have a leak, whole engine is covered with oil underneath, but i dont know where it comes. Once in a 3-4 months i need to add oil. I will try to look at oil filter but i don't think i will get it so easy. Was this called "Powder spray" ? What powder is it?
Where i should ask for it?
thats why I like fords..oil filter doubles as a skidplate .
I no longer by the generic oil filters cause of this... leaky and one had a split seam... I figured if it would have been just a weak seam... could have split open far from home and wouldn't be worth the $2 I save buying cheap filters.
What do you do if you have a leak in the front of and you think it's oil but when you check the engine oil the engine oil is full but it's leaking oil?
Drink a beer
Get under the car and try find the leak.
it's leaking from that Ford emblem
That why FORD mean Fix Or Repair Daily, lol.
@@jefrey5578 yet was on 200k only leaking oil from a damaged filter. I'm not a ford guy but gm or Chrysler is much worse on reliability particularly lately
unfortunately i agree with you. modern chevys are junk which is why i keep my 2001 chevy 4.3 4x4. Bought it new, 500k miles and only replaced the radiator other than normal service repairs
@@devinanderson15 That's why I drive Toyota and Honda. If you maintain them they don't die.