Nick's Auto Blog

Hello, my name is Nick. This is my new auto blog. Have you ever wondered about how you can improve the look and functioning of your auto? If so you are in the right place. I live in a large house in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia and my house has as many garage parking spots as it does rooms. And believe me, it has a lot of rooms. I like to collect classic cars and then work on them to restore them to their former glory. In doing this, I have learnt lots of cool tricks. I would like to share some of these tricks with you here.

How to Handle a Brake Fluid Leak

Automotive Blog

If you notice dark fluid underneath your car when it is parked or are having issues with the smell, sound, and function of your brakes, you might be dealing with a brake fluid leak. Here are some steps for handling this type of leak.

Stop Driving Your Car

The first thing you need to do if you notice a brake fluid leak is stop driving your car. This type of car is dangerous if you continue driving and ignore the leak. It could lead to your brakes giving out on you when stopping at a red light or when you need to slow down on the highway. It puts you and others in jeopardy. Continuing to drive your vehicle with this type of leak can also lead to a failure of the brake system, which would require more extensive repairs if you don't get to the mechanic right away. It is best that you keep the car at your home until you fix it yourself, or have the car towed to your mechanic.

Find the Source of the Leak

When you are safely parked in your driveway or garage, you can start looking for the cause or source of the fluid leak. As with any type of fluid leak, you want to check all mechanisms under the hood and find spots where there are streaks of fluid that looks like the brown brake fluid. For example, you might notice a pool of fluid near a gasket, that makes it appear as if this gasket needs to be replaced. There may be a hose with a crack in it that has fluid dripping out of it, showing the location of the leak. If it has to do with a simple part, such as a hose, you might be able to replace it on your own. However, don't try to fix the leak if you are not 100 percent sure of the cause of the leak. This could only be more trouble when you get back into your vehicle and continue driving it.

Continue Getting Preventative Maintenance

After you have followed these initial steps for handling the brake fluid leak, continue bringing your vehicle into a mechanic to have preventative maintenance performed. This is done in the form of tune-ups and oil changes that not only check all fluid levels in your vehicle but can look for signs of trouble. The mechanic might notice that your brake fluid is lower than it should be or that the gaskets or hoses are wearing down. They can perform simple repairs that help avoid more serious trouble down the line.

Share

19 February 2016