Fluid under the car · Autobedrijf Willemsbrug Rotterdam

Fluid under the car? This is how you see what is leaking

Have you found a puddle or a stain under your car? The colour, the smell and the spot tell you a lot about what is leaking. Clear water is often normal. Oil, coolant or brake fluid is not. Below you can read what the colour means and what is best to do.

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The short answer

A puddle under the car can be harmless, such as condensation from the air con. But it can also be oil, coolant or brake fluid. Look at the colour, the smell and the spot. Put a sheet of white paper under the engine if you are not sure.

For finding and repairing a leak you can come to Autobedrijf Willemsbrug at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde. We find the source first. You hear the price in advance and we only start once you agree. Call +31 10 479 00 00 during opening hours with your registration number. We work by appointment. For a quick question or check, you can walk in without an appointment.

Jump to: which colour · colour table · frequently asked questions · directions

What colour is the fluid?

The colour already tells you a lot about what is leaking. These are the most common ones:

  • Clear as water with no smell: often condensation from the air con
  • Brown or black and greasy: usually engine oil
  • Green, pink, orange or yellow with a sweet smell: usually coolant
  • Clear to yellowish brown and slippery, near a wheel: possibly brake fluid
  • Red or reddish brown, greasy and without a sweet smell: possibly automatic gearbox oil or power steering fluid
  • Smells of petrol or diesel: fuel

Is coolant, brake fluid or fuel leaking? Do not drive any further and call your roadside assistance. With fuel: do not start the engine and do not smoke nearby. Read what to do when you have a breakdown on the road.

This is how you see what is leaking

Put a sheet of white paper or white cardboard under the engine and leave the car overnight. Then you can see the colour clearly. Take a photo of it.

Also note the spot. At the front under the engine it is often oil or coolant. In the middle it can be gearbox oil, also in a car with a manual gearbox. Near a wheel it can be brake fluid. Have a sniff too: coolant smells sweet, fuel smells of petrol or diesel.

Then check the fluid levels under the bonnet when the engine is cold. If a level has dropped, you often already know where the leak is.

What we do when something is leaking

  • Clean the area and find the source of the leak
  • Pressure test the cooling system when coolant is leaking
  • Check hoses, clamps and gaskets
  • Check the brakes and the brake lines when there is a leak near a wheel
  • Tell you in advance what the repair costs
  • Check and top up the fluid levels after the repair

Extra work is only done with your approval.

Fluid under the car: colour, cause and what to do

This table shows what a colour usually means. We only know what is really leaking once we have looked at the car.

Colour of the fluid, what it usually is and what to do
Colour, smell and spot What it usually is What to do
Clear as water, no smell, under the passenger footwell Condensation from the air con Normal after a drive with the air con on. Read more about air con leaking water
Drops of water from the exhaust when the engine is cold Condensation in the exhaust Normal. Disappears once the engine is warm
Brown to black and greasy, under the engine Engine oil Check the oil level. Have the leak looked at. Read more about oil changes
Green, pink, orange, yellow or blue, thin, sweet smell Coolant Do not drive on, call your roadside assistance. Read more about the radiator
Clear to yellowish brown and slippery, near a wheel or behind the engine Possibly brake fluid Do not drive, call your roadside assistance. Read more about brakes
Red or reddish brown, greasy and without a sweet smell, in the middle of the car Possibly automatic gearbox oil Have it checked soon. Read more about automatic gearbox problems (in Dutch)
Red or yellowish brown and greasy, at the front, mainly in older cars Possibly power steering fluid Have it checked soon
Blue or pink, thin, smells of soap or alcohol, at the front near a corner Screenwash No hurry, but have it looked at
Smells of petrol or diesel Fuel Do not start the engine, do not smoke, call your roadside assistance

Oil or coolant? This is how you see whether your car is leaking oil

Engine oil is brown or black and feels greasy. Wait at least ten minutes after driving and then check the oil level. If there is still enough oil, have the leak looked at. Coolant is thin, often brightly coloured and smells sweet. According to the ANWB, it is better not to drive on when coolant is leaking. Coolant is also poisonous to children and pets, so clean it up.

Brake fluid and fuel

Brake fluid is clear to yellowish brown and feels slippery. If the puddle is near a wheel or the brake pedal feels soft, do not drive any further. If you smell petrol or diesel, do not start the engine and do not smoke nearby. In both cases, call your roadside assistance.

We work on all makes and models, including hybrid and electric cars. You are also welcome with a van or motorhome up to 3,500 kg. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems), so they can work on hybrid and electric cars.

Why we find the source first

A leak is often not directly above the puddle. Fluid often runs down along the engine or a hose and only drips off further along. That is why we clean the area and look for the source. Then you hear what is leaking, what it costs and how long it takes.

Our repairs come with a warranty. With the quote you hear which warranty applies. Call +31 10 479 00 00 for a check or a quote.

Frequently asked questions about fluid under the car

No need to click. All the answers are already open below.

What does a puddle under my car mean?

That depends on the colour, the smell and the spot. Clear water at the front is often condensation from the air con. That is normal. A brown or black stain is usually engine oil. Green, pink or orange with a sweet smell is often coolant. See the table on this page for what the colour usually means. If in doubt, call us during opening hours.

How can I see clearly what colour the fluid is?

Put a sheet of white paper or white cardboard under the engine and leave the car overnight. The next morning you can see the colour clearly, and you can also see where it is leaking: at the front, in the middle or near a wheel. Take a photo of it. That helps us find the cause faster.

Is water under my car normal?

Yes, usually. According to the ANWB, clear water under the car is usually condensation from the air con. You mostly see it after a drive with the air con on, under the passenger footwell. Water from the exhaust when the engine is cold is normal too. Is the water not clear, does it smell sweet or feel greasy? Then it is not condensation.

My car is leaking oil. Can I still drive it?

Yes, if there is still enough oil in the engine. Check the oil level first. According to the ANWB, you should wait at least ten minutes after driving before you check. If the level is fine, have the leak looked at. If the oil level is below the minimum, do not drive any further and call your roadside assistance. Does the red oil light come on while driving? Stop in a safe place and switch off the engine.

There is green or pink fluid under my car. What is it?

That is usually coolant. It can also be orange, yellow or blue and often smells sweet. According to the ANWB, there is then probably a leak in the cooling system. Do not drive on and call your roadside assistance. Do not open the reservoir while the engine is hot. Read more about the radiator and the cooling system.

Could it be brake fluid?

Yes. Brake fluid is usually clear to yellowish brown and feels slippery. You often find it near a wheel or behind the engine on the driver’s side. A leak in the brakes is dangerous. Do not drive and call your roadside assistance. The same applies if the brake pedal feels soft or sinks to the floor. Read more about brakes.

There is red fluid under my car. What is it?

Is the fluid red or reddish brown, greasy and without a sweet smell? In the middle of the car it often comes from the automatic gearbox. If the puddle is at the front, in an older car it can be power steering fluid. If red fluid smells sweet, it is more likely coolant. Have it checked soon. Too little oil in the automatic gearbox can damage the gearbox. Read more about automatic gearbox problems (in Dutch).

I can smell petrol or diesel near my car. What should I do?

Do not start the engine, do not smoke nearby and do not use a naked flame. Call your roadside assistance. Leaking fuel can catch fire. Have the car brought in through your roadside assistance. We do not have our own tow truck.

How much does it cost to repair a leak?

That depends on what is leaking and where. Sometimes it is a hose or a clamp, sometimes a gasket or a part of the engine. That is why we find the source first. Then you hear what it costs and we only start once you agree. Our repairs come with a warranty. With the quote you hear which warranty applies.

How do you find where the leak is?

We clean the area and look where the fluid is coming from. With coolant we pressure test the cooling system. That way we spot the leak faster. A photo of the puddle and the spot under the car helps us with this.

How do I clean up an oil stain?

Put cardboard under the car so no more oil gets on the ground. A fresh oil stain can be soaked up with cat litter or sawdust. Do not rinse oil away with water into the drain. Have the leak itself repaired too, otherwise a new stain keeps appearing. Hand in the used litter as hazardous household waste.

Will my car pass the APK (MOT) with a leak?

That depends on what is leaking and how much. A leak can be a reason to fail. So have it looked at before the APK. Has your car already failed? Read more about a failed APK.

My van or motorhome is leaking. Can you help?

Yes, for the base vehicle up to 3,500 kg, such as the engine, the brakes and the cooling system. Is water leaking in a motorhome from the water tank or the pipes of the living area? For that you are better off going to a motorhome specialist. Read more about motorhome repair and van repair.

Can an electric or hybrid car leak too?

Yes. An electric or hybrid car also has coolant, for example for the battery and the electric motor. A hybrid also has engine oil. And the air con produces condensation, like in any other car. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate for work on hybrid and electric cars.

Should I call in advance?

Yes, please. Call +31 10 479 00 00 during opening hours and tell us what colour the fluid is and where it is. Have you taken a photo of it? Show it to us when you come in. If you cannot drive on because of a leak of oil, coolant or brake fluid, have the car brought to us through your roadside assistance. Read more about a breakdown on the road.

Have a leak traced in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde

You can find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is a five-minute drive away. You can park for free in front of the garage if there is space. The Stadion Feijenoord tram stop (line 3) is close by.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. We work by appointment. For a quick question or check, you can walk in without an appointment.

Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or see our contact page.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.00 to 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 to 15.00
Sunday: closed
We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Is your car leaking?

Call us during opening hours with your registration number. For a quick question or check you can also walk in. You hear the cost in advance and we only start once you agree.

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say.

Also see our pages on the radiator, brakes, air con leaking water and car diagnostics (in Dutch).

Nederlands? Deze pagina is er ook in het Nederlands.