Potential Issues when you see Oil on the Driveway
Water tends to bead up when it drips. Oil on the other hand, spreads out. That means a small drop can go a long way, so when you see oil on the driveway, don't panic. Don't ignore it either though, because there are some potential issues. Here's what to do.
Find the culprit
If yours is the only vehicle ever parked on your driveway you've found the culprit. But if there are multiple people using the driveway (don't overlook occasional visitors and even the cab that dropped you off last week), you'll do best to clean the oil off and watch for its return. (Good Housekeeping magazine hasdriveway cleaning tips.)
If you determine that your car or truck is the leaker, you'll want to figure out what the fluid is and where it's coming from. A good approach is to leave some clean white paper or cardboard under the vehicle overnight and look for any traces in the morning.
What is it?
Car engines hold several different fluids, and any could begin to leak. The clues to the source are color, smell and location, although the drip location doesn't necessarily correspond to the site of the leak since air moving underneath will blow the fluid back. (If it's at the wheels, though, it's probably brake fluid.)
The white paper test is a good way to determine the fluid's color. Engine oil is usually black, while transmission and power steering fluids are generally red. Engine coolant comes in many different colors, but often has a slightly sweet smell. You can always pull the engine and transmission dipsticks for a comparison with your sample, and remember to check the level while you're at it!
Where's it from?
Popular Mechanics magazine has a neat tip forfinding the source of an oil leak: clean off the suspected area, then spray foot powder over it. Any fluid seeping through a joint will quickly become obvious.
An alternate, high-tech approach is to put a specialdyein the fluid you think is leaking, then use a black light to make it fluoresce. This is the approach your mechanic will probably take.
Get it fixed
Any leak means you're losing fluid, which isn't good. Once you've established what's leaking, you'll want to keep the appropriate reservoir topped up until you can get the leak fixed. You can put a drip tray underneath temporarily, but that won't help in the office or shopping mall parking lot; those drips are going to find their way into the drains. You don't want to be responsible for polluting the creeks and rivers!
Oil on the driveway can be alarming, but it's usually not as bad as it looks. Figure out where it's coming from, keep the fluid level topped up and get it fixed as soon as you can.
