Drivers are just realizing what the fluid leaking from their car is, an everyday kitchen item helps you identify it

TaraSubramaniamAugust 19, 2023

DRIVERS have realized that an everyday kitchen item can help them identify what type of liquid may be leaking from their vehicles.

Thanks to a tip shared on social media by an auto expert, motorists can now more easily identify where service may be needed.

Auto expert and influencer Eric has found that a napkin is the number one tool for figuring out where a vehicle's leak is coming from — Auto expert and influencer Eric has found that a napkin is the number one tool for figuring out where a vehicle’s leak is coming fromPhoto credit: YouTube/ericthecarguy

Eric said the napkin is a better way to tell the color than trying to identify it while it's on the hot pavement — Eric said the napkin is a better way to tell the color than trying to identify it while it’s on the hot pavementPhoto credit: YouTube/ericthecarguy

Influencer and car enthusiast Eric (@ericthecarguy) noted in a short clip on YouTube that seeing liquid dripping from a vehicle and identifying that liquid by sight alone can be quite a challenge.

According to Eric, there are at least five different types of fluid that could be caused by a vehicle leak.

Aside from water from the air conditioner, which is just condensation, the culprits could be brake fluid, engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid.

Eric placed new and old versions on a table in the video so viewers could see the color differences.

“I realize some of these may be different colors, but when they drip out and lie on the pavement, especially dark pavement, it’s hard to tell what color they are,” the auto expert said.

“Well, here’s a high-tech tool and tip to help you spot that.”

He then grabbed an everyday kitchen item—the napkin—to soak up the liquid and determine its color.

“You just put it on the leak,” Eric explained.

“It absorbs some of the liquid and helps you see the color.”

The car professional also emphasized that the air conditioning system will again leak “clear water” and that this is a normal process.

“Don’t worry about this leak,” he remarked.

“But if you’re trying to identify something under your vehicle, down to a leak, use a napkin like this.”

Eric showed the napkin, the tip of which had been doused in a rich brown paint, and identified it as automatic transmission fluid.

As The US Sun previously reported, a mechanic warned that in summer it’s important to distinguish between air conditioning condensation and spills.

“If your car ‘leaks’ in the summer, it may not be a leak at all,” noted an auto expert from Genuine Automotive (@genuineautomotiveatx) in a short video in June.

“It could just be the condensation [air conditioning] fall on the ground!”

“In the summer we get some complaints about a leak and people bring their cars in,” she added.

According to the mechanic, a leaking air conditioner is actually just a natural process caused by extreme heat.

“And what we’re actually seeing is that the air conditioning is condensing and water is dripping onto the floor because when it’s wetter or hotter, there’s more condensation from the air conditioning.”