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How do i know if my car is leaking petrol?
spugzbunny
Posts: 1,235 Forumite
in Motoring
Hello!
Tuesday night I stayed in a hotel and when I came back to the multi story in the morning there was a biiiig puddle under my car. Dark coloured. Not wet. I decided that as it was a public car park it was probably there before.
Yesterday I get home and there is a puddle where I usually park (but again, public street and other people park there). Same dark puddle. Now paranoia kicks in! I left the car over night and no puddle this morning.
It is a 59 reg fiat 500 (8K on clock). No smell of petrol. the 'leak' if it were mine is coming from the back end. Is there any way to check if it is my car other than just monitoring the floor under the car? I've had a look and the car still looks shiny new underneath.
Also - wouldn't a petrol leak be lighter brown and oil leak be black? If so the dark puddle is the wrong end for oil?? No lights have come on in the car and petrol doesn't seem to be decreasing on the 'omiter.
Tuesday night I stayed in a hotel and when I came back to the multi story in the morning there was a biiiig puddle under my car. Dark coloured. Not wet. I decided that as it was a public car park it was probably there before.
Yesterday I get home and there is a puddle where I usually park (but again, public street and other people park there). Same dark puddle. Now paranoia kicks in! I left the car over night and no puddle this morning.
It is a 59 reg fiat 500 (8K on clock). No smell of petrol. the 'leak' if it were mine is coming from the back end. Is there any way to check if it is my car other than just monitoring the floor under the car? I've had a look and the car still looks shiny new underneath.
Also - wouldn't a petrol leak be lighter brown and oil leak be black? If so the dark puddle is the wrong end for oil?? No lights have come on in the car and petrol doesn't seem to be decreasing on the 'omiter.
House saving Targets:
£17,700 / £20,000
£17,700 / £20,000
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Comments
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Stick you finger in it and smell it (and/or taste it). If petrol take it to garage.
If as is more likely it will be water/condensation from the aircon unit which is perfectly normal.0 -
i think it's more likely to be water, condensation after the car being left for a while.
If you have a power washer or even go to the car wash, clean underneath perhaps spray with 'gunk' first then look next day.Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
What it may grow to in time, I know not what.
Daniel Defoe: 1725.
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It's a Fiat, it will be a leak,
sorry;)I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.
Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)
Always expect the unexpected:eek:and then you won't be dissapointed0 -
Get some plastic sheeting and put it under the car (driving onto it would probably be best) and assuming it doesn't rain this will collect any fluid which you can then examine. Smelling it will probably determine if it's petrol as you can't miss it!
As others have said, it's probably condensation from the A/C unit, which always just gets dumped on the road.0 -
If as is more likely it will be water/condensation from the aircon unit which is perfectly normal.
I would be inclined to agree.... Especially seeing as the weather has been much warmer over the last few days.
Better for the aircon drainage to go under the car than into your carpets “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
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Unless of course I don't have aircon!
My problem is that I am not even sure it is my car! It didn't happen this morning and I may well have driven onto someone elses leak! I will keep my eye on it and take it from there.House saving Targets:
£17,700 / £20,0000 -
spugzbunny wrote: »Unless of course I don't have aircon!
My problem is that I am not even sure it is my car! It didn't happen this morning and I may well have driven onto someone elses leak! I will keep my eye on it and take it from there.
You don't have aircon?!
I didn't think there was such a thing.. a modern car without aircon?
How can anyone possibly cope without aircon. :eek:We’ve had to remove your signature. Please check the Forum Rules if you’re unsure why it’s been removed and, if still unsure, email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
spugzbunny wrote: »Unless of course I don't have aircon!
My problem is that I am not even sure it is my car! It didn't happen this morning and I may well have driven onto someone elses leak! I will keep my eye on it and take it from there.
According to the Fiat website the Panda and the 500 come with air conditioning as standard.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
<><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/0 -
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Might be the water pump gone. Have you tried tasting the liquid? If it's got a sickly sweet taste then it's coolant (with anti-freeze in it). It's poisonous so spit don't swallow!0
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