Can I Drive My Car if it is Leaking Fluid?

Whether you are walking out of the store after a quick grocery run or preparing to leave your house for work, if you see that your car is leaking a mystery fluid, it is best not to drive. Continue reading to learn the common types of car leaks, how to identify them, and what to do if your car is experiencing one.

Tow Truck Near Me Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484
Tow Truck Near Me Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484

Common Types of Automotive Leaks

There are seven vital automotive fluids your car uses, so you can bet that one of them is the mystery liquid leaking from your vehicle. These fluids are motor oil, transmission fluid, radiator fluid (coolant/antifreeze), power steering fluid, brake fluid, battery fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. Of these automotive fluids, the ones that most commonly leak out of vehicles include motor oil, transmission fluid, and radiator fluid. Vehicles can also leak water and gasoline, both of which are common car leaks.

Water Leak – If your car is leaking water, it could just be condensation buildup in the AC, or beneath the shell, fender, or bumper of the vehicle. This is common in hot, summer months.

Transmission Fluid Leak – If you notice a red or brown-like liquid leaking from the front-end of your vehicle, it could be transmission fluid.

Power Steering Fluid Leak – Power steering fluid can also be red or brown in color. But unlike transmission fluid, which is thinner than motor oil, power steering fluid is quite oily. Many people describe the smell as being similar to burnt marshmallows.

Coolant Leak – Radiator fluid, or coolant, is green or yellow in color. Sometimes it comes in pink or red hues. Coolant is a slimy liquid that smells sweet.

Windshield Washer Fluid Leak – If your car is leaking a thin, watery liquid that looks blue or clear in color, it is likely windshield washer fluid. It also smells like soap or glass cleaner.

Brake Fluid Leak – Brake fluid is typically yellow in color and very oily to the touch. It also smells similar to fish oil.

Gas Leak – Gas leaks are the most obvious because of their noxious, distinctive odor.

Motor Oil Leak – Motor oil leaks are dark brown or black in color. This fluid is thick and runs slowly.

Do Not Drive a Car With a Leak

Under no circumstances should you drive your vehicle after noticing a leak. This is especially important if your car is leaking brake fluid, gasoline, or motor oil. In the hot months, you do not want to operate your vehicle with an active coolant leak.

In all cases of automotive leaks, it is strongly encouraged to not drive. Instead, have your car towed to your choice of auto shop for inspection and repair. Contact a local and trusted Indianapolis tow truck company for affordable and prompt service.

Does your car or truck need a lift to the auto repair shop? Contact Zore’s Indy at 317-247-8484 for fast and affordable Indianapolis towing services you can trust. We operate throughout all of Central Indiana, offering full-service tow truck and roadside assistance solutions, around the clock.

Related Posts:

Should I Call a Tow Truck if My Check Engine Light Comes On?
What is Medium Duty Towing Service and Where Can I Get It?
5 Essential Car Fluids Every Vehicle Needs to Stay Safe on the Road

FAQS About Cars Getting Towed

When it comes to towing, drivers and lot owners have millions of questions. Some of the most frequently asked questions are listed below. Review them to see if your questions are answered here. If not, contact a local wrecker company for professional advice and information you can trust.

Indianapolis Indiana Tow Truck Service
Indianapolis Indiana Tow Truck Service 317-247-8484

Frequently Asked Questions About Cars That Get Towed

What Do I Do If Someone is Parking in My Private Parking Spot?

You have a couple options here. You can either have the vehicle towed, or you can contact the company that owns the parking spaces and talk to an office manager or representative.  They can typically have someone tag the car, or give the person a warning to not park in that spot anymore.

If you want to call a tow truck, refer to your parking lot’s company.  They will usually have signs hung or posted in and around the parking lot with instructions on how to contact them.  They may have a tow service that performs these private jobs for them full-time. 

If they do not, call a local tow company and give them the information you have about the vehicle in question.  They can even look into your parking lot’s jurisdiction and see if there is a tow company already assign to that area.  If you do call a tow truck, the person will have to pay a fine to reclaim their vehicle from the lot or impound.

How Long Before a Car is Towed after it Breaks Down?

The amount of time a vehicle sits before being declared “abandoned” by authorities and towed away depends on where the car breaks down. If a car breaks down on public property, like a public parking lot, the police can legally tow it after it has been registered as an abandoned vehicle. 

In the state of Indiana, if a car is left unattended for more than 30 days, and is never reported stolen, it is labeled “abandoned.” If a vehicle breaks down on private property, there is very little time before it will be towed. As long as the tow company has written authorization from the property owner or police, it can be towed immediately.

What Should I Do if My Car Breaks Down on the Road?

If your car breaks down on the road, coast along the shoulder of the road and slowly come to a complete stop out of the way of traffic.  It is very dangerous to get out of your car on a busy highway, so remain inside until help arrives. You may contact a friend or family member, or you can contact a local roadside assistance towing company for prompt and professional help. They operate 24 hours a day and should be available to help you. You may have to wait an hour or two, but they will arrive to get you back on the road.

What Should I Do if My Car Has Just Been Towed?

First, look for a sign in the parking lot, or near the parking spot, that contains the tow company information.  These signs are usually rectangular in shape and white.  They have the contact information of the assigned tow company that handles the towing for that parking lot.  Just call the number and talk to the receptionist. They will check their inventory and see if your particular vehicle is in their possession.  If it is, they will give you directions on how to get to their establishment. 

Do you have more towing questions that need answered? Contact Zore’s Indy at 317-247-8484 to learn about property management towing, tow truck assistance, and towing and recovery services in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Zore's Inc. 317-247-8484
Zore’s Inc. 317-247-8484

Get a Glimpse of Tow Truck Driver Humor With These Funny Automotive Jokes!

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

Tow truck drivers are a big help when we need them. They provide many helpful services for drivers, including emergency roadside assistance, vehicle recovery (stuck in a ditch, mud, or body of water), traffic collision quick-clearance, storm damage clearance, community training programs for law enforcement, emergency responders, and fire departments, and so much more. This makes tow truck drivers much more than just towing operators.

And with such a high level of responsibility, it is no surprise that tow truck drivers take their jobs very seriously. But through all that seriousness, they have a humorous side too! Continue reading for some funny automotive jokes favored by tow truck drivers everywhere.

Vehicle Recovery Services, Anyone?

A teenage boy tells his father, “Dad, there is something wrong with the car. There’s water in the carburetor.”

His dad replies, “Water in the carburetor? That’s just ridiculous!”

But his son persists, saying “Dad, I’m telling you there is water in the carburetor!”

His dad starts to get a little nervous, and says, “You don’t even know what a carburetor is! But fine, I’ll come take a look. Where is the car?”

The son replies, “In the pool.”

Writer: Maura Hayes

How About Some Roadside Assistance?

A man gets a flat tire, so he pulls over to the side of the road to check it out. After he gets out of his vehicle, he opens his trunk and retrieves two life-size cardboard cut-outs of a nude man in an open trench coat. He places the cardboard cut-outs at the rear of his vehicle, facing on-coming traffic. These cut-outs of men were so life-like you wouldn’t believe they weren’t real!

As he proceeds to put on his spare tire, he notices that traffic is slowing down to get a better look at his life-size cut outs, honking, shouting, and causing a commotion. This was of course backing up traffic and causing a huge distraction for other drivers. So a police officer pulls over to see what’s going on.

The officer asks the man, “What is going on here?” The man replies, “Just changing a flat tire, Sir.”

The policeman exclaims back, “So what are those obscene cardboard men doing out here on the side of the road?!”

The man replies back in shock, as if the officer should already know the answer, saying…

“Helloooooooo, those are my emergency flashers!”

Writer: Joe Dobrowolski

Got Car Trouble?

What do you get when you cross a Chrysler with a Fiat?

A BIG car that doesn’t start!

Writer: RJ Goos

Uh-OH! Traffic Clearance May Be in Order!

An old man was driving his Buick down the freeway when his cell phone rang. Upon answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on 280! Please be careful!”

Herman replies, “It’s not just one car, it’s hundreds of them!”

Writer: Jack Wager

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery

Towing Indianapolis, IN

Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

If you require emergency roadside assistance or tow truck services in Indiana, trust no other than the professionals at Zore’s Inc.! For over 75 years, we have been a family owned and operated company in Indianapolis, and continue to raise the bar in the towing industry for customer service, efficiency, skill, and more. Call 317-247-8484 for fast and affordable Indianapolis towing and recovery, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!

Drivers Beware of Common Towing Mistakes

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

No matter what type of tow you have planned, it is vital to beware of the most common towing mistakes made, and how to avoid them at all costs. Road trippers, RV owners, trailer hitchers, and more should all be well-versed in towing regulations, laws, and practices.

Continue reading to learn the most common towing mistakes seen on the road, and how to properly navigate around potential towing problems and more.

Failure to Know Tow Ratings

Each vehicle has a certain towing capacity and limit. Depending on the make, model, and towing accessories you own, your vehicle’s towing ability will differ from others. Overloading your car or truck is a very dangerous situation because it can lead to serious problems; such as brake failure, overheating transmission, lost trailer connections, broken hitches, busted suspension, and much more. These circumstances can lead to serious and even fatal motor vehicle accidents. The responsible tower always knows his or her tow ratings. These ratings will allow you to determine if your hitch system matches your vehicle’s towing specs. All numbers must be checked, double checked, and entirely complied with at all times. Look at the vehicle’s owners’ manual, inside the driver’s side door, or online for these specifications and towing guidelines.

Failure to Acknowledge Local Towing Regulations

Towing laws, regulations, and restrictions differ state to state; so before leaving on your next road trip, be sure to research the towing laws for each state you intend to pass through. Otherwise, you can expect to get pulled over and issued a ticket. Things like towing speeds, trailer lights, safety chains, and braking equipment are regulations known to exist in certain states.

Improper Cargo Loading

Improperly loading your cargo you intend to tow is a very dangerous situation for yourself, your passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, your vehicle, and much more. This situation can lead to a load of chaos. An off-balance trailer is almost impossible to navigate and control. This puts other drivers, vehicles, and property at risk of a collision. Cargo must be loaded properly, and weight-distribution needs to be even at all times.

Forgetting Trailer Insurance

One big mistake many novice towers make is failing to purchase proper insurance coverage for their trailer. If your vehicle is insured, it doesn’t mean that your trailer is, so it is important to contact your insurance provider to see if you have adequate insurance coverage for your tow. All you really need is basic liability coverage for a trailer; a very affordable policy.

Zore’s Inc.

Zore's Inc. Indianapolis Indiana

Zore’s Indy 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for prompt and professional towing service in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can get a fast, friendly, and affordable tow, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week when you call our licensed tow truck operators! On top of fast and affordable towing services, we also hold weekly auto auctions, pay cash for junk cars, recycle scrap metal, and much more! Call 317-247-8484 for information about Indianapolis towing and recovery services you can trust.

Tips for Towing Uphill and Downhill

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484

It is critical to practice safe driving when towing a trailer. This is because trailers can add a substantial amount of length and weight to your whole operation, and can change the way your vehicle handles. Couple in complicated variables like hills, inclines, and declines, and you have even more to think about. But with a little knowledge and a lot of practice, you can minimize your chances for an accident and increase your confidence in towing altogether.

Continue reading for some helpful towing advice that will give you the know-how you need to manage hills, declines, and inclines.

Hills and Inclines

More stress is placed on your vehicles brakes, transmission, suspension, and engine as more weight is added to its load. For this reason, inclines and downgrades can be especially stressful on your rig. To relieve the pressure and manage these grade changes safely, simply consider these tips:

Downshift on Declines. By simply switching your vehicle to a lower gear and reducing your speed when driving down a hill, you can relieve extra pressure and stress on your vehicle’s engine, brakes, and transmission. It will also give you much more control, especially in wet weather conditions.

Upshift on Inclines. Do the opposite of above. When heading up a hill, switch your vehicle into a higher gear for extra power and boost.

Minimize Braking on Declines. Try not to go crazy with braking on a decline. You need to give your braking components time to cool, so go easy on them when driving downhill. If you must apply the brakes on a decline, firmly tap your brakes with brief presses (one to two seconds). Pause for a few moments in between each press.

Watch the Temperature Gauges. Since extra weight puts extra stress on certain components in your towing vehicle, more heat is also produced while managing this extra pressure. Be sure to watch your temperature gauges for increases in engine or transmission heat output. Use a quality transmission cooler for frequent towing.

Zore’s Indy

Zore's Inc. Indianapolis Indiana

Zore’s Indy 317-247-8484

If you need affordable towing services, don’t hesitate another minute! Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for prompt and professional towing and recovery services in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. We are licensed, bonded, and insured towing contractors with decades of experience in the industry. We retain one of the city’s largest fleets of towing trucks and rigs for heavy duty tows, light duty towns, quick clearance, storm cleanup, disaster response, and more! Call 317-247-8484 today for affordable and fast tow truck services in Indianapolis, Indiana.