General Question

Cindy1302's avatar

Should I hold off on driving my car for a couple days to avoid leaking fluids on the street?

Asked by Cindy1302 (806points) September 8th, 2022

My car had a blown head gasket, so I got it repaired. After it was repaired, it started leaking transmission fluid under my radiator on to the ground. I took it back in, and they said the piece that transfers the transmission fluid to the radiator was bad and that’s what was causing it to leak. So they replaced that and said it shouldn’t be leaking anymore. Well i just drove my car home and it is still leaking a little bit. I called my mechanic and told him it’s still leaking a little bit and he said there is still fluid in the residual or something like that and it will take a couple days to all drain out. We’ll I need to go to work. I was thinking of just bringing a towel with me and going to wipe of the drips parioticly because it leaks pretty slowly. I just dont want it leaking on the street and polluting the environment. Especially because there is a street drain near by. Should I hold off on driving it and leak a pan or something underneath it at my house?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

4 Answers

Cindy1302's avatar

I forgot to mention, I don’t think it leaks when I’m not driving it, so how am I supposed to get all the fluid out if I’m not driving it?

Tropical_Willie's avatar

If it only leaks while you are driving it is a pressure leak and mechanic didn’t fix it.

LuckyGuy's avatar

Let’s assume the mechanic fixed it. The dripping is likely coming from the leftover oil that leaked all over the frame, cross member and other bits under the car. If that is the case, just drive your car and let the stuff drip off into the asphalt. Sure, you can try to avoid it by washing your car and hosing everything with soap but that will do the same amount of environmental damage – the oil still gets where it isn’t supposed to be. Just drive it.

After you you’ve driven it for a couple of days, over 20 miles or so, put a piece of paper under the car where it used to leak and see if you still get drips. If it leaks the same as before the mechanic needs to fix it.

Forever_Free's avatar

I am unsure if it is just leaking drips or pools. Either way, this does occur as cars get older.
I would put a piece of cardboard down under the area to not only absorb the leak, but to see how much is still leaking.
Make sure you hold the mechanic to their responsibility of the repair.

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther