If your car springs a leak, it can increase your risk of a crash and cause further damage to your vehicle if ignored. As April is National Car Care Month, now is the ideal time to get your vehicle checked out by a professional if you suspect a problem. The warning signs of leaks can vary, but there are a few ways to figure out if this is an issue.  Assessing signs of impurity in easy-to-check fluids like oil and transmission might be the best place to start. Water is easily spotted in oil, as the two liquids won't mix. Dirt and debris can also indicate there is a leak.

The easiest way to spot a leak is to peek under your car after it's been parked for a while, preferably overnight. A wet spot on the ground could indicate a leak, but if you'd like to figure out just what is leaking, you might want to put a sheet of white paper or cardboard under the vehicle. In the morning, you'll be able to pull it out and determine the color of the leaking fluid. Red or orange is transmission fluid. Oil tends to be golden or brown in color (depending on when it was last changed), coolant is typically green, brake fluid is usually brown and power steering fluid commonly has a reddish-pink hue.

Regardless of what is leaking, knowing that there is an issue is the first step to getting your car back in working order. If you live in the New York/New Jersey area, you can bring your car to the experts at the Total Car Care Center in Jersey City. Even though the garage is part of NJ State Auto Action, it is open to the public, so you can take advantage of the services even if you didn't buy your car there. Plus, you are free to check out some of the available used cars while your car is being checked out.