What to do if…
you see a new fluid leak under your vehicle and you cannot identify what it is

What to do now

1. Reach the safest available pause, then stop.
   If you are already stopped, prioritise you and your passengers being away from moving traffic. If you are on a motorway or other high-speed road and the vehicle is still moving normally, leave at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible.

2. Make the roadside situation safer before investigating the leak.

   • Switch on hazard warning lights.
   • Keep sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor.
   • If it is safe and possible, exit on the side furthest from traffic and get well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, behind a barrier where there is one.
   • If you cannot get to a place of relative safety or cannot safely get out and away, stay belted in with hazards on and call 999 and ask for the police, or use your vehicle’s SOS or eCall button if fitted.

3. Do a quick do-not-drive check without touching the fluid.
   Do not drive if you notice any of these:

   • a strong petrol or diesel smell;
   • visible dripping, spraying, smoke, steam, or a rapidly growing puddle;
   • oil pressure, brake system, temperature, or other serious dashboard warnings;
   • a spongy brake pedal, weak braking, unusually heavy steering, overheating, or a burning smell.

4. Record what you can safely see.

   • Take photos of the puddle, the place it sits under the vehicle, and any dashboard warning.
   • Note whether it appeared after driving, overnight, after refuelling, after using air conditioning, or after rain.
   • If you can do it without reaching under the vehicle or standing in traffic, place paper or cardboard near the drip area to show the colour and amount.

5. Check only simple visible levels when it is safe.
   With the vehicle parked, engine off, and the engine bay cooled:

   • check the engine oil level if your vehicle has a dipstick;
   • look at the coolant reservoir markings, but do not open a hot pressurised cooling system;
   • look at the brake fluid reservoir if it is visible and translucent. If any level is low, falling, or unclear, do not drive.

6. Arrange the right help for the location.

   • Contact your breakdown recovery provider or a garage and say: “new unknown fluid leak; I am not driving until it is assessed.”
   • If you are on a motorway and can safely reach a roadside emergency telephone, use it for advice, assistance, and location confirmation.
   • If the leak may be fuel, brake fluid, or coolant, ask for recovery rather than trying to drive to a garage.

7. Only move the vehicle to reduce immediate danger.
   If you must move it from a dangerous position, move slowly for the shortest distance needed to reach a safer place. Stop immediately if a warning light appears, the temperature rises, braking or steering feels abnormal, or the leak worsens.