Fluid Leak Diagnosis at Johnny's Automotive
Oil, coolant, transmission fluid, or just AC water? We clean the area, trace the drip back to its actual source, and send you photos of what we found.
Recent Fluid Leak Diagnosis work across our shops
Frostproof
Oil Pouring Out Near the Intake Manifold and Losing 2+ Quarts
The technician identified the Oil Pressure Switch as failed or leaking.
Read the full jobWinter Haven
Fluid Leaking From a Rear Speaker? Check the Moon Roof Drain
The technician found that the drain line flowing from the moon roof was disconnected.
Read the full jobFrostproof
What Stops an Oil Leak That Keeps Coming Back?
The vehicle came to our Frostproof shop for the repeat oil leak.
Read the full jobLake Wales
Why Is My Engine Leaking Oil?
The technician found the valve cover gasket(s) leaking.
Read the full jobFrostproof
Oil Leak From Up High on a 2011 F-350 6.7 Diesel
The technician at our Frostproof shop worked on the oil leak by replacing the vacuum pump seal, removing and reinstalling the components needed to reach it.
Read the full jobFrostproof
Transmission Fluid Still Leaking After Changing the Pan
The work performed at our Frostproof shop was a transmission cooler line bolt thread repair, which addressed the leak that continued after the pan was replaced.
Read the full job
There's a spot under my car. How do I know what it is?
Color and location are a starting point, not an answer. Dark brown or black is usually engine oil. Bright green, orange, or pink with a sweet smell is coolant. Red or reddish brown and slippery is transmission fluid. Clear to amber, oily between your fingers, and near a wheel or the firewall points at brake fluid. Plain water dripping from the middle of the car on a hot afternoon is almost always AC condensate, which means the system is working the way it should and there is nothing to fix.
That narrows things down. It rarely tells us where the leak actually is. Fluids don't fall straight down. They run along the block, follow a seam in the pan, ride a wiring harness or a frame rail, and drip off the lowest point they reach, which can be a foot or more from where they got out. Airflow at highway speed carries them further back. The spot on your driveway is where the fluid finished, not where it started.
So we go find the start. First we clean the area, because old residue and road grime hide a fresh leak and make a small seep look like a catastrophe. Then, where it helps, we add a UV dye to the system in question and run the car the way you actually drive it. Under a black light, the dye traces back to the exact gasket, seal, line, or fitting the fluid is leaving from. On a leak that only shows up warm or under pressure, that is the difference between an answer and a guess.
You get photos of the source itself on your phone, plus an honest read on how urgent it is. Not everything that leaves a mark needs fixing today. A light seep at a valve cover that hasn't moved the oil level in months is a watch item, and we'll tell you that. A wet brake line is a different conversation, and we'll tell you that too.
Fluid Leak Diagnosis in our service areas
13 recent jobs across 4 cities by our technicians.
Haines City
Recent work
- What Caused the Washer Fluid Leak Before Reaching Sprayer?
- Fluid Stains on the Garage Floor Under My Car
- Why Is There an Oil Leak in My Car?
Frostproof
Recent work
- Oil Pouring Out Near the Intake Manifold and Losing 2+ Quarts
- What Stops an Oil Leak That Keeps Coming Back?
- Oil Leak From Up High on a 2011 F-350 6.7 Diesel
Winter Haven
Recent work
- Fluid Leaking From a Rear Speaker? Check the Moon Roof Drain
- Where Is My Engine Oil Leak Coming From?
Lake Wales
Recent work
- Why Is My Engine Leaking Oil?
Choose your shop
Haines City, FL
4.8 (2,060) as of Oct 20264.8 out of 5, from 2,060 Google reviews, as of October 2026
31600 U.S. 27
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Frostproof, FL
4.8 (161) as of Oct 20264.8 out of 5, from 161 Google reviews, as of October 2026
101 North Scenic Highway
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Lake Wales, FL
4.8 (537) as of Oct 20264.8 out of 5, from 537 Google reviews, as of October 2026
323 North Scenic Highway
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sebring, FL
4.6 (170) as of Oct 20264.6 out of 5, from 170 Google reviews, as of October 2026
435 North Orange Street
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Wauchula, FL
4.9 (31) as of Oct 20264.9 out of 5, from 31 Google reviews, as of October 2026
201 North 6th Avenue
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Winter Haven, FL
4.8 (586) as of Oct 20264.8 out of 5, from 586 Google reviews, as of October 2026
5100 Dundee Road
Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Problems we fix
Our experts diagnose and resolve any issue.
There's a spot where I park but the fluid level looks fine
Usually a slow seep that loses less than the dipstick can show, or a leak that only opens up once things are hot and under pressure. It is still worth identifying now, because what it turns into is a much bigger deal than what it is today.
Clear water dripping under the middle of the car in summer
That is almost always condensation off the AC evaporator draining out the way it was designed to, and it is more noticeable here than most places. If it is clear, odorless, and evaporates off the concrete, there is nothing to repair.
I smell something sweet after I shut it off but there's no puddle
Coolant hitting a hot surface turns to vapor before it ever reaches the ground, so the smell shows up long before a drip does. A pressure test holds the system while it's cold and gives the leak somewhere to show itself.
I keep adding oil and I've never seen it drip
Oil that leaves at speed gets blown backward and coats the underside of the car instead of pooling. Cleaning the area and putting dye in it separates that from oil the engine is actually burning, which looks identical on the dipstick.
Reddish drips near the front after a long drive
Transmission fluid and power steering fluid are both red and both live up front, so the color alone doesn't settle it. Where the trail starts does, and that is the part we chase rather than guess at.
It leaked for a week and then quit on its own
Leaks that stop usually mean the level dropped below the hole, or the seal is only letting go under pressure or at temperature. Neither one is fixed, and the second one tends to come back at the worst possible time.
What customers say about our fluid leak diagnosis work
Update: Back again for headlight service. Can't say enough good things about Johnny's. From Mike's recommendations to Rebecca's responsiveness to the friendliness of the entire shop. 5* again Highly Recommend Johnny’s Automotive! After discovering an oil leak, I was referred to Johnny’s and received exceptional service. Mike (the manager) and team diagnosed the issue (two oil leaks) immediately—complete with photos—and provided a clear, itemized estimate. Despite my tight 48-hour deadline to leave the state, they fit me in, provided a loaner vehicle, and finished the job by noon the next day. Efficient, transparent, and incredibly accommodating!
Mike P
Verified Google Review
This was my first visit and I was very impressed with the entire experience. The mechanic that changes the oil found a leak in a few minutes that 4 other mechanics in other shops were not able to find. We were wondering where the oil was going as there was no black exhaust or leaking beneath the car. I was amazed. I would definitely recommend Johnny's Automotive to anyone. I was also amazed to find a long stemmed rose on my dash, a tootsie roll lollypop and a brand new mask on my front seat as well when I got back into my car to leave. Thank you Johnny's Automotive! So now, on November 5th 2024, I took my car to Johnny’s Automotive for a vehicle inspection after Miracle Toyota in Haines City Florida told me that my axle was leaking, an $1,100. job. An immediate bad feeling came over me which caused me to feel like the man was not telling me the truth. Even when he called me later that day to tell me that Toyota would not charge me because I was only 1,500 miles beyond my 60,000 mile warranty, I still had a very bad feeling and could not bring myself to call him back. I decided to let Johnny’s Automotive look at the axle to tell me the truth about it. Well guess what? The young man at Johnny’s that did the inspection came over to me with 4 pictures on his IPad. My axle was not leaking in any way shape or form. It looked brand new and the car only had 61,500 miles on it I told him about the extremely bad feeling that had come over me and he asked me if I was a Christian. I replied that I was and he said said that the strong feeling was the Holy Spirit warning me. I totally agreed. Praise God in Heaven and thanks to Johnny’s Automotive for their honesty and for being so nice.
Betty Lee
Verified Google Review
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Learn moreFluid Leak Diagnosis questions, answered
Common questions about our fluid leak diagnosis services.
Can you tell what it is from a photo of my driveway?
We can usually narrow it to a family of fluid from the color, and that helps you decide how fast to come in. What a photo can't do is tell us where it came from, since the drip point and the source are often nowhere near each other. That part takes a lift and a light.
Is a small leak actually a problem?
It depends entirely on which fluid and where. A little weeping at an old gasket that has held its level for months is something to keep an eye on, not an emergency. Anything wet in the brake or fuel system gets treated differently, and we'll be clear about which one you have.
Does the UV dye hurt anything?
No. It is made for the system it goes into and stays in circulation with the fluid, so it doesn't change how anything works. The only catch is that it needs some run time to reach the leak, so on an intermittent one we may ask you to drive it and come back.
Why do I need to leave it if the leak is obvious?
Sometimes we don't, and if the source is right there we'll show you and move on. The cases that need time are the ones where everything underneath is already coated, since we have to clean it, run the car, and let the leak reappear on a clean surface before we can honestly say where it starts.
Do you have to take the car apart to find a leak?
Rarely. Most of the work is cleaning, lighting, and knowing where fluid travels on that particular engine. If we do reach a point where something has to come off to see the source, we'll tell you what and why before we touch it.
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