Why is my coolant black?

Black coolant is a common sight in most garages. But it can mean many different things and make it hard to determine what’s going on with your car. 

You have an oil leak

  • You have an oil leak.

Oil leaks can be caused by a cracked valve cover, a cracked oil pan, or the oil filter itself (usually located under the front of your engine). If you’re not sure which one it is, take your car to a mechanic who specializes in working on cars, and they’ll be able to tell you right away!

You have a fuel leak

YA leaky gas cap can cause you to lose some coolant and leave the engine roomie dry, but it’s not the only way for your car to lose its coolant.

  • Have you recently changed the oil? If so, this could be causing the black coolant color and smell.
  • Are there any leaks in your cooling system? You may have an oil leak if there’s too much pressure on one of the hoses connecting it to the radiator or water pump. Or maybe not enough pressure; in this case, a leak could cause your engine oil to drip onto hot surfaces where it evaporates and forms bubbles (a bad thing). Either way, these leaks might turn what was once clear gasoline into a dark brown liquid that looks like tar!

Conclusion

We hope that this post has helped you understand what black coolant means and how to determine whether it’s a problem or not.

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