You may be surprised by how many fluids are required to make your vehicle work properly here in La Quinta. On top of engine oil and gasoline, there is brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid. How quickly your vehicle needs to be seen by a mechanic depends on what is likely.
Color, texture, and odor are the three things to look at when determining the source of a leak. Coolant smells sweet, and everyone knows what gasoline smells like. Other fluids may be odorless, meaning you will have to rely on the color.
Both power steering fluid and transmission fluid start out red and turn brown with age. Blue leaks are from your windshield wiper fluid. Dark brown or black is almost always engine oil, which is one of the most common leaks. A clear leak might be water. It may also be gasoline, but this you should be able to smell.