After parking my car at the oldies for a week or so whilst i was on holidays they found a puddle of red coloured fluid under the car about 6" in diameter.

Immediately i thought of ATF, so I attempted to check it by parking the car on the flat in my driveway after driving home from work (fully warmed up) with the engine running went from P down to L (stopping for a few seconds each time) and then back to N. With the engine still running I then checked the fluid level. It was way above the Hot line (an inch) so do I possibly have too much fluid or is it extremely difficult to use the dipstick to check the fluid?

I purchased the cars 8 months ago, so have no idea when the fluid was changed/by whom but its appears nice and clean...

I think an inch is too high but wouldn't necessarily explain the spilt oil. Taking the measurement can be a bit tricky.
ATF should be at operating temp with the car on level ground, as you did. I've found that after a long run or when the ATF is very hot you may need to let it idle in neutral for 3 or 4 minutes before taking the reading so the oil can settle a bit and any oil thats splashed up inside the dip stick tube can run down again.

I'd also check under the car engine area with a torch looking for any sign of leaked ATF. Possibly the drain plug has a slow leak and if so the fluid will run down a plastic splash guard onto the ground. Just check the area that would have been over the spill.

I should add that i assume the coolant is not red (typically green but there are some that are red). Just check in the return reservoir to confirm coolant colour.

The only other oil that may be reddish is the power steering fluid. Just check around the bottle but i doubt thats leaking.

I think an inch is too high but wouldn't necessarily explain the spilt oil. Taking the measurement can be a bit tricky.
ATF should be at operating temp with the car on level ground, as you did. I've found that after a long run or when the ATF is very hot you may need to let it idle in neutral for 3 or 4 minutes before taking the reading so the oil can settle a bit and any oil thats splashed up inside the dip stick tube can run down again.

I'd also check under the car engine area with a torch looking for any sign of leaked ATF. Possibly the drain plug has a slow leak and if so the fluid will run down a plastic splash guard onto the ground. Just check the area that would have been over the spill.

I should add that i assume the coolant is not red (typically green but there are some that are red). Just check in the return reservoir to confirm coolant colour.

The only other oil that may be reddish is the power steering fluid. Just check around the bottle but i doubt thats leaking.

That's the thing my car has a heap of leaks, but I definately know it's not engine oil or PS fluid (both are amber in colour) coolant is green.

So i know the ATF is red, albeit my old man said the red fluid was quite thick, but when checking the ATF dipstick the ATF seemed quite thin to me...

As for location he said it looked like it was around where the left wheel would be (based on the position of where the car was parked)

I have degreased and high pressure cleaned a lot of the gunk from the back of the motor, and will get my timing belt and majority of the seals replaced within the next few weeks (the car has a few minor engine oil leaks from the valve covers etc)

Arn't some of the bushes filled with fluid?

What was directly above the puddle though? Is the PS fluid definitely amber? Ive only see red (besides worn oil). PS is a much bigger hydraulic leak culprit than a tranny on your average car. Ive never seen otherwise with the 6G74. Check the boots for breaks and oil. Hard to miss a PS leak. Then along the High pressure line from the pump. Beyond that, get your hands on a can of degreaser, clean up the tranny and check.

half-a-cupful of oil right behind a wheel... could be a shocker letting go


if a fluid-filled engine mount has leaked, there's ample telltale (sticky gooey mess) all around it

auto trannys usually only leak when engine's running not parked longterm,
shouldn't leak enough to puddle otherwise you'd know about it long before