What Causes My Car’s Engine Oil Leak? – Everything You Need To Know Is Here!

Posted On August 5th, 2022

Changing your vehicle’s oil is one of the most crucial and straightforward car maintenance procedures. Excessive friction can be avoided in engines by using clean, high-quality oil. Maintaining oil in the engine prevents corrosion by preventing essential components from rubbing against one another. Unless you do, you’ll wonder, “Why is my car leaking oil?”

Oil loses effectiveness when it becomes contaminated, leading to the wear and tear of crucial components. If you haven’t changed your car’s engine oil in a while, your check engine can turn on, and you might even see a leak under extreme conditions. For example, finding an oil puddle under your car after running errands can be unexpected. Discover more about the cause of your car’s engine oil leak.

IDENTIFYING THE SPOT OF YOUR OIL LEAK

Three potential causes of your leak exist depending on the fluid type:

  • Oil leak in the engine
  • Radiator – Coolant Leak
  • Cooling lines and coolant

Once you’ve found the source, you’ll need to look further to identify the specific part that is causing the leak. Although there are many potential causes of an engine oil leak, gaskets and oil seals are the most common.

Engine Oil Leak Cars

Engine Oil Leak Cars

REASONS FOR MY VEHICLE’S OIL LEAK

The most frequent causes of oil leaks are damaged engine gaskets, worn O-rings or seals that shrink and harden over time, temperature, and strain. The perfect environment is thus created for an oil spill. The most likely reasons are the oil pan drain stopper, oil filter, or rocker (valve) cover gaskets. So let’s look at these and other causes of oil leakage in cars.

A lack of maintenance most frequently causes the failure of gaskets and seals. When oil is used for too long without being changed, it degrades and becomes contaminated by condensation and combustion byproducts.

As the oil becomes saturated with impurities, acids start to develop. These acids damage and degrade gaskets and seals, causing oil leaks. Your mechanic should always examine any leak. Leak repairs done now will save you money later.

 

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO DETECT AN OIL LEAK?

Car oil leaks can show up in several ways. You can identify some of the signs by simply looking around:

 

LEAKS OF OIL

An oil spill is the oil leak’s most obvious sign. If it leaks, there will be a spill or splatter underneath your car. Depending on the leak’s severity, you can see a few drops or a small puddle—an oil puddle right beneath your car signals leaking engine oil. Additionally, having it examined soon away would be beneficial.

 

OIL THAT LOOKS DIFFERENTLY

When you check the oil, please look at its colour and texture. It should have a greasy texture, be dark brown or black, and be a little transparent. If the colour is paler, more opaque brown, and the consistency is more creamy and foamy, it can be a blown head gasket. When this occurs, oil and coolant seep into one another. If a burst head gasket is not immediately repaired, it could destroy an engine.

 

THE OIL CHECK LIGHT ON THE ENGINE

The check engine oil light on your dashboard is another sign of an oil leak. Because it only illuminates when the oil level is shallow, it is excellent for finding oil leaks. While driving, if the light turns on, you should pull over to the side of the road and check your vehicle. Check for oil leaks if your automobile lights up when you turn it on.

 

FUMES FROM ENGINE EXHAUST

A malfunctioning cooling system, wiring issues, or fluid leakage are just a few causes of smoke coming from the engine. Smoke may result from the seepage of transmission fluid, braking fluid, or engine oil onto a hot engine component.

Stop in a safe location if you notice smoke coming from your engine. Please turn the engine off so that it can cool.

CAN I DRIVE A CAR WITH AN ENGINE OIL LEAK?

While a few drops of leaky motor oil may not seem like much, they could be signs of something much worse. After noticing oil on the ground:

  1. Check the engine’s oil level.
  2. Apply oil if necessary before starting the engine.
  3. If the amount is satisfactory, drive to an auto repair shop. If you notice that there has been a major oil spill, you should make plans to have your vehicle towed to a technician.

If My Car Is Not Worth Repair, Can I Sell My Car To The Best Car Buyer In The Town?

If a vehicle is old enough to leak oil, a dealership will usually not make a high offer for it. Instead, dealers of new cars prefer late-model used vehicles over older ones. Sell it to an independent unwanted-car dealer for cash.

The city has certified, insured, and licensed Car 4 Cash as a service provider. We provide you with the best rewards and the highest prices while removing the old autos.

With all the necessary tools, our skilled team will come to your site and haul your car with ease. While handling the crisis, we use the best towing trucks and other equipment. Additionally, we dispose of the vehicles using cutting-edge equipment to ensure no environmental harm is done.

For a cash quotation, call us right away at 0420-550-811.