Leaking oil in a car can lead to high oil consumption, wasting a lot of money on oil, and can also cause serious engine damage, especially if you did not find a fluid leak from the motor in time. So every car owner should not only regularly check the oil level in the engine but also periodically inspect the engine compartment and the underside of the car for engine oil leaks. True, sometimes it is very, very difficult to find the source of the leak.
And remember that just because you don’t find oil stains under your vehicle doesn’t mean that there is no oil or any other fluid leaking from your car. The point is that the oil leak can be small and insignificant at first due to, for example, an internal leak. It is very, very difficult to find such a leak. Therefore, when regularly checking the oil level in the engine (or another component), pay attention to whether the fluid level gradually decreases.
And so, when you suspect that oil is leaking from your car, then in order to find the source of the leak, you must do the following.
Solving the problem of oil leaks from the car
First, before looking for an oil leak, you must clean the surface of the engine from dirt and dust; this will make it easy for you to locate greasy stains from engine oil or other fluid from vehicle components. Special cleaner and wash the power unit yourself. You can also pressure wash the engine at a car wash.
Please note that cleaning the engine with a special cleaning spray or at a car wash should only be done with a cold engine.
Attention! When cleaning the engine, be sure to seal all electrical connections and exposed terminals with a sealed material. Otherwise, you risk accelerating the corrosion of the electrical components of the car and also simply not being able to start the engine after washing.
After you have cleaned the engine, and other components of the car, which may be causing the oil leak, you should proceed directly to the visual search for the source of the fluid leak. By the way, if, for example, you find oil stains under a car, then before you start looking for a leak, place a few sheets of newspaper or paper under the car; this may help you identify the source of the leak. Leave the newspaper on overnight (for example, if you are going to start looking for the source of the oil leak in the morning).
If you find drops of oil on the newspaper or paper that you put under the car, visually inspect the oil stains directly. Make sure it is a drop of oil leaking from the engine or any other car component. Perhaps these spots are just condensation or water. If the stains on the newspaper turned out to be oil, then now is the time to start a general inspection of all the most likely places where the oil might leak.
Diagnosing car oil leaks FAQ
- What are the main sources of oil leakage in engines?
- Oil leaks from engine gaskets or oil seals
- Crack in the engine
- Broken or worn out engine bolts
- Defective components
- Abnormal crankcase pressure
- Incorrect installation of engine components
- How to prevent oil leaks?
From time to time, you should not only just change the oil and air filter but conduct a thorough inspection of all major components of the car; this is the only way you will be able to detect possible leakage of oil and other fluids in time.
- Where to buy new spare parts for the car fuel system?
If it so happens that your car has serious problems with the fuel system and, in addition to repairing, you need to buy new parts, you can feel free to contact PartSouq - the world of automotive parts. There are many different parts for any car (even a very rare or old one) at a reasonable price. We are happy to help you!