Why Your Car May Be Leaking Oil

A car leaking oil presents several hazards and challenges to the vehicle’s driver and owner. Risks of oil leaking from a car include potential fires in the engine compartment, damage to the car’s mechanical components and harm to the environment as the vehicle’s efficiency is reduced by the leaking oil.

Is My Car Leaking Oil?

While oil leaks are run-of-the-mill for the seasoned automotive technicians here at Simone Performance, oil leaks can be difficult to detect for those not accustomed to vehicle repair and maintenance. However, your vehicle’s oil level gauge can often be the first warning sign.

Several other symptoms might suggest your car is leaking oil. Symptoms of an oil leak include oil stains being left where the vehicle has been parked; rapidly depleting oil levels as measured by the dipstick; blue smoke emitted from the exhaust; and an overheating engine.

Common Reasons Why Your Car Is Leaking Oil

Any car owner must understand not only the importance of supplying their car with sufficient oil, and the signs and symptoms of an oil leak, but also the main causes behind their car leaking oil.

Worn Out Oil Gaskets

Oil gaskets, which are seals between metal parts of the engine, can be damaged by normal wear and tear. Over time, sludge builds up in the engine which causes the seal formed by gaskets to break down, resulting in oil leakage.

Damaged Oil Pans

Oil pans are vulnerable to wear and tear damage due to their location on the underside of a car where rocks and various other debris from roads can inflict damage by striking the oil pan. Damage to oil pans includes dents and fractures which spell bad news for your automobile as oil begins to seep out through cracks and a rusted oil pan can become pourous which would cause leakage. A car leaking oil through its oil pan will usually leave oil stains on the road wherever it has been parked.

Botched Installations

Sometimes, people skimp on repairs and rather than consulting a fully trained mechanic, elect to fix their vehicle themselves. While DIY auto repair jobs are often commendable, mistakes are common, and this can lead to your car leaking oil. Such mistakes might involve parts being excessively tightened or loosened, resulting in oil leakage.

Defective Rings and Valves

As previously mentioned, oil leaks can be tricky to detect. Some oil leaks don’t show obvious signs or symptoms, and it tends to be only qualified mechanics who can diagnose these types of car oil leaks with specialized equipment to diagnose the problem.

Degraded rings and defective valves are once such oil leak cause that may be tricky to detect, especially when the oil pan is intact. Under these circumstances, leaked oil is burned up within the engine, and there may be no external signs of oil leakage.

Conclusion

Regularly changing and topping up oil in your car is a critical aspect of vehicle maintenance which can ensure the longevity of your car.

However, even those who make efforts to maintain their cars can encounter problems caused by their car leaking oil. Understanding why your car may be leaking oil is crucial to getting the problem under control before lasting damage is done to your vehicle.

Remember, that repairing car oil leaks isn’t for the faint of heart and it is understandable that you might want experienced mechanics with a proven track record to fix the issue.

If you suspect your car has an oil leak and you want it repaired by expert automotive technicians, get in touch with Simone Performance today: