Engine oil is the most important factor in keeping a car running. It lubricates the internal parts of the engine and prevents them from getting hot and wearing. If the engine oil level in your car falls below the specified limit, it can lead to catastrophic engine damage that renders the car inoperable, and subsequent repairs can cost thousands of dollars.
Just like any other liquid, engine oil can leak out of a car, and if left unchecked, the consequences can be catastrophic. In this article, we’ll learn about the main causes of oil leaks, how to diagnose your car, and how to fix it at home.
Car Oil Spill Repair Guide: What Are the Causes of Car Oil Leaks?
When the engine is running, the oil inside the car is under tremendous pressure. To ensure that it does not leak, gaskets are used wherever the two parts of the engine are joined together. With that in mind, here’s a list of possible reasons:
- The valve chamber cover gasket is leaking
- Oil pan gasket leakage
- Punctured or damaged oil pans
- Oil filter O-ring gasket leaking
- The seal or gasket is not installed correctly
Before you fix your car, it’s important to make sure that it’s actually the engine oil that’s leaking and where it’s leaking.
Diagnosing oil spills
Make it a habit to check the fuel level in your car at least once a week. Signs of an oil leak in a car include, but are not limited to:
Oil stains on the bottom of the car
The most common sign of an oil leak when a car is parked is a stain on the floor of the garage or driveway. If you see fresh oil or stains underneath your car’s engine, you have an oil leak. However, it is not possible to determine whether the leaking liquid is engine oil or something else.
Oil level warning light
Almost all cars have a fuel level warning light in the dashboard. It’s not a check engine light. Look for a red light in the shape of an engine oil leak or the word OIL that glows red when the engine is running.
The car overheats
Another sign of an engine oil leak is that the engine is heating up more than it should. While the engine oil lubricates and cools the engine, make sure that the oil level does not fall below the minimum that would cause the car to heat up. However, this can also be caused by a radiator leak, so you’ll need to look for other signs to make sure the car is indeed heating up due to a lack of engine oil.
The smell of oil burning and dense white smoke
Your car’s engine runs at high temperatures. If the oil leaks onto the engine, it will burn. This results in a characteristic oil burning smell and dense white smoke in the engine compartment.
Greasy engine compartment
If your car’s engine compartment becomes greasy within a few days of cleaning, there could be an oil leak.
Make sure the leaking fluid is engine oil
How to fix an oil leak in a car?Engine oil is not the only fluid in a car that leaks. Cars also have other fluids like brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc. Therefore, before you start repairing an engine leak, it is important to make sure that the oil leaking is actually engine oil.
- If there is a drip of liquid, gently wipe it with your fingers to check the viscosity. Compared to most other engine oils, engine oil is sticky.
- Check the level of all liquids in the car and monitor them for several days. The one that drops the level is the one that leaks.
A Guide to Repairing an Oil Leak in a Car: Pinpoint the location of the leak
This is the trickiest part of the entire car leak repair process. The engines of modern cars are complex mechanical parts that often fill tight spaces. This makes it very difficult to find the exact location of the oil spill.
If your car is leaking oil after an oil change or suspects that the car is randomly starting to leak, the first thing you need to do is to thoroughly clean the engine compartment of your car. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be in a better position to pinpoint the location of the leak.
Here are some tips for determining the location of an oil spill:
- Start the engine and accelerate to increase the engine temperature.
- Ask someone to keep the engine rpm above 3,000 rpm and check the engine compartment for organic oil seeping or smoke from anywhere any two parts of the engine are connected.
- If there are no obvious leaks in the engine compartment, move under the car and look for oil droplets on the oil pan or oil filter.
Once you have completed the above steps, the location of the oil leak will be displayed in one of the following locations:
- Oil pan damage leads to oil leakage under the car
- Oil pan gasket leakage
- Oil filter O-ring leakage
- Oil leakage from the valve cover gasket in the front of the car
- Timing chain casing leaking
All of these problems can be solved, except for oil leakage from the timing chain or timing belt housing. The slightest mistake can damage a timing chain or belt, and the results can be expensive.
How to fix an oil leak in a car
The repair of the oil spill will depend on the location of the leak, as listed below.
Oil pan leak repairs
An oil pan is a reserve for storing oil. It is located at the very bottom of the engine and can be easily damaged. If the oil pan is damaged:
- Buy a new one for your car make and model
- Lift the car on a jack
- Drain the oil out of the car
- Unscrew the oil pan
- Install a new oil pan and don’t forget about the oil pan gaskets
If the oil pan is not damaged, but is leaking due to a faulty gasket, you can follow the steps above by simply using the old oil pan and replacing the gasket. You need to completely remove the old gaskets from the oil pan and the engine. If fragments of the old gasket are left on the mating surface, the new gasket will not fit properly, resulting in future leaks.
Oil filter leak repair
If the leak is originating from the oil filter, the cause is a failure of the O-ring securing the filter to the engine.
- Drain the oil from the engine
- Unscrew the oil filter
- Replace the O-ring and install the filter back into the car
Car Oil Leak Repair Guide: Valve Chamber Cover Leak Repair
If the oil leak is not under the engine, but leaks from the valve chamber cover into the engine compartment.
- Open the valve chamber cover
- Remove the vacuum line from the lid
- Carefully remove the oil cap gasket from the valve chamber cover and cylinder head
- Install a new gasket and apply RTV to any points not covered by the gasket
- Screw the valve chamber cover back into place
Proceed with caution
When using engine oil, you need to pay attention to the following:
- Do not work on a hot engine. Allow it to cool for at least an hour before you start working.
- Used engine oil is carcinogenic and can cause skin problems. Wear gloves when working.
- Do not reuse the oil if it has completed the mileage. Replace it with a new one.
- If you’re changing engine oil, be sure to change the oil filter at the same time.
Disclaimer: If you have limited knowledge of cars, consult a mechanic instead of trying to figure things out on your own.
Frequently Asked Question: How to Fix an Oil Leak in a Car
Why is my car leaking oil?
The main cause of oil leakage is a problem with the gasket in the oil pan, oil filter, valve cover, or timing chain cover.
What causes an oil pan gasket leak?
The main cause of oil pan gasket leakage is that the oil pan is installed incorrectly or the gasket is at full capacity.
Car Oil Spill Repair Guide: How Much Does It Cost To Fix An Oil Leak?
The cost of car oil spill repair depends on the nature and quantity of the oil spill. If the leak is caused by a simple problem, you can fix it at home for less than $100. If something more serious, such as a cylinder head gasket leak, you may need to spend upwards of $1,000 to fix the leak.
Can I drive a car with an oil leak?
If the leak is small and the oil level is not below the minimum, you can drive but not at high rpm and solve the problem as soon as possible.
Do I need to change the oil if my car leaks?
If there is a leak, do not change the oil. If you finish repairing the oil at the end of its useful life, replace it. If the oil is fresh, you can reuse it, but don’t mix it with old oil that has burned out.
