ENGINE OIL LEAK CAUSES AND HOW TO FIX THEM
Engine oil leaks are one of the most common causes of engine damage. They cause rapid deterioration of the engine and result in expensive repairs. Worse yet, engine oil leaks pose a safety threat. They may lead to the loss of control of the vehicle while driving.
Precisely because of that, it is essential to determine the main engine oil leak causes and take action to fix them. Let’s get started.
THE DANGERS OF ENGINE OIL SPILLS
If you believe that a little oil dripping from your car’s internal combustion engine is not that dangerous, it is time to rethink your attitudes.
Engine oil leaks pose numerous safety and environmental threats, as well as shorten your engine’s lifespan.
Here are a few main consequences of engine oil spills.
Engine oil leaks pose a major safety threat. Oil is flammable, meaning it can ignite. Consequently, it may destroy your vehicle and, worse yet, compromise passengers’ safety.
Leaking oil may also damage your engine, as well as the car’s radiator and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. It may also build up and cause the premature degradation of seals and rubber hoses.
Finally, keep in mind that your car’s motor oil is not just leaking onto roads and driveways. The oil is washed by rain or irrigation water into a storm drain. From there, it reaches our lakes, rivers, and other water supplies.
Since the engine oil does not dissolve in water, it poses a major environmental hazard. These products represent cocktails of harmful substances that are highly toxic to humans, wildlife, and plants.
HOW TO FIND OIL LEAKS?
For starters, crawl under your vehicle and inspect it for the cause of oil leaks.
One of the simplest ways to determine whether the vehicle motor oil is leaking is to measure oil consumption with a dipstick. Levels below the minimum mark on the dipstick indicate that your engine oil level is low.
That is the first sign of a leak.
You should also check whether blue smoke is coming from the hood while driving. It usually means that motor oil is leaking into the engine itself.
Next, take a sniff to determine whether there is a strong burning smell while the engine is running.
Finally, check whether there is a puddle under your vehicle’s engine compartment.
CAUSES OF OIL LEAKS
The causes of car engine oil leaks are multiple. Here are some of them:
An oil filter unit removes impurities from the motor oil before they damage your engine.
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However, after a few thousand kilometers on the road, an oil filter will start to degrade.
When the debris builds up and blocks the oil filter, the oil will begin to spurt. Additionally, the pressure from the inside of the engine may cause the filter to become loose.
The only logical solution to this problem is the replacement of the filter. That is a simple task that can be even performed at home.
Most manufacturers suggest that you have your oil filters changed every six months or every5,000 km to 10,000 km.
That is another major cause of car engine leaks. Over time, the filler cap of the oil tank loosens or breaks.
Fortunately, this problem is easy to detect. You will sport the oil puddle underneath your vehicle or around the engine.
If your oil cap is loose, you only have to tighten it. If it will not tighten properly, replace it with anew filler cap. That is a quick fix you can perform by yourself.
Oil leaks are a common symptom of excess engine oil. It is usually followed by blue exhaust smoke, a strong burning smell, and a high reading on your oil pressure gauge.
Check the level of engine oil using a dipstick tube. To remove excess engine oil, hire a mechanic to perform a fresh oil change.
The oil pan gasket creates a seal between the oil pan and the engine block. There are many symptoms of a leaking oil pan gasket, including a visible puddle underneath the vehicle, low oil level, and engine overheating.
Therefore, make sure you have your oil pan gasket checked and replaced if needed. The good news is that the oil pan gasket is fairly affordable and easy to reach.
Does your engine leak oil from the top? In that case, there may be a problem with your valve cover gasket that protects the parts inside the cylinder head. It creates a seal between the cylinder head and the valve cover.
Over time, the valve gasket degrades and seals off the oil less effectively. That is when you should consult your mechanic and have it replaced.
WRAPPING UP
From the examples mentioned above, you can conclude that there is no uniform approach to engine oil leak fixes. The cost of getting it fixed depends on the type of the vehicle, as well as the underlying issue causing the leak.
For starters, identify the cause of the leak to minimize the safety risks and avoid engine degradation.
Once you have your car oil leak fixed, make sure you choose quality oil for it.
For over 150 years, Valvoline has been producing and perfecting its selection of engine oils.
Not sure which engine oil is best for your vehicle? Let our lubricant advisor help you!
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