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Hey, Why is My Car Leaking Oil?

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Four common causes for a vehicle Leaking Oil and their related parts.
Your engine oil is an important part of the engine to keep the internal moving parts lubricated and cool. Engine oil is designed to stay in the engine, but due to normal wear and tear, engine components can start to leak this life-giving fluid out of the engine. Because the engine has numerous parts that are bolted together and sealed up with gaskets, seals, and gasket material. As the engine operates through several thousand heat and cool cycles, the seals and gaskets can develop leaks and must be repaired or replaced.

Is Your Car Leaking Oil?

It’s leaking oil because there might be sealing issues in the oil pan, valve cover, or oil filter. It can also be that the drain plug is loose, or some of the many seals are worn out, like the crankshaft seal....read more

It’s leaking oil because there might be sealing issues in the oil pan, valve cover, or oil filter. It can also be that the drain plug is loose, or some of the many seals are worn out, like the crankshaft seal.

The engine works hard to power your automobile. It needs oil to lubricate many moving parts and keep it running smoothly. Maintaining the proper level of clean engine oil is one of the primary responsibilities of maintaining your vehicle. But, if there is a leak somewhere, the oil escapes the pan quickly.

Oil leaks could be the result of a poorly executed oil change. If that's the case, the fix might be as simple as tightening the drain plug. However, oil can also escape from several valves as it runs through your engine, which is more complex.

Keeping oil in your engine is vital. If levels get too low, your engine catastrophically damages itself as it runs. This risks a breakdown or extensive repairs. Also, engine oil is a harmful substance. So, leaking oil might damage the environment and seep into groundwater.

Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

  • Q: Is the valve cover covered in oil?
    You may also notice a burning smell coming from the vehicle or see the "check engine oil" light l...read more

    You may also notice a burning smell coming from the vehicle or see the "check engine oil" light lit on the dashboard.

    The valve cover keeps your oil in the right place and protects it from dirt and debris. When it fails, you'll see oil on the valve cover. Since the engine's crankshaft casing is pressurized, if this valve fails, it will suck in air that might be contaminated with debris as it runs. This dirty air can damage vital engine components and cause your engine to sound or feel like it's running rough.

  • Q: Is there oil dripping off the oil pan plug?
    You may also notice black smoke under the hood or an oil puddle on the ground under the vehicle.<...read more

    You may also notice black smoke under the hood or an oil puddle on the ground under the vehicle.

    The drain plug is at the very bottom of the oil pan. Since this plug is removed and fastened again with every oil change, its seal wears over time. Therefore, it may need to be replaced if you see it leak oil or be too tight or loose.

  • Q: Do you have an oil spot under your car where you park?
    You may also notice that the "check engine" light has come on, or the engine might be running rou...read more

    You may also notice that the "check engine" light has come on, or the engine might be running rough.

    Seals on the front and back of the crankshaft keep dirt and debris out of the engine oil. Because the crankshaft is pressurized with oil, it is forced against these seals as it runs. If the seals become worn, the oil will start seeping and spotting underneath the vehicle. You'll notice it under your car when you move it after it has been parked.

  • Q: Is your engine oil low on the dipstick?
    You may also notice that some suspension components are soaked in oil or find an oily spot toward...read more

    You may also notice that some suspension components are soaked in oil or find an oily spot towards the rear of the car's underside.

    The timing cover is at the front of the engine and houses the timing chain tensioner and cam phasers. Since the timing chain is constantly in motion, it forcefully throws oil against the timing cover and gasket. Therefore, when the timing cover gasket fails, your engine can lose a lot of oil quickly. You will be able to see the loss of oil measured on the dipstick.

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If you are a shop owner and sick of business directories that are based on the cost of repair, AutoTechIQ is for you. If your customers receive Digital Inspection results then AutoTechIQ is definitely for you. Check out the certification page or how to rank in your area.

Vehicle Health Inspection Proof

Explore the following typical inspection results that show a potential cause for the symptom and select the one you believe is similar to your vehicle's issue.

Oil filter leaking

The proof image shows a leak from an oil filter suspected of being installed incorrectly.

A customer dropped off their vehicle, having recently changed their oil at a different auto shop. When pulling out of their garage, they saw a small puddle of oil on the ground underneath where the vehicle was parked. So they checked their oil level, and it was good.

The technician did not notice anything about the customer's concerns on the test drive.

During the vehicle health inspection, the technician noticed oil leaking along the seam of the oil filter and the oil filter housing.

The mechanic attempted to rotate the oil filter by hand and felt the oil filter was loose. So the technician rotated the oil filter 3/4 of a turn and then cleaned the residual oil around the oil filter and housing.

They ensured the oil was full and started the engine. For total assurance, they also lifted the vehicle to verify that the oil filter was not leaking anymore.

Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it
Valve cover leaking

The proof image shows the valve cover saturated in oil, which verifies that the gasket needs to be replaced.

A customer dropped off their vehicle after noticing their valve cover had oil grease. They wondered if oil had been spilled at some point or if the valve cover gasket or another component was leaking.

On the test drive, the technician noticed nothing that could be related to the customer's concerns.

During the vehicle health inspection, the mechanic confirmed that the valve cover leaked oil and noted oil residue around the valve cover and valve cover gasket.

They determined it was a wear-related leak. The cover gasket will need to be replaced.

Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it
Loose drain plug

The proof image captures oil dripping from an oil pan drain plug that was left loose.

A customer dropped off their vehicle after noticing oil dripping under it from the oil drain plug onto their garage floor. The customer stated they had been in for an oil change at a quick service place last week.

The technician found nothing related to the customer's concerns on the test drive. However, the technician noted oil seeping from the drain plug during the vehicle health inspection.

The mechanic placed a wrench on the drain plug and immediately found it wasn't tight. So they torque the drain plug to the manufacturer's specifications. Then, after cleaning off any residual oil and starting the vehicle, they lifted it and ran it for 10 minutes to verify that no other leaks were present.

The shop recommended that the customer goes to a reputable automotive technician instead of a "quickie" oil change franchise for future oil changes.

Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it
Crankshaft seal leaking

The proof image shows oil leaking out of the front crank seal.

A customer dropped off their vehicle after noticing an expanding oil spot on their garage floor. The drips started the size of a dime, but over a month, it has increased to become a small puddle about the size of a small dinner plate.

The shop did not notice anything about the customer's concerns on the test drive.

During the vehicle health inspection, they noted oil on the front of the engine running down onto the oil pan. To further inspect this issue, the customer authorized the shop to degree the engine (synchronizing the camshaft to the crankshaft).

The technician raised the vehicle on a hoist and used an engine degreaser to clean the bottom side of the engine and oil pan. They then started the car to verify where the oil leak was coming from. The mechanic confirmed it was the front crank seal, which must be replaced.

Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it
Timing cover leaking

The proof image pinpoints where the oil leaks from between the timing cover and the engine block.

A customer dropped their vehicle off concerned about it losing too much oil. They are worried that the engine will need to be replaced. However, they have not noticed any smoke coming from their exhaust, and they have not smelled burning oil.

The technician did not notice anything about the customer's concerns on the test drive. The vehicle drove typically, and they saw no smoke from the exhaust.

During the vehicle health inspection, the technician noticed a considerable amount of oil leaking around the front of the engine. To further inspect the issue, the customer authorized a dye test.

The technician inspected the area, cleaned it, and dried it off. Next, they added UV dye to the engine oil. After starting the engine and raising the vehicle on a hoist, they detected the leak using the tracer dye. Since the oil leak came from the front timing cover gasket, the seal must be replaced.

Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it
Oil pan leaking

The proof image captures proof of the oil leaking from the oil pan gasket onto the exhaust.

A customer dropped off their vehicle after seeing black smoke rise from under it while driving in stop-and-go traffic on the freeway. They thought it smelled more like burning oil than burning wire or rubber.

On the test drive, the mechanic confirmed the burning oil odor. However, they did not notice any smoke coming from under the hood.

During the vehicle health inspection, the technician observed oil around the oil pan and saw it dripping onto the exhaust. To further inspect the issue, the customer authorized the shop to degree the engine (synchronizing the camshaft to the crankshaft) to verify where the leak was coming from.

The technician was able to degrease the underside of the engine. After drying off the bottom of the engine, the technician ran the vehicle on a lift to determine the origin of the oil leak and found it was coming from the oil pan gasket. The oil pan must be removed to replace the gasket, and they will also have to drop the exhaust.

Does the issue look like this? if not accessible your shop will document it

Typical Fixes to Address the Cause(s)

The following chapters bases themselves on experiences from our auto repair shop; we'll describe related problems' causes and fixes.

"Oil Pan Gasket Replacement" fixes "Oil Pan Gasket Leak"

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Hey, Why is My Car Leaking Oil?
Sometimes a problem is more challenging to describe than it initially looked like. If you are not sure your problem is described by this article, please find below similar vehicle symptoms, which might describe better the issue you are experiencing.

Other things your auto repair shop might talk about:

Transmission fluid. Burning oil smell. Cylinder head.