Why Is My Car Leaking Oil?
Because our Ira Honda Saco team wants to make sure our Saco, Portland, and Scarborough, ME, neighbors receive automotive support the moment an issue arises, we’ve put together the following information on oil leaks.
Read on if you suspect your car of leaking oil.
Oil Pan Leaks
You can commonly find the oil pan at the bottom of a vehicle’s engine block. It’s there to keep the oil inside the engine. It’s mounted to the engine by bolts and is made of either plastic or metal. It’s sealed with a gasket and has a drain plug for access during an oil change.
If your vehicle has an oil pan leak, there’s a good chance that it’s the fault of a gasket that is degraded. It’s the job of the oil pan gasket to seal the oil pan from the engine block. After a time, it’s possible for the gasket to dry out and develop cracks. When this occurs, the oil will leak out.
If, during the last oil change, the drain plug was accidentally tightened too much, it could also result in a leak. If the oil pan is made of metal, it could rust, develop holes, and leak.
Valve Cover Gasket
At the top of the engine, there’s a thin piece of rubber situated between the valve cover and the cylinder head that’s known as the valve cover gasket.
A leak can occur here if the gasket is improperly installed, gets damaged by heat, or is worn down due to age.
Camshaft Seals or Crankshaft Seals
Camshaft seals are at the base of the camshaft, while crankshaft seals are at either end of the crankshaft. Although both types of seals are there to prevent leaks from taking place, age can cause them to fail.
How to Know There’s an Oil Leak
It’s important for you to be able to identify an oil leak to help prevent damage to the engine from a lack of lubrication. Signs that tell you there could be a leak include a burning smell, the engine running louder than usual, or the engine making clicking or grinding noises.
Do you know what motor oil looks like? If you have a leak, you’ll be able to see it on the ground where you’ve recently been parked. Clean, healthy oil has an amber or honey color to it. Oil that needs to be changed will look dark brown. Unhealthy motor oil can be black.
If you see fresh spots or puddles that resemble any of these descriptions, be sure to have the issue checked out by a certified automotive technician.
Schedule Your Service Center Appointment at Ira Honda Saco
If you’re near Scarborough, Saco, or Portland, Maine, and you’ve noticed your car leaking oil, Ira Honda Saco is equipped to take care of it.
Contact us at your earliest convenience to schedule a good day and time to have the issue addressed right away!
