Why Does a Car Leak Oil? How to Fix It?

The phenomenon of oil leakage in cars is a common occurrence in any type of car, which could be a sign of gasket leakage, engine cracks, etc.

When encountering this phenomenon, it is best to find a solution immediately to prevent it from spreading and causing serious damage, which will cost you more money. So, what are the causes of car oil leakage? Let Mit Auto Japan help you find out about car oil leakage.

Basic causes leading to car oil leakage

Oil leakage indicates that the car is experiencing a significant problem. In fact, oil leakage can signal diagnoses of underlying issues that the car is facing.

There are many causes leading to car oil leakage:

• Light yellow oil indicates a problem in the engine block.
• Red oil, slippery to the touch, is transmission fluid or power steering fluid.
• If you see water drops but they are not slippery, this may be coolant.
• If the car leaks oil at the oil pan or crankshaft seal, it can be easily seen by checking under the car.
• If oil leaks from the camshaft seal or from the upper part, it is much harder to identify the exact leak point.

Did you know that oil leakage is usually a warning sign of many hidden issues in the car? If you do not thoroughly check and repair, it can easily lead to:

• Worn rubber hoses and oil seals
• Car fire due to long-term oil leakage
• Engine failure due to insufficient lubrication and cooling

A simple way to check for oil leaks is to use the engine dipstick. Or, if you are attentive, you can also detect it by smelling burning oil or something similar. You can also observe black smoke. If so, check under the car to see if there is dripping fluid.

If not handled in time, oil leakage can be dangerous for both the car and its user.

Usually, the cause is the valve cover gasket (also known as the spark plug gasket), which is common in low-cost cars such as Kia Morning, Cerato… leading to oil leakage. After long use, around 100,000 km, the gasket becomes hard and shrinks, so it cannot seal the cover, causing oil to leak. However, there are also many other causes leading to car oil leakage. You should bring your car to reputable repair and maintenance garages for inspection and thorough treatment.

How to fix car oil leakage

• Replace rubber gaskets and oil seals. This is inexpensive but takes a bit of time because many parts must be removed. Bring the car to a garage for support.
• Use sealants to block gaps and prevent oil leakage, helping the leaking part return to normal. However, this can also cause oil passage blockages.
• Tighten bolts if they are loose, leading to oil leakage.