Why is My Car Leaking Oil?

Motor oil is one of the most essential parts of a vehicle’s infrastructure, cutting down on friction inside your engine. However, it loses its thickness with time and engine use, which is why you need to regularly get your car’s oil changed. Frequent oil changes is a crucial way of taking care of your vehicle and keeping it in top condition.

If you wait too long to get your car’s oil changed, you might find your car leaking oil. This is a serious issue that needs to be taken care of by a qualified service technician as soon as possible to prevent any damage to your vehicle.

Big Star Buick GMC has compiled a list of what typically causes a vehicle to leak oil, whether it’s a damaged oil pan or a poorly-installed gasket. So, if you’re asking yourself, “Why is my car leaking oil?”, read on for the most common causes. Then, be sure to bring your car to our dealership so we can fix it up and get you back on the Houston roads as soon as possible.

Spotting a Car Leaking Oil

There are a few common signs of an oil leak, but they present differently if your car is parked versus if it’s running.

An oil leak is most easily identified as a puddle of brownish, greasy liquid underneath your parked car. If you open up the hood and see that your engine is covered in oil, that’s another surefire sign of your car leaking oil.

You can identify an oil leak while the engine is running if you smell or see smoke while driving, since oil will burn if it comes into contact with a hot surface.

What Causes Oil Leaks in Cars?

Now that we’ve identified what a car leaking oil looks like, it’s time to dive into the various causes of oil leaks. Usually, an oil leak can be traced to deteriorated parts in your engine, which in turn can be caused either by wearing out over time or from not changing your car’s oil regularly enough.

Damaged Oil Gaskets or Pans

Damaged engine parts are one of the most common causes of oil leak problems. This can happen even if you take great care of your car; the oil gaskets and pans in a vehicle’s engine are vulnerable to damage by dirt and debris because they are located under the car at the very bottom of the engine. If rough roads or debris wear away at the bottom of your car enough, they can cause an oil pan leak. Your car’s oil gaskets can also be damaged by wear and tear on the road and leak oil as a result.

Incorrect Installations

Occasionally, you can run into oil problems if your vehicle’s gaskets have not been installed properly. If your valve cover gasket has been over-tightened, or if the tightness is not evenly distributed, then oil can start to leak easily. Your car can also start to leak if the oil filter is poorly installed, since engine oil flows continuously through it and will leak out if it’s too loose.

Big Star Buick GMC is Always At Your Service

No matter the cause, an oil leak has to be taken care of as soon as possible. If you spot any of the above signs of a leak, contact our office in Baytown right away, then bring your car into our dealership for service. We have a team of certified service technicians who specialize in mending oil leaks, and we’ll have you back on the Crosby roads before you know it! More information about our oil change service, or even the color of transmission fluid, can be found right here on our website. You can also schedule a service appointment online if you’d prefer.