Car Maintenance 101: Fixing Car Oil Leaks
Oil leaks have been one of the oldest and most common problems amongst car owners nowadays. If you’re starting to notice some little pools of oil under your car, there is a high chance that your vehicle is experiencing a leak. Leaving an oil leak on your car alone can result in premature wearing of the seals or rubber hoses. Moreover, it can also pose some safety issues especially when the oil catches fire or the engine fails while you drive.
Fortunately, there are several ways of fixing car oil leaks though you must first familiarize yourself about its potential root causes.
Causes of Oil Leaks in Your Vehicle
When there is something leaking in your car, you must expect that the problem lies somewhere within your car’s engine. It could be either of the following:
- Degraded engine gaskets
- Degraded oil seals
- Leaks on the oil pan
- Improper gasket installations
- Cracked Cylinder Head
- Broken Dipstick Tube
Checking Your Car For Leaks
Try to conduct a thorough inspection of your car. But make sure that you do the checking when the engine is cool. Have a look below and check the oil dipstick, oil pan seals and the drain plug. The next things that you should look for are the timing cover seal and the valve cover gaskets. You can also look for signs of blue smoke that comes from the tailpipe as you drive and the stench of burning oil.
Any damage that you may find could cost quite a lot once you brought it to a car repair shop, but if you’re on a tight budget, you can do the repairs yourself, right at the comfort of your home garage.
Fixing The Leak in Your Car
Applying Engine Oil Leak Products
There are products on the market that are specifically designed to get rid of car oil leaks. Some of these solutions can help soften the rubber seals and efficiently hinder the continuous leakage in the engine.
Read the instructions carefully in the product to make sure that you are applying it properly.
Tightening some loose bolts
In case you have a torque wrench, crawl under your car and start checking the oil pan first for any loose bolts. Remember that loose bolts can weaken the connection, causing the engine to leak oil over time. Once you’re done with the oil pan, move over to the timing belt cover and the valve covers. Be mindful that car models can vary when it comes in the way of how you tighten the bolts in a specific pattern. If you’re unsure on the appropriate method of tightening your car’s bolts, refer to an auto parts store and see if they can provide you with such specifications.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your car against oil leaks is highly vital in order to keep you and your passengers safe from any hazards that could come from any place, bet it the road or your home. Educating yourself about what causes most car oil leaks is crucial to help you know where to start as well as the ways of fixing it without using the help of a car repair service.
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