Oil Leak
Anoil leakcan lead to high oil consumption, waste of money and, if not caught in time, to serious damage. Sometimes, a leak problem may become evident because of the stains it leaves behind on your garage floor or driveway. Other times, however, it is not, unless you regularly check the oil level on your engine, transmission, steering and brake systems. Either way, trying to find the source of an oil leak may prove difficult without a good strategy. Follow a few practical steps at home to find that leak on your car.Preparing to find the oil leakFirst, you need to make your search as easy as possible. If your engine, transmission or steering system, for example, is covered in oil or grease, use adegreaserto clean those components so that you can better trace the oil leak to its source. You can buy a good degreaser at most auto parts stores. Take your car to a car wash facility with a source of pressurized water, if necessary. Spray degreaser all the way around components, hoses, brackets, oil pans and under the chassis. Following the manufacturer's instructions and with the engine cold, power wash all the necessary components. Washing the engine when cold minimizes the chances of creating steam, which may lead to electrical faults.Finding the leakNow that your car is ready, you will need a starting point to begin your search. If you are suspecting a leak because of a few oil spots you've found on your garage floor, place some old newspapers under your car to help you locate the oil source. Do this the night before you plan to make your visual inspection. This will be your starting point in finding the leak source. If you know you have a leak in a particular system because of low oil level-engine, transmission, steering or braking system-you already have an area to concentrate on.When ready, raise the front of your car, secure it safely on jack stands and block the rear wheels with a couple of wooden blocks to prevent your car from rolling. If you placed newspaper under your car, begin your visual inspection directly above the oil stain left on the paper. Otherwise, look for any traces of oil around the system or components you suspect with a leak.Tracing the leakLook for a darkened and wet area under the engine, transmission or steering system. Follow the wet area upwards to its highest point. See where the trace of oil leads. Pay special attention to areas around the system where gaskets and seals are located. These are common sources ofoil leaks. Look around oil pans, and the front and rear of the engine where crankshaft oil seals are located. Other common places for oil leaks are the oil filter gasket, oil drain plugs, cylinder head gasket and valve covers around the top of the engine. If you suspect a steering system leak, look around hoses, metal lines, pinion shaft, pump and reservoir container.Fixing the leakOnce you have found the source of the leak, you can decide whether this is something you can fix on your own. If you have little or no mechanical experience, you might be able to replace a damaged gasket on the valve cover or oil pan with the help of your vehicle service manual, depending on your particular vehicle make and model. Replacing a crankshaft or transmission seal, however, requires special tools and experience.After miles of service, an oil leak may become a common car maintenance problem. Thus, learning how to find them may prove a valuable skill. Whether you are able to make the repair yourself or have someone else do it for you, knowing the source of your car's oil leak will help you make a better repair decision. You still will be able to save money and valuable time down the road.
