Car Oil Leaking: The Threats and Solutions
Finding a puddle of fluid under the vehicle is an ominous sign for every driver. Oil is an essential element for an automobile’s mechanism as it keeps the engine running with proper lubrication. It increases the lifespan of the components by reducing corrosion and friction between moving parts. So, a black puddle under the car means oil leaking, which could be the reason of many serious problems.
The Hazards of Oil Leaking
It is a problem that you should not ignore or leave alone. The risks it may cause are:
- Wearing out the rubber hoses and seals prematurely.
- Creating a fire hazard if you keep driving with a leak.
- Wearing out the engine and failing it prematurely if the issue is not attended to in a timely manner.
If you suspect of a leak, measure the oil level to be sure about it. Besides, you will get weird smells and the color of the fume coming out of the exhaust pipe will be different. Check the following part to know how to repair the problem because it’s a potential risk for car accidents and injury to you and other passengers.
How to Fix the Oil Leaking Problem
If you don’t have any prior experience of fixing the car issues, it’d be better to take the automobile to a servicing shop. But, if you love to get your hands dirty, try these following tips:
Replace the broken gasket or worn out seals
The engine has various components and shafts. Every joining of the different parts has a gasket to keep the oil inside the engine while each shaft has an oil seal around it. The more you drive, the more the engine parts move, the shafts rotate, the temperature drops to below the freezing point and then suddenly rises to hundreds of degrees. These things combinedly work in deteriorating the sealant and gaskets. The oil starts leaking slowly, but soon the hole becomes bigger enough to create a puddle.
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New seals and gasket don’t cost much but replacing them is time consuming because you may need to unbolt or remove many components to reach the damaged ones. If you think it is too much work, contact a professional mechanic.
Use an Engine Oil Leak Sealant
If the leak is tiny, a good-quality engine oil leak sealant can work like magic! It is a kind of liquid that you have to mix with the engine oil. It closes the leak from inside out and works as a conditioner for the joint seal and gasket and bring these to their original shape. Due to its liquefied state, it does not clog any passage.
Here’s how you can both find oil leaks on your car, and then fix them
Tighten the loose bolts
Sometimes, loose bolts are the reasons for the oil leaking problem. It’s a common problem as nuts and joints tend to become loose over time. The solution is to tighten them with a torque wrench. However, different car models have different specifications for the pattern and tolerance to be used for pulling the bolts tight. So, check the owner’s manual and know the requirements.
