A mechanic at sears auto center told me I had a oil pan leak. But i have not seen any oil leak from under my car. He recommende
When I first bought my Malibu, I took it to sears auto center to hand it looked at. I had a loose tire rod and he said an oil pan leak. I got the tire rod fixed but the oil pan together was too much. He said it'll be fine if I just keep oil in it. So I haven't gotten my oil changed in 3 years now. I've never seen any oil leak and I've only come to grips of my incompetence. Why didn't I check or have it inspected to verify. I want to know the dire consequences of not changing my oil.
My car has an automatic transmission.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Oil leaks should be repaired because leaking oil can damage external engine components such as rubber motor mounts. If you want the source of the oil leak identified and the repair estimated, simply request an oil leak diagnostic. Your vehicle has an engine oil maintenance reminder system to let you know when it’s time to change the engine oil and filter. The allowed interval for oil changes depends on your unique driving habits and can be up to, but not more than, one year. If you haven’t driven the vehicle a lot, don’t needlessly worry about having gone perhaps 2-3 years without the required oil change. It is critical though, at this juncture, to change the oil and filter immediately. Synthetic oil is recommended. If you desire that this maintenance be performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine oil/filter change and the responding mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
One of the major reasons why an engine leaks oil after an oil change is from rotted engine gaskets, oil seals, or bad connections. If you get under the car, check the oil pan seals and oil pan drain plug. You`ll then want to check the timing cover seal and valve cover gaskets to see what shape they`re in.
The drain plug is placed back into the oil pan after the old oil has been drained out. After an oil change, there may be a small oil drip because some engines have the oil filter placed in a way that oil will spill out as the filter is being changed. There shouldn`t be any sign of a leak after a few hours, though.
A: If you see a puddle of greasy-looking liquid on the ground after your vehicle has been parked for a while, then that means you have an oil pan leak, which usually indicates holes in your car`s oil pan or gaskets.
In addition to their environmental impacts, oil leaks can lead to major damage to your vehicle`s engine, as well as to its radiator and HVAC system. Accumulated oil can degrade the rubber hoses and seals used in these components and cause them to wear out prematurely. Oil leaks are also a fire and safety hazard.
When the oil pan is warped, and the gasket has failed, your biggest clue will be an oil leak. You may also notice: Low Oil Level – Oil leaks are often difficult to locate, making a leak from the oil pan gasket almost impossible to find. A lower than usual oil level is a sure sign that there is an oil leak.
It`s normal to have a few oil drips a few hours after an oil change. However, any more than that, and you`ll need to determine where the leak is coming from. There are several ways to determine if the leak is coming from the drain plug, such as the gasket part being worn or dirty.
If the relief valve is damaged, or the wrong filter is used, too much or too little oil can pass into the engine. Using the wrong oil filter may prevent the filter from sealing properly, leading to problems with oil pressure or leaks.
The gasket is probably the most common cause of oil leaks, especially in older vehicles or vehicles that are used frequently & have a high number of miles. The gasket is a seal that joins the head two metal parts of the engine, such as the between the block and the head(s) as well as the engine block and the oil pan.
As many classic car owners know, older cars are going to leak oil. Due to the technology of yesteryear, oil leaks are standard for most old cars and should not be a huge concern for drivers.
Generally, oil leaks from oil pans are rare since they are tightly fitted. But any sort of damage or a loose-fitting pan can cause an oil leak. An oil leak can also happen if the oil pan gasket gets worn out, just like the worn-out valve cover gasket. Well, these were the common reasons behind oil leaks.
Not only can oil leaks lead to low oil pressure, but they can also cause unnecessary wear and tear to your engine. If you`re noticing common signs of an oil leak, such as dark puddles under your vehicle or an illuminated dashboard oil light, don`t wait to fix the issue.
If a larger amount of oil is leaking and burning, you will see visible smoke coming from under the hood. Not only does this suggest a leak, it can also rapidly deteriorate other components in the vehicle. If you see smoke coming from your vehicle`s engine, get it checked by a professional immediately.
When running your vehicle, the valve cover will have to do its job and keep the oil from leaking out. Most of the gaskets on your car last anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 miles.
The gasket that goes around the oil pan helps to ensure that the oil contained inside does not leak out everywhere. Whether the oil pan gasket on the car is rubber or cork, it will eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
If you overfill your car engine with oil, your car may experience these problems: Pressure on crankshaft; proper pressure on crankshaft will prevent leaking. But excess oil in the engine will cause excessive pressure in the crankshaft component, which will cause leak.
Over- or Under-tightening
Besides making it difficult to remove when replacing the oil filter, over-tightening can crush the filter gasket, causing it to leak. When not properly tightened, any vehicle part designed to seal against a leak will loosen from normal engine or driving vibrations and cause leaks.
When too much oil is in the engine, the crankshaft`s rotation whips the oil up, mixing air into it. It causes the oil to be bubbly or frothy, and the oil pump pickup tube can`t draw oil in properly. The result can be low oil pressure – kind of ironic, isn`t it?
Engine Sputters
The oil filter cleans the oil from contaminants and then releases it into the engine so it can circulate through the moving parts to lubricate them and collect heat. If the oil filter isn`t releasing the motor oil into the engine, the parts will suffer and your engine will sputter.
Oil-filter problem
An oil filter obstruction or blockage can also cause oil pressure to suffer. Oil filters include pressure relief valves. If this valve is damaged, oil will easily pass right through, reducing pressure. It may go without saying, but it is important to also change the oil filter with each oil change.
Engine Gasket
This is the number one area where oil leaks can develop and, we won`t lie, it`s devastating. There is a long seal between your cylinder heads, oil pan, and the engine block, and if this seal breaks, oil can leak into the cylinders and damage your engine.
If your engine is low on oil but there isn`t a leak, that means it`s probably being burned inside the engine. A bad PCV valve is a frequent culprit in the case of burning oil–but what is it, exactly? A PCV valve is designed to let air escape when the pressure in the crankcase is too high.
Some folks might suggest that you simply put thicker oil in your car to treat a leak. Sounds reasonable. It is not. Sure, in theory, thicker oil would have a harder time fitting through gaps in your engine.
Lucas High Mileage Oil Stabilizer helps to control blow-by, dry starts and oil burning – maximizing efficiency, reducing harmful emissions and extending oil life. Lucas High Mileage Oil Stabilizer can also be used as an IDEAL ASSEMBLY LUBE.
Oil additives can effectively reduce wear and stress on your engine to boost its long-term performance. Lubricants like antifoamants and anti-wear oil additives coat engine parts to prevent stiffness and seizure.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
A mechanic at sears auto center told me I had a oil pan leak. But i have not seen any oil leak from under my car. He recommende
ANSWER : Oil leaks should be repaired because leaking oil can damage external engine components such as rubber motor mounts. If you want the source of the oil leak identified and the repair estimated, simply request an oil leak diagnostic. Your vehicle has an engine oil maintenance reminder system to let you know when it’s time to change the engine oil and filter. The allowed interval for oil changes depends on your unique driving habits and can be up to, but not more than, one year. If you haven’t driven the vehicle a lot, don’t needlessly worry about having gone perhaps 2-3 years without the required oil change. It is critical though, at this juncture, to change the oil and filter immediately. Synthetic oil is recommended. If you desire that this maintenance be performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine oil/filter change and the responding mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic.
My car is leaking oil i got an oil change for it last month but it is still leaking oil what will cause my car to leak oil ?
ANSWER : Most older cars have oil leaks. Sealing technology has just not kept up with mechanical improvements to engines so much so that leaks often kill engines rather than mechanical problems. So, it is not unexpected at all to have an, indeed many, oil leaks on a 23 year old car. Oil leaks vary hugely in terms of severity and priority of repair. Oil leaking onto a hot engine manifold is the worst case (the oil can start a fire; at best, you are left breathing oil fumes in the cabin, as the oil burns off of the manifold) while de minimus seepage of oil at the oil drain plug or oil pan gasket, while annoying and messy, if limited enough is not an emergency. Some leaks are easy to repair, while others literally require the engine to be removed just to get physical access to all the leak points. In your circumstance, if you smell burning oil, oil is probably leaking onto a hot engine part such as the exhaust manifold. A certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, can perform an oil leak diagnostic and then let you know of your repair options and costs.
As far as the check engine light, that is not related to the oil leak(s). If you request a check engine light diagnostic, a certified mechanic from YourMechanic would use a code scanner to retrieve the specific diagnostic trouble code(s) from your car’s PCM that have caused the check engine light to illuminate. Using those codes, the appropriate individual vehicle components or sub-systems (often a sensor, circuit, and the like) are then carefully tested, based on specifications set forth in your car’s Factory Service Manual, to pinpoint the cause of the fault or the reason why the check engine light has illuminated. Once the faulty part or component is identified, it is explained to your satisfaction and the mechanic will let you know of the cost to repair. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
My mechanic told me that my car has an oil leak. And that oil leak has damaged my water pump. Is that possible?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It is unlikely that an oil leak may have damaged the water pump, although not impossible if somehow the oil may have gotten inside the water pump. Again, this is not likely to happen. Water pumps often times will begin to produce a bit of a whining sound when they are starting to fail. A common problem also associated with this is the water pump may begin to leak around the water pump shaft due to the seal being damaged. Gaskets can also fail over time due to excessive heat and will eventually shrink causing them to fail and create an oil leak. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your oil leak.
It is unlikely that an oil leak may have damaged the water pump, although not impossible if somehow the oil may have gotten inside the water pump. Again, this is not likely to happen. Water pumps often times will begin to produce a bit of a whining sound when they are starting to fail. A common problem also associated with this is the water pump may begin to leak around the water pump shaft due to the seal being damaged. Gaskets can also fail over time due to excessive heat and will eventually shrink causing them to fail and create an oil leak. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your oil leak.
Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.
ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.
You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.
The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.
Oil leak turned into oil cooler replacement
ANSWER : Hi there. There are two types of oil coolers on many cars, the engine oil cooler and the transmission oil cooler. It’s not a part that typically wears out frequently, however, sometimes leaks can develop due to being hit by an object or seals and gaskets failing.
As far as how long an oil cooler will last, that’s hard to answer due to the fact that it’s a mechanical part that can fail for many reasons that simply can’t be predicted. However, if it were to happen again, one of our local ASE certified mechanics can complete the oil cooler replacement for you.
Just noticed a huge oil leak trailing my car. It seems to be coming from below the engine. I recently had my oil changed a month
ANSWER : You might have a problem with the oil filter leaking when you rev the engine and increase the oil pressure. This can be from a collapsed oil filter media or excessive oil pressure from the engine. I recommend having the oil and filter replaced using a good quality filter and have the oil leak verified to be from the filter. Make sure to not run the engine low on oil. If you are finding you do not want to drive with the leak, a mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, and replace both your filter, and oil.
2006 BMW oil filter gasket keeps breaking and oil leaks from oil filter. Oil leaks only after starting car in morning. PCV valve?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
lost all oil pressure, replaced the oil pump, low oil sensor, oil pressure sensor, oil pan gasket,
ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
