Very bad oil leak. I put 5 quarts of oil in my car before going out of town. After I drove about an hour and a half it was gone.
My car has a very bad oil leak. It also smells. I put 5 quarts of oil in it before I went out of town, after driving an hour and a half, it was gone and I had to put another 5 quarts in. There's always big puddles of oil under the car. It does not over heat, no smoke. Just the oil leak.
My car has 225000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Large external leaks can be readily diagnosed. I suggest you just request an oil leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. It’s possible to have multiple leak points on a engine and as many as possible should be resolved. On some engines, though, there are inaccessible seals that require engine removal to service. In your case, inasmuch as the leak is so large it might be from the front crankshaft seal. If that seal has major damage, you will get a big leak like that. Those seals often have a relatively short life. But, all the engine seals, and gaskets, have to be checked as perhaps the valve covers leak, too. If you request the leak diagnostic the mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Mercury Mariner is leaking oil are oil system component failure and leaking engine gaskets.
Common causes of oil leaks include degraded engine gaskets, leaks from the oil pan, or improper or worn out seals. An oil leak also can be caused by a loose or missing oil pan drain plug or deteriorated valve cover gaskets.
Leaks can come from around the oil pan, valve covers, intake manifold, or a number of other components that rely on seals to hold the oil inside the engine. A leak could also be caused by a faulty part, or even an oil filter or oil pan plug that is not tightened properly.
Cracked Gasket: The Core Culprit in Most Engine Oil Leaks
More often than not, a sudden oil leak after oil change is caused by a malformed or cracked gasket. Gaskets are usually made of urethane or rubber, and they can harden over time.
Leaking Oil Filter
The filter is one of the most common causes of an oil leak. Ideally, the oil filter should be replaced with every oil change. If you change your oil at home, you may forget this important step or the new filter may not be installed properly.
Pay attention to where the oil is coming down and try to trace it to the source. Use a flashlight to check underneath your car and around your engine – telltale drips might lead you right to the problem. There are several common locations for oil leaks in your car, including: At your oil pan gasket.
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.
What does it mean when your car is leaking oil when parked? Oil leaks manifest in many different ways, but if your car is leaking oil when parked, the vast majority of leaks are due to degraded engine gaskets, oil pan leaks, or bad oil seals and connections. Your car`s oil pan is attached to the bottom of your engine.
When you carefully follow the instructions for our engine, radiator or other stop leak products, there is no risk of damage.
Driving with an oil leak is potentially dangerous because it is a fire hazard. If the leak is not attended to in a timely manner, the engine can wear down prematurely causing larger problems.
The most critical engine oil leaks are those that starve your engine of oil. If you see a large puddle on the ground, don`t try starting your engine. You may not have enough oil left to lubricate your engine and can cause permanent damage that can only be repaired by an engine rebuild or replacement.
Oil toxicity: Oil consists of many different toxic compounds. These toxic compounds can cause severe health problems like heart damage, stunted growth, immune system effects, and even death.
BlueDevil is safe and easy to use and is compatible in gasoline or diesel engines. Our stop leak additive solution is guaranteed to keep your leak sealed even after miles of driving or your money back. BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak is an oil leak sealer that will stop your leak permanently.
Oil spills into rivers, bays, and the ocean most often are caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities.
When a car mysteriously loses oil, there are usually two possible causes: either you`ve sprung a leak, or your engine is burning it away. Though you may not see any visible signs of leakage, less noticeable parts like a worn seal or leaky rings may be the culprit.
It is a fact that most engines will burn some oil. The majority of manufacturers consider one quart of oil in the range of 1,500 miles to be acceptable. It should also be pointed out there are some performance vehicles that will consume a quart of oil in less than 1,000 miles and is also considered acceptable.
Checking Your Oil Level
Many car companies will put it in print, in your owner`s manual or maintenance guide, that usage of a quart of oil every 1000 miles is in the acceptable range.
Burning oil is often the result of worn-out parts. For example, worn valve seals and/or piston rings could lead to your car burning oil. Both valve seals and piston rings work to keep engine oil out of the combustion chamber.
Due to the technology of yesteryear, oil leaks are standard for most old cars and should not be a huge concern for drivers. For example, gaskets and seals will dry up on a car you don`t regularly drive, and the minor leaks that occur from this will not represent a threat to your car`s health.
If your engine has been leaking oil then it would be wise to check out what is causing the leak – either a failed gasket, a failed seal or worn piston rings.
If you notice gear oil leaking from your outboard motor, it`s a sign that the lower unit oil contained might be damaged. Gear lube leaks can be caused by a number of things, including damaged seals or gaskets, a cracked case, or stripped pinion gear and some reverse gears.
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.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Very bad oil leak. I put 5 quarts of oil in my car before going out of town. After I drove about an hour and a half it was gone.
ANSWER : Large external leaks can be readily diagnosed. I suggest you just request an oil leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. It’s possible to have multiple leak points on a engine and as many as possible should be resolved. On some engines, though, there are inaccessible seals that require engine removal to service. In your case, inasmuch as the leak is so large it might be from the front crankshaft seal. If that seal has major damage, you will get a big leak like that. Those seals often have a relatively short life. But, all the engine seals, and gaskets, have to be checked as perhaps the valve covers leak, too. If you request the leak diagnostic the mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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.
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.
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.
car burning too much oil and can’t find where it’s going
ANSWER : The engine is sucking it in most likely. The oil control rings are bad or the intake valves are leaking. You should have a mechanic check the intake PCV system to see if there is a problem. After the diagnosis of your leakage, a certified mechanic can make necessary repairs.
think i put wrong oil in car went few miles lose power car dies oil in spark plugs still starts low oil blinking light before die.
ANSWER : Hello. If you put too thick of an oil in the car, then you may have damaged the engine bearings but this should not have caused oil to get in to the spark plugs unless the oil got into the intake of the engine or one of the pistons rings broke. If you ran it without oil and then tried to put oil in thinking it would be okay after that, then you were not that lucky and broke or damaged all of the rings on the pistons. If you would like to have this looked over, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the stalling issue and go over all of the relevant systems for a better diagnosis.
i just changed oil and i drove less than 200 miles and the dip stik show low oil levels and there is no oil leak My car has 135000
ANSWER : Hi there. How much oil did you put in during the oil change? What is the specification? How do you know that there is no oil leak? The engine may have a leak that simply has not dripped and provided visual evidence. I suggest having an inspection performed to be sure there aren’t any underlying problems. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with an oil leak inspection.
