3 Tips To Help Find And Solve Oil Leaks And Prevent Severe Damage To Your Car

23 August 2016
 Categories: Automotive, Blog

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If there is a problem with your car losing fluids, sometimes it can be difficult to find the source of the problem. An oil leak can come from seals, loose bolts, or other areas where oil can escape. Finding and repairing these problems are important to prevent wear of your engine that can cause severe damage to your car's engine. Here are some tips to help you find the issues that may be causing your car to lose oil:

1. Bad Fuel Causing Your Engine To Burn Oil

Some cars can burn oil, especially when there is a bad fuel mixture that includes high amounts of moisture. If your car is a diesel, it can be normal for your car to lose a little oil between oil changes. With gasoline engines, you will want to be more concerned if your car is burning oil. This can be a sign of engine problems like bad valves and oil getting into places where it should not be. Whatever the case may be, if your car is burning oil, it is a good idea to take it to a shop and have the oil changed and your engine inspected for potential causes.

2. Loose Bolts, Hoses, And Seals That Leak Oil  

Loose bolts and hoses can be another problem that you may want to look for signs of your oil leaks. A common problem if you have a leak after an oil change is the plug on the oil pan may not be tight enough, so tightening this bolt can solve the problem. Other areas that you may want to check are leaks around seals for the valve covers, intake and time belt. These are repairs that can be done by an auto repair shop to prevent further engine problems. If you are mechanically inclined, replacing the seals on some parts may be something that you can do yourself.

3. Damaged Engine Block, Heads Or Oil Pan That Are Leaking

The engine block can be another area where you may have a problem with leaks. This can be a serious problem like a crack in the block, which will require replacing the motor. For a temporary solution, you can use an engine block sealer to stop the leak until you can replace the engine. The heads can also be a problem, which in addition to cracks, may be warped. The warping of heads can be corrected by having them machined. In addition, you may want to check the oil pan for signs of damage causing your leaks.

These are some tips that can help you get down to the cause of oil leak problems with your car. If the problem is being caused by something you cannot fix on your own, contact an auto repair service, such as Southside Auto Repair, to stop the leak and ensure your engine does not get damaged.