Car fluids play a vital role in making sure that your vehicle runs at an optimal level. Sometimes, you may notice liquid spots underneath your vehicle after parking your car in a spot for a while. This is an indicator that some car fluid is leaking. This blog will mainly discuss the most common type of fluid leak; engine oil leak.
The engine is the most important part of your car, and it plays a key role in keeping your car in motion. The engine has many components that usually work simultaneously when your car is in motion. Due to the motion of all the engine components, there is usually a lot of friction in this part of your car. Engine oil usually acts as a lubricant, reducing friction among all the components hence ensuring that your car runs smoothly while at the same time enhancing the lifespan of all parts of the engine.
To keep all engine parts moving as they should, you must ensure that you have high-quality engine oil at all times. This means that you should change your oil periodically. We recommend you do this at least every 3 months or after every 3000 kilometers. Failure to change your oil will lead to excessive friction, which will, in turn, cause corrosion within your engine.
If you fail to change your engine oil as recommended, it may lose its viscosity and lubricating ability. In the auto maintenance industry, experts call this ‘becoming dirty.
Irregular engine oil changes often manifest themselves as an oil leak. For a parked car with an oil leak, you may notice a puddle of brown liquid that has a greasy texture underneath the front of your car. It is, however, worth noting that some cars today have a cover underneath the engine, making it harder to spot an engine oil leak. To understand if you have an oil leak, you may need to do a more thorough inspection by opening the bonnet of your car and checking if your engine is covered with oil or if there are small puddles that have collected around your engine.
If you have an engine oil leak, it may have been predicted by several factors, such as:
1. Worn Out Gaskets and Oil Pans
The oil you add to your engine for lubrication is usually held in place and then pumped by a pan and gaskets, usually located at the bottom of the engine. If you often drive on rough roads with a lot of loose gravel and other debris, they can cause damage to the pan and gaskets, causing the oil within to leak slowly.
2. Improperly Installed Engine Oil Components
Your engine oil may leak if, The oil pan and gaskets are fitted too tight. Usually, when fitting the pan and gaskets, the tightness should be evenly distributed. The oil filter is fitted loosely, causing the oil to leak as it flows into the engine.
3. Defective Valve Seals and Rings
If the valve seals and rings in your engine oil system are damaged, they can lead to small oil leaks.
Always remember that engine oil leaks do not just happen when your car is parked. Sometimes they can occur when your car is in motion. Should that happen, the heat from your engine will burn up the leaking oil producing a noticeable odor.
An oil leak can cause a lot of damage to your engine components. If it goes undetected for some time, you may even have to overhaul your entire engine. What is the best way to avoid the problems that follow an oil leak and other car fluid leaks? Take your car for regular inspection, get your oil changed as regularly as possible, and ensure your car gets serviced often.
