If your car is leaking engine oil, never ignore it.
This doesn’t just relate to engine oil only. Any signs of leaking oils and fluids, whether they are from the engine or the breaks can be a sign of disaster. So, what do you do if you see that your car engine is leaking oil?
The following are some emergency tips that you should follow when you are dealing with leaking engine oil for a car.
- Stop Driving The Car
If you can see that the car has a puddle of oil underneath, when it is parked, do not drive it. Driving a car with leaking engine oil can cause further damage to the engine. Before you know it, smoke will be coming out of the exhaust and you could have done irreparable damage to some other area.
Oil in the engine helps to reduce friction inside it. With a leak, it means that oil is not there which is why the parts of the engine are causing and creating friction. It is possible for the engine to overheat and you could end up ruining it completely if you overlook the leak.
- Take a Look at the Oil Dipstick
While most people tend to look for a puddle of oil or fluid under the car, modern cars often have a shield attached to them. This shield often catches the oil which could mean that you don’t discover the leak until it is too late.
In this scenario, you should look at the oil dipstick to figure out whether you have a leak or not. An oil dipstick indicates the current level. Additionally, if the level drops a little too quickly, it can be a sign that you have a leak and you’re losing oil too quickly.
- Identify the Kind of Oil It Is
Not all puddles under the car are because of an oil leak. To identify what area has been leaking, take a look at the color of the fluid. The following is what the color means:
- Brown – Oil
- Pink – Transmission fluid
- Orange or Green – Coolant
Based on these, you can figure out the kind of leak you have. Even if you see signs of the other fluids and no oil, you should get your car checked immediately. Transmission and coolant fluid loss is also not healthy for the car.
- Getting Help from the Professionals
Not all oil leaks are easy and simple to fix on your own. That’s why it is best to get in touch with the professionals and let them fix the issue. With their expertise, you can not only get the issues resolved but also learn proper maintenance for your engine oil.
Conclusion
An engine oil leak can spell disaster for your car but only if you’re ignoring it. Getting prompt repairs can go a long way to prevent the situation from escalating. Additionally, healthy maintenance of your car can ensure that you don’t have other leaks.