Oil leaks and wastages are among the most common reasons why Chevrolet owners bring their cars to our shop at M&R Automotive.
From tiny leaks in gaskets to huge gushing spills due to worn out seals or other issues, oil leaks can be detrimental to your car’s functioning. Generally, engine oil is placed to ensure proper lubrication and functioning of all your engine’s parts. If the oil starts to leak, then you run the risk of overworking the engine and causing an even bigger problem for your car down the line.
Regardless of what the issue is, rest assured that M&R Automotive is the right company to help take a look at your engine oil system and address any leaks.
Burning Oil
In the heart of a Chevrolet’s engine is the combustion chamber- a critical component that causes engine action.
Typically, your piston rings and valve seals prevent oil from entering this chamber. However, oil may start to leak into your combustion chamber if your rings or valve seals are damaged, where it will partially decompose and emit an unpleasant blue-gray smoke.
Unless there are damaged gaskets or other holes leading to the outside of the engine, you probably won’t see any oil on the ground or the engine, even if your rings or valve seals are leaking. The only thing you’d notice is that oil keeps wasting faster than normal. This is due to the likelihood that oil from a small leak of this kind, such as one caused by a single damaged valve or a single partially warped piston ring, will be burned up during combustion.
Wrong Gasket Installation
Oil leaks could also be due to wrong installations of gaskets – those components meant to keep oil where it should be. A person could over-tighten an oil pan gasket or a valve cover gasket, or they might have unevenly distributed the tightness across the entire gasket system.
If this happens, the gasket could get “Squished,” creating a pathway for oil to leak. Depending on the tightening issue, this error could eventually grow from a small leak to a sizable one.
This is why it is important to get your gasket system checked by the professionals at M&R Automotive. We’ll ensure proper installation and ensure that the gasket is fit just right.
Faulty Oil Pressure Sending Unit
Another common reason for oil spills in a Chevy is a leakage from the oil pressure sending unit.
The ending unit is a component that helps to maintain the right oil pressure levels. It works as an electrical switch, detecting oil pressure and sending an electrical signal to the control unit. In turn, the control unit computes the signals and converts them back to a pressure reading that you can view on the panel.
If the sensor on the sending unit is loose, then oil could leak through it. Generally, the sending unit’s base fitting is separate and can thread directly into a hole in the sending block. If the fitting gets too loose, oil will leak through the sending unit eventually.
Once you find that oil is leaking at the engine intake’s rear or oil drips on the back of the bell housing, then the sending unit is most likely the culprit. Fortunately, the professionals at M&R Automotive can easily spot this defect and get a solution together.