Oil leaks can be easy to ignore. For most car owners, an oil leak is a minor issue and repairs can be put off until something more serious forces them into the shop. Allowing leaks to continue, however, can be catastrophic to your vehicle. Here, we'll discuss why it's important to have oil leaks inspected immediately, how to find the source of the leak, and a couple simple ways to try and stop the leak yourself. 

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  Oil leaks causing damage
  

​If your vehicle is leaking oil, the best case scenario is that you'll leave stains on your driveway or garage floor. Oil leaking out of your car is an environmental hazard, as well. So, even if it doesn't cause any additional damage to your car, leaking oil is still a serious problem. Allowing a leak to go unchecked is likely to cause more damage, however. This oil can get on hoses and seals, which will cause them to degrade faster than normal. The most dangerous outcome is when oil leaks in your engine compartment, which is a severe fire risk and leads to complete and disastrous engine failure. A fire under the hood could also be dangerous to anyone inside the vehicle and total your car. So, make fixing engine oil leaks a priority. 

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  Spotting a leak
  

​Being able to tell when your car is leaking oil starts with the regular checks you should be doing periodically. If you regularly check your car's dipstick, you'll be able to tell when oil levels drop, which likely signals that oil is leaking. If you get out of your car after a drive and smell burning oil, that also likely means oil has leaked onto hot components of the engine. The most obvious sign will be the dreaded puddle forming under your car. Be sure to check the color of the puddle. If the liquid is brown, you're leaking oil. If it's red, it could be transmission fluid. And, if it's green or orange, it's probably coolant. Finally, watch your exhaust for blue smoke while driving. This would likely mean that oil is dripping into the engine. 

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  Fixing a leak
  

​In most cases, engine oil begins to leak when engine gaskets become degraded, or seals and connections begin to fail. When you've spotted a leak, crawl under your car and have a look at the oil pan. Check to see if the seals have broken down and check that the drain plug is still in working. You can also look at timing cover seals and valve cover gaskets, but it's unlikely you'll be able to repair any issues you find yourself. Your best bet is to grab a torque wrench and tighten any loose bolts you find. You'll want to check your manufacturer's recommendations on what order to tighten bolts and to what specification before you do so, but tightening bolts that have loosened on your oil pan could help to stop a leak. Your simplest option is to simply take your vehicle to the professionals at Benzin Motor Works. 

At Benzin, our technicians are extensively trained on BMWs, Mercedes and Hummer H1s in order to provide you with the best possible service. When your vehicle is in need of repairs, give us a call.