Does your leaky car get you down? If your car’s leaking oil, it can be a pain in the best scenario and a major stressor in worse cases. No matter what fluid is leaking from your car, finding drips underneath your car is a sign there’s a potentially serious problem with one of your vehicle’s most important systems. When this happens, how can you identify which fluid it may be and where the leak is coming from? The answer isn’t quite so simple.
In the end, you should have a trusted mechanic inspect your vehicle for any leaks or other auto repairs, but there are some steps you can take to get started identifying an oil leak under your car.
Diagnosing a Car Oil Leak by Sight, Smell, and Touch Alone Can Be Tricky
While each fluid in your car does have a different color, smell, and consistency when put in your vehicle, using these characteristics to diagnose a leaking fluid isn’t foolproof. With use, many car fluids can begin to look similar to one another. In addition, leaking fluids sit on the pavement under your car and pick up grime from the outside of your car’s parts. However, it doesn’t hurt to take a closer look at those drip marks under your car.
Instead, Check Your Car’s Engine Oil Directly
The best thing for you to do to figure out whether you’re dealing with an engine oil leak is to check your engine oil. Modern cars are equipped with an engine oil dipstick, which allows you to check the level and condition of your engine oil whenever necessary. This will not only give you a good sense of how healthy your engine oil is but also whether you may have an engine oil leak.
If Your Engine Oil Level is Low, You Likely Have an Oil Leak
When you use the engine oil dipstick, the oil level should fall between the max and min lines. While this can fluctuate somewhat with temperature changes and how recently you last drove, there are certain clear takeaways. If your engine oil level is near, at, or below the minimum line, it points to an oil leak and/or an overdue oil change.
If Your Engine Oil is Thick, You’re Probably Due for an Oil Change
Engine oil that’s thick or has noticeable particles in it means you’re due for an oil change. With use, engine oil picks up particles and debris as it cycles through the engine. While this is normal, the more contaminated the oil becomes, the harder it will be for it to circulate properly and keep the engine running smoothly.
If Your Engine Oil is Black or Smells Burnt, Your Engine May Be Overheating
A much more serious possibility is if your engine oil looks or smells burnt. Black engine oil is a clear indication that your engine is overheating. This will cause much bigger problems than just a simple oil leak – or it could be a result of an oil leak that’s been left ignored for too long.
How Can the Engine Oil Leak’s Location Be Accurately Diagnosed?
In order to find the location of an oil leak, it’s necessary to use additional tools alongside a visual inspection. Start by popping the hood of your car and looking for any signs of an oil leak, then use jacks to lift your car so you can do the same to the underside.
Use Baby Powder Alongside a Visual Inspection
Once you’ve found potential locations for your oil leak, you can use baby powder to help determine whether there’s actually a leak in any of those spots. Don’t be shy, be sure to apply a good amount to each spot so that you can easily tell whether there’s oil there later. After you drive your car a bit more, it should be apparent where the leak is, if it’s in a spot where you’ve added baby powder. In the end, it’s best left to a mechanic to accurately diagnose, locate, and repair an engine oil leak.
Your Mechanic Will Likely Use UV Dye and a UV Flashlight
A common diagnostic tool for mechanics looking to find an oil leak is UV dye. If you bring your car to an auto repair shop with a suspected oil leak and they can’t easily find the location, they’ll likely send you away again for a while with the addition of UV dye to your engine oil. When you bring your car back, they’ll use a UV flashlight to look for the source of your engine oil leak.
Oil Leaking from Your Car? Visit Your Local AAMCO Minnesota Mechanics
No matter what your car needs, visit your local AAMCO Minnesota mechanics for any car repair needs. Car fluid and oil leaks are notoriously tricky to diagnose for repairs, so you want an expert mechanic you can trust on the case. Give us a call today and let us help get your car back in its best condition – or simply schedule an appointment with us online!