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Why does my car leak oil?

If you notice a black puddle underneath your vehicle, your oil is most likely leaking from somewhere. As mentioned in the above Oil Change section, oil is the lifeblood of your engine. The leak you are experiencing can be caused by a number of areas, including:

  • Oil Pan Damage

  • Oil Drain Plug

  • Oil Pan Gasket

  • Oil filler cap

  • Oil filter

Oil Pan Damage: The bottom of your oil pan can become damaged as you run over debris on the road. Things like large rocks, tree branches, and other debris can cause dents in the oil pan, which will loosen the seal and oil will begin to leak.

Oil Drain Plug: Your oil drain plug is located on the base of the oil pan. If it is loosened or worn out, it will begin to leak.

Oil Pan Gasket: This is the most common cause of oil leaks in a vehicle. This occurs when the gasket (a seal that joins two metal components of the engine) breaks down. The reason for this failure is that the oil creates sludge, which is harmful to the gasket. (see above Oil Change section for more info on sludge)

Oil Filler Cap: The filler cap covers the engine oil compartment. If this piece becomes loose, is missing, or breaks, oil become more likely to spill out while the vehicle is running and will continue to drip after it is turned off.

Oil Filter: Over time, oil filters can wear out or become loose/misaligned, causing them to leak. Here at OffCamber Autosport, our techs are trained to ensure your oil filter is properly installed after it is replaced.

Oil Filter Housing Gasket: For example, on modern BMW engines there is a gasket in-between the oil filter housing and the engine. Due to factors like heat and time, this gasket tends to fail, causing an oily mess in the engine bay.