Signs of an oil leak
- Brown or black spots under the engine
- A burning oil smell after driving
- Light smoke from the engine bay
- You are adding oil between changes
- Oily grime on the top or sides of the engine
The most common leaks
Valve cover gaskets are one of the most common oil leaks on older cars. The gasket gets hard with heat and age and starts to seep. Oil dripping from the valve cover onto a hot exhaust is often where that burning smell comes from.
Other common spots are the oil filter, drain plug, oil pan gasket and front and rear seals. Some are quick. Some need a lift. We find the source first.
Not sure what is leaking?
The color and location of the spot tells you a lot. Our guide to what the color of a leak means covers oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and plain water from the AC.
Done in your driveway?
Valve cover gaskets, oil filter housings and many sensor and cap leaks are driveway jobs.
When it needs a shop
Rear main seals and some oil pan jobs need a lift. We will tell you which one you have.