Causes of Engine Oil Leaks, Their Effects, & The Best Way to Avoid a Leak

Your car’s motor oil is what keeps the thousands of tiny parts in your engine lubricated and running smoothly. Most of the time, your car’s engine oil will work without issue, but sometimes you’ll notice a puddle of oil underneath your car and wonder if it’s an issue. Here at Zeigler Buick GMC of Lincolnwood, in addition to performing Buick oil changes, our mechanics also will diagnose oil leaks.

Causes of Oil Leaks

The vast majority of oil leaks are due to degraded engine gaskets, oil pan leaks, oil seals, or bad connections under the hood. When you bring your Buick car into our Buick dealership in Lincolnwood, IL for service, we’ll crawl underneath the car and check the oil pan seals and check the oil pan drain plug. We’ll also check the timing cover seal and the valve cover gaskets, which are additional sources of oil leaks.

Effects of Engine Oil Leaks

Oil stains on your driveway or garage floor are an environmental hazard, first and foremost. Used motor oil contains many toxic substances, and if it washed away by rainwater, it can leak into irrigation or sewage systems and become toxic to plants and animals.

In addition to these impacts, engine oil leaks can cause major damage to your car’s engine, radiator, and HVAC system.

The Best Way to Avoid a Leak

Most engine oil leaks can be avoided by getting regular oil changes at our Buick service center. Our team of certified mechanics will help you choose the right oil for your particular make and model, and we’ll also perform a tire rotation while we’re at it.

Schedule your oil change today at Zeigler Buick BMC of Lincolnwood.