How to Spot an Engine Oil Leak in Your Vehicle

Oil leaks are messy and worrisome. They become more troublesome when you don't know where they originate. After all, you're not able to fix an oil leak you can't find. Look over your engine and under your auto to find where the oil leak is located.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Put your vehicle on a rack for easy access to the underside. If you don't have access to a rack, try using a mechanic's creeper to work underneath your auto.
2. Look on the underside of the engine for remnants of oil spray. Use a flashlight for better visibility. You will notice a wet oily area more often than you will find evidence of a drip.
3. Run your finger over the wet area. If oil comes off, you know you have a leak. Examine the oily area to see where it seems to start. The most common area to have a leak is at the drain plug, located at the bottom of the oil pan. The fiber gasket and oil pan gasket are the next 2 places to look.
4. View the intake manifold to see if there is any sign of leakage. The cylinder head covers are another place to check for leaks.
5. Consider leakage from the upper part of the engine. This problem could come from the valve cover gasket at the top of the cylinder head, near the spark plug area. Check there for new wet oil.
6. Try parking your car on a large piece of paper overnight, if you can't determine the exact location of the leak. The fresh oil drips should point you in the right direction.
7. Tighten oil filters and gaskets securely to prevent future leaks.