Engine oil leaks are more common than you may think. Your car’s fluids play a big role in the optimal operation of your vehicle, whether you have a Mercedes, Volkswagen or Audi. You may notice some spots of liquid under your car after parking it in one spot for a while. This indicates some kind of car fluid leak. Determining which fluid it is can be tricky, which is why you should bring your European vehicle into a trusted Dallas repair shop for troubleshooting.

Engine oil leaks happens to be the most common type of fluid leak in a vehicle. But there are several other kinds of leaks we can discuss first.

Antifreeze Fluid Leak – Do you see a patch of thick fluid that is a yellow, pink, or green color? It is pooling around or under your vehicle? This is a sign of an antifreeze leak.
Steering Fluid Leak – This usually occurs around the front part of the car, and is either brown or red in color. The fluid with this type of leak is usually quite thin.
Water Leak – You’ll commonly see these leaks underneath the car, evidenced by a small pool of clear, odorless liquid.
Transmission Fluid Leak – When your car is stationary for a while, you may see a thick patch of brown or red colored fluid around the middle of your car. This is likely a transmission fluid leak.
Brake Fluid Leak – This is characterized by an oily patch that’s clear to brown in color. You will find this around the passenger side seat or around the wheels. This is a clear sign that your brake fluid is leaking.

The above leaks can happen to many people, but they’re not quite as common as engine oil leaks.

Why Maintain Your Car’s Oil Level?

This is a critical part of car ownership, especially when you own a high-end European vehicle. As you know, your engine is the most important part of the vehicle, playing a big role in ensuring your car stays in motion. The engine features several components that have to work at the same time while the vehicle is in motion.

Because of all the motion taking place with the variety of engine components, friction is generated. Engine oil is designed to act as a lubricant to reduce friction so your car runs smoothly. The other benefit of engine oil is that is enhances the lifespan of all engine parts, saving you money over time.

To keep your engine parts moving optimally, you need to add high-quality oil at every oil and filter change. You should be changing your oil every five months or every 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you neglect this task, excessive friction will occur, which can lead to corrosion. This is a death knell for an engine.

When you don’t change your engine oil regularly, the oil could lose its viscosity and ability to properly lubricate.

Irregular engine oil changes often lead to oil leaks. If you have parked your car in the same spot for a while, a puddle of brown liquid with a greasy texture may accumulate under the front of your car. Today’s modern cars often feature a cover under the engine, whereby it’s more difficult to detect an engine oil leak.

To find out if you indeed have a leak, you’ll have to pop the hood and do a visual inspection. Is the engine is covered with oil? Are there small puddles around your engine? If so, you could have an engine leak.

What Causes Engine Leaks?

The following are common causes of engine leaks in all makes and models of European cars.

Worn-Down Gaskets and Oil Pans

The oil is held in place and pumped by a pan and gaskets. You will find these at the bottom of the engine. If you make a habit of driving on gravelly roads or roads littered with debris, this can damage the pan and gaskets so that the oil leaks out slowly.

Improperly-Installed Components

Your engine could be at risk of leaking oil if the:

Oil pan and gaskets have been installed too tightly. Keep in mind that the tightness of your pan and gasket fittings should be evenly distributed.
Oil filter is on too loosely, making the oil leak on its way into the engine.

A professional mechanic will be able to tell you where the leak originated and how to avoid that in the future.

Defective Valve Seals and Rings

Damaged valve seals and rings in your engine can result in small oil leaks. Oil leaks don’t just happen when a vehicle is simply parked. They could also happen when you are driving the car. When this happens, the heat generated by your engine will burn the leaking oil and produce a nasty odor.

Keep in mind that oil leaks of any kind can cause costly damage to your engine components. If you don’t even know you have a leak and don’t take it into the mechanic, your engine may need an overhaul, at great expense. The best way to avoid this is to regularly get your car inspected and your oil changed. Oh, and don’t miss regularly schedule service visits.

Contact Hance’s European in Dallas

Here at Hance’s European, we know engine oil leaks. We see them every day. As such, our technicians can troubleshoot the origin of the leak and fix the root cause. We are proud to have decades of hands-on training under our belts, so count on us for top-notch engine maintenance, repair and replacement for luxury brands like Audi, BMW, Land Rover and Mercedes.

If you suspect you have an engine oil leak, book your appointment now with our certified service technicians in Dallas or fill out our online form. For your convenience, we are located at 1850 West Mockingbird Lane in Dallas. Contact us today!