Is your engine leaking oil? If you ever suspect a leaking engine, it’s best to pull over and examine your car carefully. As you’re driving around Englewood, NJ, your leaking motor oil will rapidly cause all kinds of problems. The following are six clear warning signs that your engine’s sprung a leak.
Engine Leak Signs
Oil Pooling Under Your Car
If you pull away from parking and see a pool of oily liquid on the ground, you probably have a leak. One test to carry out if you suspect a leak is to put newspaper or cardboard under your engine when you park. When you return later, check to see if the paper is stained.
A leaking fluid might also be coolant, which is generally a bright red, blue, green, or pink color. Motor oil is yellow when fresh and then tan or even a dirty brown when aging. Motor oil is also typically odorless, while coolant smells sweet.
Oily Residue on Engine Parts
Sometimes minor leaks can go unnoticed for a while. In this case, an oily residue is likely to build up around the oil filter housing, sump gasket, or wherever the source of the leak is. After days or weeks of this, you might find dried-out residue several layers thick.
Engine Leaking Dashboard Warnings
The sophisticated sensors in your Lexus will quickly detect and warn you of a leak. Firstly, you’ll see the oil pressure gauge dropping rapidly, which is never a good sign. Healthy oil pressure should be between 25 and 65 pounds per square inch in a Lexus. Also, once a leak is detected, the check engine light will come to life.
Persistently Falling Oil Level
When suspecting a leak, pop your hood and use the dipstick to check your oil level. If it’s below the minimum level mark, you might have a leak. Do this a few times throughout the day. If the level is clearly falling, you almost certainly have a leak.
Burning Oil Smell
Leaking motor oil will sometimes drip onto the hottest car parts, causing the oil to sizzle and burn. You’re quite likely to smell a cooking oil smell while you’re driving, a little like burning oil in the kitchen.
Overheating Engine
Hopefully, you’ll spot a motor oil leak early on. But if you somehow miss it, your engine will start to overheat, causing the engine temperature dial on your dashboard to go up.
You’ll also hear ticking and knocking sounds as mechanical parts start to struggle without proper lubrication. And as the coolant begins to boil from the heat, steam will erupt from under the hood.
Have Your Oil Changed in Englewood, NJ at Our Lexus Dealership
Motor oil is the most important fluid to keep fresh in your car. It’s recommended to have your oil changed every six months or so.
This can be less frequent if you don’t drive much. And it should be more frequent if you drive a lot in conditions that put extra strain on your engine, such as frequent short trips or heavy traffic.
Visit DARCARS Lexus of Englewood today to have your engine checked for leaks. We offer exceptional cars and an equally luxurious car-buying and servicing experience.
Connect with us
