What Should You Do First When Your Car Is Leaking Oil?
2 Answers
Methods to Handle Oil Leaks in Cars: 1. Check the drain plug. Over-tightening the oil filter can cause thread stripping, and you may need to replace the filter screw directly. 2. Apply an appropriate amount of lubrication to the wheel hub bearings. Regularly clean and unclog the vent holes and plugs on the rear axle housing to ensure they remain open to the atmosphere. 3. If the oil seal or gasket is damaged or worn out, replace it with a new sealing component. 4. Inspect the valve oil seal. Causes of Oil Leaks in Cars: 1. Poor product quality, substandard materials or manufacturing processes, or structural design flaws. 2. Improper assembly, unclean mating surfaces of components, damaged or displaced gaskets, or failure to follow installation procedures. 3. Uneven tightening force on fastening nuts, stripped threads, broken fasteners, or loose components leading to operational failure. 4. Excessive wear of sealing materials after prolonged use. 5. Overfilling of lubricating oil, excessively high oil levels, or using the wrong type of fuel.
When you notice your car is leaking oil while driving, the first thing to do is stay calm and quickly find a safe place to pull over. Don’t stop in the middle of the road—move to the shoulder or a parking lot, and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. After turning off the engine, get out and inspect the leak. Look under the car to identify the type of fluid: engine oil is usually black or brown, transmission fluid is red, and coolant is green or multi-colored. If the leak is slow, try to locate the source—it might be a loose oil pan bolt or a damaged gasket—but avoid driving further, as it could cause a fire or engine damage. I recommend contacting a repair shop or calling for a tow truck immediately rather than risking continued driving. Safety always comes first: after stopping, place warning triangles and stand in a safe spot while waiting for help. Make it a habit to check for oil stains on the ground before parking to catch issues early.
