Does a small oil leak need to be fixed right away?
Not always. A slow seep that leaves only a damp film, on a car that loses little oil between changes, can often be watched and photographed at each service. A leak that drips onto the exhaust, a rubber belt or the alternator, leaves spots on the driveway, or drops the oil level noticeably between changes should be fixed soon, because it can damage other parts, cause a burning smell, or run the engine low.
Watch it, or fix it?
| Situation | Our usual advice |
|---|---|
| Damp, dusty film on an old gasket, no drips | Photograph and watch at each oil change |
| A few small spots on the driveway | Plan a repair; check the level often |
| Oil dripping onto the exhaust (burning smell, smoke) | Fix soon |
| Oil on the alternator, belt or spark plug wells | Fix soon; it ruins these parts |
| Level drops more than about a quart between changes | Fix soon and check the level every fill-up |
Why we sometimes say "let's watch it"
Older engines often develop a seep that stays the same for years. Replacing a hard-to-reach seal for a leak that isn't hurting anything isn't always the best use of a repair visit. We take a photo, note it on your record, and compare at the next service. If it gets worse, we'll know, and so will you.
When oil is reaching something it can damage, like the alternator underneath a leaking valve cover, the answer changes. Fixing the gasket then prevents a much bigger repair.
What we do
We clean the area, find the true source (oil runs downhill, so the drip is rarely where the leak starts), and show you photos with our recommendation.
From drivers who came to us
I had a small leak in my engine… they took photos and are going to watch the issue over time to see what is needed.
Upon inspection of my car they told me they disagreed with Hyundai and I didn't need all of the extra work done that Hyundai proposed. They changed only the necessary parts (valve cover gasket and alternator and cleaned up the oil spray mess).
I had oil leaks issue with my car's engine, they changed all seal related to this issue.
Excerpts from verified customer reviews on Yelp.
More questions
Where do most oil leaks come from?
The valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, oil filter housing, front crankshaft seal and rear main seal are the most common. Valve cover gaskets are usually the simplest to replace.
Can I use an oil stop-leak additive?
Some can swell old seals and slow a minor seep temporarily. They don't fix torn gaskets and aren't a substitute for a repair when the leak is affecting other parts.
Does an oil leak fail smog?
A visible leak can fail the visual portion of a California smog inspection, and oil dripping onto the exhaust is a fire risk.