Oil Leak
Oil leaks range from a slow seep on the driveway to an active leak that drops oil pressure while you drive. How urgent it is depends on how much oil you are losing and how fast — not just whether there is a spot on the pavement.
Symptoms
- Fresh oil spots where you park
- Burning oil smell after driving
- Oil level low on the dipstick between changes
- Oil on the exhaust or pooled under the hood
- Blue smoke at startup
Can I keep driving with an oil leak?
Small seep with a normal dipstick level — check the level, top off if needed, and schedule an inspection soon.
If oil drops quickly, the low-oil light comes on, or you smell heavy burning, stop driving until the level is checked.
Never drive with the oil light on — even briefly.
Common causes
- Valve cover or oil pan gasket seep
- Oil filter housing or drain plug seal
- Rear main or front crank seal — more common on higher mileage
- Cam or crankshaft position sensor o-rings
- Turbo or power steering lines that look like engine oil
What happens next when you bring it in?
- 1 Call us. Tell us how fast the level drops and where you see wetness.
- 2 We clean the area, inspect for seep vs. active leak, and trace it to the source.
- 3 Active leaks and low oil pressure come first. We explain priority before we quote repair.
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Unexpected repair?
Need to spread out the cost? Wisetack and Synchrony Car Care™ can help on repairs that qualify.
