Motor oil keeps all the moving parts of your engine properly lubricated. Without adequate oil, an engine will rapidly overheat and might even seize up altogether. Keep an eye out for the following six signs of a leak. If you ever notice your engine leaking oil, visit your nearest Nissan dealer to have it repaired right away.
Oil Is Puddling Under Your Car
The most obvious sign of an oil leak is when you see oil pooling under your car while parked. Motor oil is a golden yellow color when fresh. This fades to caramel, then tan, then dark brown as it ages.
Any fluid pooling under your car is a sign of trouble. But if that fluid is yellow or brown and near the front of your vehicle, then it might well be a motor oil leak.
Use Cardboard to Check
If you have a dedicated parking space, it’s easy to notice any leaks coming from your car. But drivers who change parking locations from day to day don’t necessarily find it so easy. If you ever suspect a leak, you can leave a piece of cardboard under your car and check it for fluid stains when you return.
Low Reading on Your Oil Pressure Gauge
The oil pressure gauge on your dashboard will also let you know if your engine’s leaking oil. Healthy oil pressure for most Nissan cars is between 25 and 65 pounds per square inch (PSI) while the engine’s warm. If this pressure drops below 25 PSI, it’s possible that you might have a leak.
Ticking or Knocking Sounds From Your Engine
An engine that loses lubrication will start to emit strange ticking and knocking sounds. You’ll notice these sounds most clearly while resting in idle. Ticking or knocking means the valves and valve lifters are beginning to struggle. If you hear it, have a trusted technician take a look as soon as you can.
Smoke Rising From Your Engine
When motor oil starts to leak, it sometimes drips onto extremely hot parts of the engine or the exhaust manifold. It will then burn up very quickly, creating smoke. Needless to say, never ignore any smoke seeping from under your hood.
You Can Smell Burning Oil
When leaking oil starts to burn, you’ll often smell it. Burning oil smells unpleasant and very different from your usual car smells. When oil burns in this way, you might also hear an accompanying sizzling sound as it cooks on the hot metal parts of your car.
Oil Level Consistently Low
When suspecting a leak, you can always pop the hood and use a dipstick to measure your motor oil level. Motor oil tends to diminish gradually over time, even without a leak. But if your oil level is persistently lower than you think it should be, you may well have a leak.
First Places a Nissan Dealer Checks for Leaks
Here’s how a technician at your local dealership will check your vehicle for engine leaks. You can try it yourself before you take your car in.
They’ll first check the oil pan seals under your engine, which is where the majority of leaks originate. They’ll also check the valve cover gaskets, the timing cover seal, and the oil pan drain plug. More often than not, one of these is the culprit.
Get directions to DARCARS Nissan of College Park now, or schedule a service with us today to have your motor oil checked and topped up. We take pride in providing excellent vehicles and customer service.
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