how serious is an engine oil leak?
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Leaking oil can cause ugly stains on your driveway and are an environmental hazard. And worst of all, engine oil leaks are a fire risk in your engine compartment and can result in catastrophic engine failure at the worst possible time, not that there is a good time for catastrophic engine failure.
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Putting transmission fluid into your engine shouldn't have hurt anything, and as you've found out, may help it a little by cleaning stuff out. ... You also run the risk of the crankshaft hitting the fluid which can cause damage to the engine (if this were happening, you'd most likely already know it).
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Driving with an oil leak is potentially dangerous because it is a fire hazard. If the leak is not attended to in a timely manner, the engine can wear down prematurely causing larger problems.
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DEGRADED OIL GASKET The most common cause for a car oil leak is a damaged oil gasket - this is a seal that joins two metal components in the engine. Over time, oil creates sludge or gunk in the engine which causes the gasket to break down, allowing oil to seep through.
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Driving with low oil pressure or low oil in the system can ruin the vehicle's engine, completely breaking the motor. If you notice the oil light on while you are driving or while the car is running, you should stop driving and have this problem addressed as soon as possible.
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So what causes engine oil leaks? ... The vast majority of leaks are due to degraded engine gaskets, oil pan leaks, oil seals or bad connections. Crawl under the car and check the oil pan seals. While you're there also check the oil pan drain plug.
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Oil leaking from the valve cover(s) will not harm you engine and is very common as cars (and their gaskets) age. That said, and as other users have mentioned, it is a problem to drive a car with low oil. Valve cover leaks are usually very minor but your oil level is critical and should be monitored.
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A: It's always advisable not to drive if your vehicle has an oil leak, but short distance drives, less than 10 miles, are not as risky when it comes to lowering your oil levels to a dangerous point.
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Service an Oil Leak Right Away You can spot an oil leak by the brown, slick spot on your garage floor under the engine. ... If you notice this, our best advice is to bring your vehicle to a local Jiffy Lube® for a Signature Service® Oil Change. We will pinpoint the leak and recommend the best repair option.
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No. Driving with low oil pressure or low oil in the system can ruin the vehicle's engine, completely breaking the motor. If you notice the oil light on while you are driving or while the car is running, you should stop driving and have this problem addressed as soon as possible.
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Most engine dipsticks have a range of acceptable oil level, spanning about a quart, or 20 percent in most cars. If you have significantly more oil than the top of the dipstick range, play it safe and let some out.
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If you have fluid leaking from your transmission, the typical cost to repair the leak (without taking off the transmission) is between $150 and $200. For this amount, you will get a replacement of the pan bolts, drain plugs, seals, gasket, fluid lines.
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If you run out of coolant, and continue to operate the engine for a significant period of time, it will cause serious harm to the engine. Among the first things damaged is typically the heads and head gaskets. If you really push it, you could damage the block, seize the engine, or melt a hole in a piston.
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Complete Engine Failure Go long enough without an oil change, and it could eventually cost you your car. Once motor oil becomes sludge, it no longer draws heat from the engine. The engine might overheat and either blow a gasket or seize up.
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Even without blue smoke or a burning oil smell, you could have a car burning oil but not leaking. Oil consumption is a normal part of engine operation, with normal oil consumption averaging up to a quart per 2,000 miles. It can leave your crankcase low on oil.
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If an engine isn't burning or leaking oil, or if it uses, say, less than a quart over 6,000 miles or so, switching to high-mileage oil may not be worth the extra cost for you. ... High-mileage motor oil doesn't hurt and it could prevent leaks from starting.
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In fact, what a vacuum leak refers to is the system that exists between the engine and the mass airflow sensor that controls the flow of air through your engine. Depending on where the leak is in your vacuum system the repair cost can range from as low as about $150 to as much as $1,000.