Oil Leak Diagnosis in Hayward, CA
Fresh spots where you park, a burning smell after a drive, or a dipstick that keeps dropping. Bay Motors Auto Repair traces oil leaks to the source for Hayward drivers.
Signs of an oil leak
Where the drip lands is not where the leak started. Oil runs along the engine and the wind pushes it back.
- Dark spots where you park
- Burning smell after driving
- Oil level dropping between changes
- Smoke from under the hood
- Oil warning light
- Grime built up on one side of the engine
- Spots on the driveway that were not there last month
- Valve cover gasket. High up and very common. Oil runs the whole height of the engine from here.
- Timing cover. The front of the engine. Its drip lands under the middle of the car.
- Rear main seal. Slow, steady, and easy to mistake for the gasket sitting above it.
- Oil pan and drain plug. Lower down, so this is the one whose drip lands closest to the source.
- The puddle. Where it all lands. Almost never directly under whatever is leaking.
What Bay Motors checks
The point is to find the source, not to replace the nearest gasket and hope.
- Confirming the fluid is actually engine oil
- Cleaning and tracing the leak path upward
- Checking common sources for your engine
- Using dye when the leak is slow or hidden
- Rating how urgent it is
- Showing you what we found before you authorize the repair
What to tell us when you call
Call or text (510) 565-0947. Helpful details:
- Vehicle year, make, and model
- When you first noticed the spots
- How much oil you are adding and how often
- The color of the fluid
- Whether the smell happens after driving
- Any recent oil change or engine work