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Understanding Car Issues

When I began thinking more seriously about car issues, it occurred to me that there were a few things I needed to do if I wanted to make things easier for myself in the long run. For starters, I began taking my car in for regular auto service, which really helped out. It was really interesting to see how many different things had to be fixed every time I went in, but when my car didn't have as many problems, I could tell that it was really paying off. This website is all about understanding and preventing car problems by making better choices.

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Understanding Car Issues

2 Signs Of An Oil Leak

by Micheal Barrett

Your car needs to have oil to make it work correctly. The oil lubricates the engine and the cylinders so that you don't have metal rubbing against metal. That would cause little metal fragments to show up in the cylinders and eventually cause the cylinders to seize up and your engine to throw a rod. Making sure you have enough oil in your car is the best and easiest way to make sure that you don't have this problem. That means you want to make sure that you don't have an oil leak. What are some signs of an oil leak?

Dark Smelly Smoke

One thing you might notice is that you have some dark and smelly smoke coming out around your engine. That's because the oil is in places it shouldn't be, so when the engine heats up, the oil is burning off. You may see the smoke come out from under the hood when your engine has been on for a while and is at operating temperature. You may also see it when you first start your engine and it starts to heat up, because all that oil has been sitting and getting onto the engine, so it's going to burn off. The smoke will be more noticeable the longer your car has been sitting, because there is going to be more oil on it. 

Drips and Puddles

Another sign that you might have problems with an oil leak in your engine is that you are seeing a lot of drips under your car or even a puddle. If you are suddenly seeing a very large, dark, and oily puddle, you should not drive your car, but call your local auto repair shop and ask them to tow your car to their shop and take a look at it. That is a sign that you have a significant leak and driving your car would just cause a lot of very expensive damage. It is fairly common to see where there has been a drip here and there under your car, but if it looks like it's been dripping more and more, you may want to start checking your oil regularly. If you check it a couple of times a week for a couple of weeks, you should start to see any difference in the level because of a leak. Make sure that you check the oil when your car's engine is off and cold, for the best reading. 

If you want to make sure your car lasts as long as possible, one easy way to do that is to make sure that you have enough oil in your car. Knowing some signs of an oil leak can help you with that. For more information, contact a company like Redford Auto Repair.

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