Keeping Your Car Clean

I still remember the day that I bought my first car. I thought it was the most perfect vehicle in the world, and I vowed to care for it diligently. Unfortunately, within a few days I had forgotten about my promise, and I started tossing fast food wrappers in the back like everyone else. After awhile I realized that neglecting my car was turning the inside into a garbage pit, and I decided to learn how to take better care of my vehicle. I took a class on auto detailing, and it really helped me to turn things around. I want to teach you what I learned, so you should read this blog.

Three Reasons Why An Engine Oil Leak Is A Big Deal

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When you see the "check oil" light come on on your dash, what do you do? You may ignore it for several more weeks, or you may rush your car into a car repair shop. It just depends on how serious you think the "check oil" light is. However, you should know that if you are one of those people that chooses to ignore the light, there are at least three reasons why car owners in the other camp rush their vehicles into a shop right away. Car engine oil leaks are a big deal, and here is why:

No Oil, Low Oil, Engine Breaks

There are several pistons and chambers inside a combustion engine. When the engine is running, the pistons are moving up and down, in and out of the chambers. It creates the amount of pressure needed to combust the fuel and power the vehicle. The pistons cannot move if the chambers are not lubricated well enough to allow the pistons to move freely. Engine oil exists to lubricate these parts so that the engine can do what it is meant to do. If your oil is low, or there is no oil for long enough, these engine parts are going to overheat, and then freeze up before the engine breaks down completely. 

Oil Leaks Are Silent Death for Engines

An oil leak is something that may go undetected for a long time, if it were not for the dash light telling you that you have a leak. Oil leaks are the silent death for car engines because you generally cannot smell them. You can only see them when the leaking oil leaves a stain on a clean driveway or a rainbow slick on the wet ground after a rainstorm. The longer the oil leak is left as-is, the more likely your car engine is going to suffer major engine failures. 

You can also check for a leak by putting a big piece of cardboard under your vehicle and then waiting for an hour or two. Pull the cardboard out and look for spots of oil. If you see a greasy blob, you have an oil leak. If it is a particularly large leak, you should definitely take the vehicle into a shop, have the leaking parts replaced, and have the oil changed and refilled. 

The Cost of a New Engine Is More Than Repairing an Oil Leak

It goes without saying that the cost of an oil leak repair is far less than the cost of a replacement engine. Certainly you would rather pay the $30-$100 to repair the oil leak and refill the oil than pay the $1,000-$4,000 cost of replacing the engine. Do not hesitate to get your car to a shop when the oil light comes on. 

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7 November 2019