Black or dark brown drips under the front of your car, an oily film on the engine, or the smell of burning oil at stoplights - all classic engine oil leak signs. The fix can be $30 or $1,500 depending on the source. Here's how to tell which one.
By far the most common engine oil leak. The rubber gasket between the valve cover and cylinder head dries out and seeps. You'll see oil on top of the engine, sometimes dripping onto exhaust components and burning. $150-400 at a shop.
Diagnose My Leak →The pan at the bottom of the engine is sealed with a gasket. When it fails, oil drips from the very bottom of the engine. Repair runs $200-600 depending on whether the pan has to come off.
Diagnose My Leak →These seals are at the front and back of the crankshaft. The rear main seal is the worst - the transmission has to come off to fix it. Plan on $700-1,200.
Diagnose My Leak →If you just had an oil change, check here first. A loose filter or a drain plug with a damaged crush washer is an easy fix - usually free if you go back to the shop.
Diagnose My Leak →These leaks show up at the front of the engine. They're labor-intensive because timing components have to come apart. Often $600-1,000.
Diagnose My Leak →Describe what you're seeing and our AI mechanic will tell you what it is, how serious it is, and what it costs to fix - in seconds.
Get My Free Diagnosis →No account needed. First answer is free. Full report is $5.99.
Oil leaks usually do not trigger an OBD2 code. Skip the scanner and use our free AI diagnosis - just describe what you're seeing and where.
🔬 Describe Your Leak - Free AI Diagnosis →A slow drip is not an emergency, but a steady leak will eventually run the engine low on oil and cause serious damage. Most importantly, oil dripping onto a hot exhaust can start a fire. Get it diagnosed within a week or two.
Stop-leak additives can soften and re-swell shrunken gaskets. They sometimes work for very small valve cover or front seal leaks. They will not fix a torn gasket or a major leak. Worth trying for $10 before committing to a $400 repair.
Valve cover gasket: $150-400. Oil pan gasket: $200-600. Front crank seal: $400-700. Rear main seal: $700-1,500. The seal itself is cheap - it's the labor to get to it that drives the cost.
Oil is dripping onto a hot exhaust pipe and burning off before it can pool on the ground. Look on top of the engine for an oily, dirty area. That's usually the valve cover gasket.
Tell our AI what you see under your car. You'll know what it is, whether it's safe to drive, and what the fix costs - in under a minute.
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