the car has been leaking oil. it had been leaking oil for over a year now but she just kept driving it. it’s coming from somewhere above and not to drain plug. in one pic it might seem like it’s the drain plug but it is not. i wiped it down and there was no more oil dripping for hours. the drip or leak only occurs after it’s been driven.
there has been a leak for over a year. we drove this car on. 3 hour road trip in the last year and back. the car runs. i did two oil changes personally. just recently changed oil. once again it’s not coming from drain plug i checked thoroughly. there is no visible leak from the oil filter area. i do note as seen in one pic there seems to be a stain on the oil cooler. i would like advice for this situation. i am poor. she doesn’t have money at this time either we just went through christmas buying gifts. and her car has been to mechanic twice this year alone.
The best way to locate an oil leak is, wash the engine off, and then add a dye to the oil. Drive the vehicle a short distance, and then using a UV light see if the leak can be located.
A UV flashlight might be a good way to highlight the dye. Since the UV bulbs are LEDs, they have a narrow emission range and the dye light emission range should be checked before buying a UV flashlight.
There’s so much oil everywhere that I would have to clean the affected areas first to try and locate the leak. That leak could originate quite far up the engine and flow down from there.
I don’t have much luck with UV dye in locating oil leaks, I prefer to use a leak detection spray after cleaning the affected area.
chevy trax 2015 LT. we looked inside the engine compartment multiple times. can’t find leak from above. if i go underneath car there is that plastic guard and all kinds of things that prevent me from reaching things. i also only have ramps. i dont have jacks for lifting and the driveway is at a slight incline. she doesn’t park on driveway and parks infront of house but her parking spot is starting to collect oil stains and it’s very obvious her car is leaking. i think it’s leaking more than last year. i noticed the leak after i started doing her oil changes because i couldn’t trust walmart. she didn’t want to get it fixed but had to take car to mechanic for other reasons twice. apparently this mechanic who is trustworthy will not mention leaks and will only fix whatever the direct reason for the visit is for. with that leak there we still went on long road trips but now i think it might be risky to go on long trips. i did have to unlatch some hose that spilled coolant to get to the oil filter compartment to remove and install new oil filter. i am not sure if pushing around that oil cooler and oil filter contraption can loosen or dislodge something. there is no visible oil leaks from above once again. but a lot of oil dripping visible from below.
