# Oil on my engine is it a big problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, oil, honda\ **Created:** [March 28, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649 "2025-03-28T03:07:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Djcool1432008\_192823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Djcool1432008\_192823](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Djcool1432008_192823)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/1 "2025-03-28T03:07:17Z")
I have recently been working on my car a lot more and was replacing the exhaust manifold when I noticed a jet black-like dry slime thing all over my transmission. I have been under my car and seen this stuff before just behind the heat shield it was so bad, I know my car is leaking oil but it seems like it’s not leaking enough oil to do that. Just wanted to ask because my manifold was cracked is it just carbon buildup or dry oil, and is it a big problem that I should pay more attention to? As of right now, I am not too concerned because the car runs great despite being 28 years old, although I have replaced a few things. It’s mostly just on the transmission but there is more on the underside of the engine, I haven’t cleaned it yet because I am not sure what to use and if chemicals are even safe to use on that. I can send photos if but Its late right now and I just wanted to see if you guys already know about this stuff. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/2 "2025-03-28T03:13:29Z")
28 years is plenty of time for that to accumulate, if you’re not finding drips under the car and aren’t adding much oil I wouldn’t worry about it. ‘Jet black-like dry slime’ indicates a very slow leak/seep. ---
**Author:** ![Djcool1432008\_192823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Djcool1432008\_192823](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Djcool1432008_192823)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/3 "2025-03-28T03:15:20Z")
there are drops under the car, I was wondering if it could be from old oil heating up if it does that. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/4 "2025-03-28T03:20:27Z")
How many miles between adding a quart of oil? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/5 "2025-03-28T03:37:15Z")
Before you can figure out if there’s an oil leak and where it’s coming you need to clean everything. Brake parts cleaner is a good solvent for this. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/f/1ff5ce3a06c4f30ef9ac93dd5ec6ae312825dbb6.jpeg) But, when you spray this, you need something below to catch the drippings. I find kitty litter spread below works good. Then once everything dries, start the engine and see if you can locate any leaks. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Djcool1432008\_192823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Djcool1432008\_192823](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Djcool1432008_192823)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/6 "2025-03-31T23:33:07Z")
i usually just change the oil every half a year ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/7 "2025-04-01T02:08:14Z")
I’ve almost always had older, high-mileage cars. The black slime accumulates for lots of reasons, some of them minor fluid seepages and stuff. If you’re not - 1) rapidly losing any fluids; 2) seeing puddles under the car when you park it; 3) smelling things burning (like fluids dripping onto a hot exhaust), then I’d just keep up the basics and drive on. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-on-my-engine-is-it-a-big-problem/199649/8 "2025-04-01T17:16:59Z")
I’m with cigroller. If it’s just a few drops on the garage floor or driveway I’d let it be. I guess it’s up to you how much mess you can tolerate. My old cars always dripped a little bit of oil. Cat litter did a good job of absorbing the drips.