Why is my Car Leaking Oil (And What Do I Do About It)? | Carter VW Automotive FAQs, Answered

Tip #2: Seeing is Believing

Tracing the path of an oil leak -- especially one that originates deep in the engine, or behind other components -- can be particularly tricky. You can use a UV dye kit to help you see the origin of the leak. Our factory-trained technicians use a similar kit in our very own service center to trace engine oil leaks!

You'll add the dye to the engine and let it run for a brief time, to circulate the dye. Then, using a UV light and special glasses, take a close look at the engine. Any traces of oil will shine brightly. You'll be able to see the oil much more clearly, and follow its path easily to the source of the leak.

Tip #3: The Usual Suspects

When looking for oil leaks, it's often helpful to know the most common sources of oil leaks, so you can check them first.

In fact, all the gaskets and seals are great places to check for leaks. Some of the gaskets worth looking at include the rear main seal, the timing case gasket, camshaft seals, the valve cover gasket and the head gasket.

If you don't know your head gasket from a hole in the ground, no problem! Finding and fixing an oil leak on your Volkswagen is a job for the factory-trained experts at the Carter VW service center. You car will still be safe to drive even with a small oil leak, so bring it to our service center as soon as you can -- but be sure not to operate the engine if you see an oil pressure or temperature warning light in the dash. If your car leaks enough oil, there won't be enough left in the engine to lubricate its many moving parts, and the engine could be destroyed! That's why we think it's smart to trust the experts in our service department for a quality, lasting repair.