While parked, the car is exposed to the weather and other cars on the road. This can be dangerous if another car or vehicle hits your car, causing it to spill oil or Acrylic paint.
Unfortunately, this happens more often than you would like! Many people buy cars with low-down-the-line features to make them more budget friendly, but over time, they are going to wear out and require replacement.
These include: Belts and Seals for Transmissions, Sports Suspension Racks/Play Sets, Carpeted Floor Mats, and Plastic Window Moldings. All of these can be expensive to replace over time.
Bullet point ended here. If you think your car is leaking oil or paint due to parked condition, do not worry! This article will tell you how to prevent it from happening again.
Contents:
Check oil filter
If your car has an oil filter, make sure it is properly installed. Many filters have a clip that holds it in place. If so, remove the filter and verify that it is safely in place.
If not, then put some oil and try parking the car with the car lid open to let some oil escape. If there is too much oil entrapped, you will not be able to park the car comfortably!
Other things to check include brake fluid levels, power steering fluid levels, and any other fluids that may be needed or recommended.
If any of these checks indicate something is wrong or need addressed, call a mechanic immediately! It may be a simple fix that was overlooked earlier.
Repair leak
If your car is leaking oil, you should do some immediate repairs. These may include:
Removing and replacing the oil filter
Checking and changing the oil level sensor (if present)
Replace leaking oil filter or replace both filters if defective (an old one can be used as a new one)
If possible, check whether the leak is coming from the engine block, engine casings, crankcase, etc. If so, then it may be coming from a nut on an engine mount or cranknut. Loosely secure it with some tape or glue and see if that helps stop the flow of oil.
Add oil
If your car is running out of oil, you must add some immediately! Most cars have a warning sound when they need oil, so look for it.
After your car has oil changed, you can go to the store and pick some up! This is a great way to learn about new oil brands and places to buy them.
Newer oils like lithium or synthetic oils are better for driving due to their low temperatures. The solids keep your car moving even with little Throttle Body Spill. Old lithium oils can burn up when hot engines run on them.
Sorbitol baking soda can help stop the running of an oil change due to its thickening properties.
Run car until warm
If your car is currently parked, the oil may be frozen in the oil pan or running out of steam. You can try to warm your car up by driving around with the windows down and parking it until it warms up.
If this does not work, you can try to run your car until it heats up and oil changes are done. This takes a while as some cars take a long time to heat and cool itself!
Assuming your car has an O-ring, you can use some hot water and a bowl of flour to harden the O-ring preventing any future leaks. If not, you may have to find another way to keep the oil operational.
Some cars require special tools to run the oil change correctly so do some research before rejecting the service as useless.
Check for blown seals
If your car is leaking oil, you should check for blown seals. These are small pieces of metal that hold oil in the car’s oil tank.
If you see any of these, you should replace the seals to prevent more oil from traveling to the tank. They are easy to check, just look for small bubbles coming out of the tank.
Bullet point: Replace o-ring when wear is clear
The new ones should be put on by stepping on them so they get fully inserted into both sides of the car. If you do not do this, then more oil may get trapped which could cause it to leak again.
To prevent this from happening, we recommend checking them every week.
Have the car checked by a mechanic
If the car appears to be leaking oil, it may be due to a mechanics error. There may be a sensor that is out or damaged. A oil sensor turns the car off when oil is needed.
Checking your car by yourself can be difficult, so find a mechanic that works with many cars. Many have experience in fixing cars that are out of place on vehicles.
The mechanic may need to check the seal on the oil tank to make sure it is not broken, or check the dipstick to see if it is stuck. Check around the fuel tank and make sure there is no sign of leakage.
If all of these checks and counter-checks show that the vehicle is not leaking, then there may be an issue with how your car puts oil in its engines.
Replace damaged parts
If a part breaks on your vehicle, you should consider having the rest replaced as soon as possible. This includes damaged or broken plastic parts, rubber parts, and assembly/inspection instructions.
Replaceable components are the best bet because they are made of durable material and can be re-used. If a whole part needs to be replaced, it should be easy to do so without too much trouble.
If a replacement part is necessary, look for one that is certified by US Auto suppliers and/or BMW Certified Equipment Vendors.
Change the oil completely
When cars start to leak oil, the oil goes a long way. The car needs to be fluid-tight at all times, so when the time comes to change the oil, do it.
To prevent oil from flowing out when parked, keep a wad of paper towels or a clean hand towel nearby. When needed, you can wrap off and into the car through this process.
To keep oil from spilling when changing the oil, put some penetrating oils in the trays before putting in any amount of oil. You can also use an alcohol-based grease remover such as WD-40 or Motor Oil Resealer, but avoid ever using sand or grit as these could cause damage to your car’s paint. They may also create small scratches that require you to purchase additional products to fix.