Symptoms of Cadillac Engine Oil Leaks
by schearerswpadmin April 14, 2020Cadillac is the classic American car, and as such, Cadillac owners should properly maintain their car. Ensuring your engine’s oil is topped up is essential to the health and longevity of any vehicle. Not only can leaking oil cause issues such as overheating, but a serious or untended leak can cause serious, permanent damage to the engine.
Signs of an Oil Leak
Spotting an oil leak early is the key to stopping damage before it occurs. We’ve compiled a list of the most common symptoms:
The smell of burning oil
This is unmistakable and often one of the first signs of an oil leak. If you smell burning oil, it’s because even a small amount of oil has leaked onto a hot component of the vehicle.
Odd or Unusual Noises
If you hear crackling noises, you may have oil leaking onto hot engine components. This sound means you’re likely leaking some kind of fluid that is being cooked on the hot components.
Smoke Rising from the Engine
This is a sign that something in your engine is leaking liquid onto a hot component. If you see blue smoke rising from the engine, pull over immediately, as that means that oil is mixing and burning with your fuel. Dark or cloudy-looking smoke is oil burning on a hot component. If that’s the case, get your vehicle in to a mechanic as soon as possible.
Your own personal oil slick
Under your vehicle every morning, or after parking for any amount of time, look for oil puddles. Double-check that what is leaking is actually oil and not condensation from the morning dew rolling off your vehicle. Oil leaves a stain on any surface it contacts. When the remaining liquid has evaporated from the area, if a yellow or brownish spot remains, you’ve got an oil leak.
A Hot Engine
This is a common sign that something in your vehicle’s coolant or lubrication system is wrong. A significant oil leak can drop the level of oil in your tank and the pressure throughout the lubrication system. This becomes low enough that your engine experiences increased friction, and therefore, it overheats. Your check engine light or temperature warning gauge will alert you to this problem.
Indicators lights
Vehicles come with different warning alerts and levels of detail. If you have a check engine, check oil, or thermometer warning on your dashboard, it’s an indicator that you need to have your Cadillac checked by a trusted shop.
Severe Oil Leaks
All oil leaks should be attended to as quickly as possible, but some oil leaks can’t wait until the next week to be checked out. The severity of your oil leak is determined by the size of the leak itself, as well as a few other factors such as:
- The origin of your leak. Leaking into hot parts of the engine is more dangerous and should be inspected and diagnosed quickly.
- How far or how long the vehicle is driven daily. The more you drive, the more dangerous or extensive an oil leak can become. Those who drive in stop-and-go traffic should get their vehicle inspected quickly, as city traffic requires more work in the engine.
- Capacity of your vehicle’s oil pan. If you have a large pan, you can forego an immediate visit to the mechanic’s shop without it causing too much damage. A slow leak can go on for a short while, so long as you top the engine off with oil regularly. Still, we recommend having an inspection as soon as you notice a problem so it doesn’t become a larger issue and affect other parts of your engine, possibly leading to a catastrophic failure.
Shearer’s Sales and Service, Inc. Will Help
If you suspect your Cadillac has an oil leak, 
the sooner you are able to get it fixed, especially for more severe leaks, the longer your car will last. For all your Cadillac servicing needs, from oil changes to leaking oil pan repairs to a lubrication system overhaul and replacement, contact Shearer’s Sales and Service, Inc. for an appointment today.
Our competent, qualified technicians offer a hassle-free 36-month/36,000-mile warranty on all services. We guarantee you will leave satisfied and smiling. Shearer’s services the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Macungie, PA areas for all your vehicle’s needs.