Why is oil being squeezed out of the engine?

07/19/2021 31 602 Engine lubrication system

Author: Ivan Baranov

An engine fluid leak can occur on absolutely any engine. The gist of this is that there are many different seals in an engine that can become damaged due to use. As a result, the unit will leak over time and the car owner will be faced with the problem of why the oil is leaking and what to do about it.

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Why and why engine oil leaks from under the oil filter after replacing it

Incorrect installation of the filter element

The main reason for oil leakage from under the oil filter on a new engine is failure to comply with the torque limit requirements. The lubricant is pressed both when under-tightening and when over-tightening. In the first case, the rubber simply does not fulfill the task of sealing, since it is not clamped between the ends; in the second, its shape is deformed or the rubber product completely breaks.

Initially, they start from a less critical point of view: it is assumed that the filter element is not tightened enough. A component that is clamped to capacity will not rotate, but a component that is not tightened will make an extra 1/2-3/4 of a turn, which is sometimes quite enough.

Among the icons on the side panel of the filter, another one is important; it requires you to lubricate its rubber ring with oil before installing the cleaning module. New or old - it doesn’t matter, the fact that the oil composition is located on the outer end of the seal is significant:

The lubricant prevents the rubber product from cracking when tightened tightly.
The viscous layer promotes a tight fit of the ring to the mating end on the cylinder block.
A layer of emulsion between the rubber and metal prevents the ring from sticking to the engine body.

Low quality filter

Poor quality paper or a defective bypass valve in the purifier body creates noticeable resistance to the flow of oil, and it begins to look for alternative ways to exit the defective component. General advice is to ignore products from little-known manufacturers that have an affordable price, and beware of counterfeits of well-known brands.

Exceeding the recommended amount of lubricant in the engine crankcase

At a level above MAX, it is clear why oil leaks from under the engine oil filter. Due to the increase in pressure, even a small overflow of oil into the engine leads to squeezing it out through all kinds of oil seals. There is only one recommendation - to bleed off the excess volume as soon as possible.

Unsuitable oil

The optimal viscosity of the oil emulsion is calculated based on many factors, the main ones being the clearances in the cylinder-piston group and the ambient temperature. What the engineers calculated is displayed in the operating book in the form of a list of recommended viscosity characteristics of the composition.

Deviation in favor of unspecified viscous or liquid categories leads to leakage at the points where the sealing elements are attached. Choosing without taking into account the average winter temperature is also illiterate - in the cold the lubricant thickens and may not pass through the filter. In the event of a strong difference in summer and winter temperatures, it is useful to know how to heat the oil in the crankcase of a car engine.

Complying with the instructions is a surefire way to properly operate a car, but no one is safe from counterfeits. Fake lubricant can be squeezed out and the only way to identify the cause is to understand the differences between the canisters of the original and the “basement” product.

What problems arise from oil leaks?

It is important to understand that any leaks cause the engine oil level to drop. If there is insufficient lubrication in the engine, the loaded friction pairs are subject to severe wear. As a result, the engine life is noticeably reduced, and parts may break and jam.

Let us also note that normally, engine oil may well be consumed (waste consumption), but such consumption must be within certain limits determined by the engine manufacturer itself. If you add to this even a minor oil leak, then the risks of a critical decrease in pressure in the oil system and a drop in the lubricant level increase significantly.

Also, if there is a leak, the driver has to constantly monitor the lubrication level and add oil to the engine. At the same time, it is necessary to remember that for topping up you cannot use oils that do not meet the tolerances, mix products from different manufacturers, etc. To put it simply, you have to buy oil that is recommended by the engine manufacturer and is often not cheap.

Possible causes of fresh oil leaking from under the oil filter in the periods between its replacements

A healthy approach to changing lubricant involves deviating from the standard advice to change the composition every 15 thousand km. Naturally, in the direction of reducing the interval, and by a factor of two. Those who don’t do this often put up with a dirty filter element, from under which the emulsion is crushed.

Bypass valve

Any paper has the right to lose capacity. In this situation, a bypass valve provided in the engine or filter housing, which allows lubricant to flow into the engine without filtration, helps eliminate oil starvation.

Build-up or aggressive flushing can exhaust the bypass system, slowing down or stopping its operation altogether. If the oil pressure light comes on and at the same time oil leaks are detected under the filter element, there is only one verdict - change the filter and clean/install a new bypass valve (if it is located separately from the purifier).

High voltage wires

The tips and the wires themselves are suspect. Due to harsh operating conditions, they may lose elasticity and dry out. I have witnessed more than once when they were changed, they did not align, lying on the table, they remained the same shape as on the car.

Plus, poor manufacturing quality leads to microcracks appearing on them. The high discharge penetrates them. In such places, a light spot with black dots or soot streaks forms. It is best seen in the dark with the engine running. You can observe sparks at the breakdown sites.

There is another way to check high-voltage wires, it is shown in the video:

This is fraught with poor sparking. The spark will be weak or absent altogether. The cylinder will stop working and the engine will stall.

What to do

Only replacement of armored wires with new ones. They cannot be repaired. If you have successfully done this, write in the comments how you did it and what the result was.

Summary

Diagnostics and recommendations on what exactly to do will help you find out why oil is leaking from under a newly installed oil filter:

Does the lubricant level in the engine crankcase exceed the MAX mark on the dipstick? If yes, remove some of the liquid.
Is the wiper housing tightly pulled to the cylinder block? No - tighten it 1/2-3/4 turn.
Is the thread broken? Yes - the steps depend on the specific car: install a longer stud, install a new tip, cut a new one...
Is the correct oil filled? No - replace the emulsion.
Is the filter part too tight? If yes, it will not twist when significant force is applied. Unscrew the filter element and look at the seal - deformation and cracks are not allowed, otherwise only replacement.
Is the component original and of high quality? No - replace.

If there is pressure on the lubricant and the oil pressure lamp is on, the filter is dirty and the bypass valve is clogged. On cars with an impressive mileage, the cause of the leak may be a faulty pressure relief valve. Both problems often manifest themselves during the interregulatory period.

During the operation of the car, a situation may arise when oil is squeezed out through the oil filter; the reason for this phenomenon can be quite different. As a result, regardless of the reason, a significant amount of lubricant is lost, and the operation of the power unit can be greatly complicated. Therefore, as soon as such a problem is discovered, it is necessary to stop the car as quickly as possible and take all measures to eliminate this problem.

VAZ 2114 oil leak on timing side

The problem of oil leakage is one of the most common: almost every motorist has encountered it at least once. But this problem, like any other, can be solved by taking the right actions in time. We invite you to find out why oil leaks from under the crankshaft oil seal, what the consequences may be, and what needs to be done in such cases.

The main reasons for this problem

For experienced motorists with extensive driving experience, a situation where oil has been squeezed out through the oil filter may be due to the following:

serious malfunction of the valve itself;
large discrepancy between the viscosity of the lubricant and the characteristics of the power unit;
weak fixation of the filter itself on the surface of the fitting;
severe contamination of the filter surface, which made it difficult for the lubricant to pass through the filter paper;
use of low-quality polymer-type sealant.

Video “What to do if consumables leak”

You can learn how to solve the problem of leakage of consumables from this video.

List of main conditions causing oil filter leakage

A very common reason is the squeezing out of the lubricant when starting the unit in winter. Under such conditions, the oil that has thickened in the cold is not capable of leaking through the membrane layers due to its structure. As a result, a jelly-like lubricant under strong pressure breaks through the layers of the membrane and flows out at the base through the thread channels.
Incorrect operation of the oil pump, which at high speeds creates excess pressure, which can squeeze oil through all possible leaky areas. Very often the oil filter is the weakest point.
In the case of using a brand of oils with increased oil viscosity in severe frost conditions. Such a mistake can occur either due to the inexperience of a novice motorist or as a result of purchasing a counterfeit product.

How to eliminate lubricant leakage through the filter

If the oil has been squeezed out through the oil filter and the cause has already been found, then you need to start eliminating the leak. To carry out repair work, you need to prepare a set of keys and some rags.

The entire repair process consists of the following activities:

using keys, remove the timing belt cover;
the auto valve plug is unscrewed;
the spring is carefully removed;
the valve is removed and checked for scoring or other types of mechanical damage;

How to choose a quality filter

Very often, oil leakage can occur due to the use of a low-quality filter.

In order not to buy a low-quality counterfeit, you must remember the following:

When purchasing an oil filter, you should pay attention to the condition of the packaging. If there are signs of deformation and there are large holes in the case, then this is a sure sign of counterfeit.
It is necessary to study the technical condition of the polymer sealing ring and the filter membrane. The height of the sealing ring should not be more than 0.8 mm. above the surface of the lid. A high-quality membrane should be free of irregularities and of the same color.
You need to buy a filter only in certified auto stores that have official registration and a long period of operation.
You should not chase cheap filters, since very often low-quality material is used for their manufacture, and they have a limited service life. By applying the above recommendations in practice, you can minimize the likelihood of purchasing a filter with low technical characteristics.

Signs of Oil Loss

Oil leaks from the engine occur for various reasons. Therefore, signs of loss of lubricant also manifest themselves in different ways.

The most common sign that immediately shows that there is a malfunction in the car is an oil slick in the area of the engine crankcase. It usually appears when the car is parked for a long time. That is why experienced motorists inspect the space under the bottom every morning, between the front wheels of the car. Even if a stain or a small puddle appears, it is not a fact that the engine is leaking. The leak sometimes occurs from the gearbox; there is also gear oil there.

The second main sign is a drop in the oil level, which can be seen on the dipstick. To do this, stop the car on level ground and wait 10–15 minutes for all the lubricant to flow into the engine crankcase. Having removed the dipstick, wipe it well with a rag, then reinsert it into the neck until it stops. If the lubricant level has dropped, you need to immediately find out the reason. It seems that there are no oil stains or smudges, but the lubricant is leaving. The fact is that motor fluid can not only leak, but also burn out while the engine is running. If you place the vehicle on an inspection hole, or drive onto an overpass, a visual inspection will help localize the problem.

Signs and causes of leaks

To deal with the problem, you need to know about its causes and symptoms. What are the signs to determine that oil is leaking from the engine? Engine fluid leakage is sometimes caused by clutch slippage. If engine fluid gets onto the intake manifold or exhaust pipe, you will notice unpleasant odors or see blue smoke coming from under the hood.

Oil stains due to fluid leakage from the engine

After the night, pay attention to the place where your vehicle was parked. Oil spots under the engine may indicate that oil has leaked from it and the problem needs to be addressed. The main sign is the nature of the oil stain. It will be either yellow or dark, and in appearance it will be a slippery and greasy stain.

In addition, another sign that fluid is leaking from the engine is its insufficient level. If the oil is completely squeezed out while driving or it leaves the engine while parked, then, of course, the level will be at its lowest. Therefore, drivers are recommended to check the engine fluid level before each vehicle operation. In addition, the instrument panel may indicate this problem. If the oil level is insufficient and it has partially leaked out, you will see a characteristic icon of a lack of fluid in the engine on the dashboard.

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As for the reasons, they are discussed below:

The intake manifold control system has failed.
The engine fluid level sensor is not sealing - if a leak is observed in the area of the sensor.
The filter element is not tight - if liquid flows into the oil filter area.
Leaking motor seals.
The wrong MM is loaded into the system. Sometimes car owners do not take into account the recommendations of the car manufacturer regarding the choice of consumables. Of course, this should not be ignored. The fluid should be filled only with that specified by the manufacturer, as this is very important. The performance of consumables is affected by the additive package, chemical composition, and viscosity properties. Elements contained in the wrong oil can corrode the rubber components of the injection system, which can cause the oil to completely leak out of the car.
Overflow of liquid. If you have poured too much consumables into the engine, this may cause an increase in the operating pressure of the MM. As a result of increased pressure, the level of load on the sealing elements along with the seals will increase. Accordingly, this may cause destruction of the structure.
Transport has not been used for a long time. If your car’s engine does not heat up for twenty days, the liquid may drain into the oil pan, and all the sealing elements along with the seals will begin to dry out due to downtime.
Insufficient crankcase ventilation. Every motorist knows that exhaust gases enter the crankcase through the pistons. The piston bores will allow more gases to pass through if the engine is quite old. When these gases collect in the crankcase, excessive pressure is created in the system. The ventilation system should reduce this pressure, but if its channels are clogged, then there can be no talk of any reduction in pressure. Accordingly, the pressure will squeeze out the consumables.
The cylinder head gasket is broken. This sealing element can be damaged anywhere, causing liquid to leak out. However, if the gasket is broken, this does not mean that the liquid will come out. It can also leak into the cooling system if the part located between the cylinders and the cooling system is broken. In this case, everything can be understood by the color of the antifreeze - it will be more cloudy. In addition, the car will lose power, the coolant will constantly foam, and the engine will regularly overheat.

Causes of leaks

In order to fix the problem, you need to find out why the oil is leaking. The reasons may be different:

Defective gaskets or seals. There are a lot of them in the engine - in the area of the gas distribution mechanism (GRM), cylinder head (cylinder head), oil filter, crankshaft, as well as other components of the power plant.
Malfunction of the crankcase ventilation system. While the engine is running, some of the exhaust gases break through the oil scraper and compression rings into the crankcase. They create excess pressure on the engine oil. Thus, the lubricant can be squeezed out through the seals or gaskets, because some of them may not withstand such pressure.
Poor quality oil fluid. Counterfeit motor fluid is often sold on the market under the guise of original fluid. It is quite difficult to recognize it, so car enthusiasts, especially inexperienced ones, often buy fakes. The operation of the engine leads to an increase in temperature to 250–300°C in the area of the cylinder-piston group. The counterfeit product loses its viscosity and liquefies. In this state, it leaks through the seals in large quantities. The same applies to waste - flowing through the piston rings, such “oil” burns along with the fuel. Fumes are indicated by the bluish color of the exhaust gases escaping from the exhaust pipe.
Finally, the most common reason is damage to the oil pan during a trip. Sometimes objects come across under the bottom that can seriously damage the pallet. That's why some automakers, as well as many car owners, install additional protection on the crankcase.

Why the engine is in oil: possible reasons

It becomes clear that for normal operation of the internal combustion engine, it is necessary to eliminate the causes of oil leaks in the engine as quickly as possible. At the same time, experts identify several such reasons.

Let us note right away that it is not always possible to quickly detect the location of the leak. Many parts and elements of attachments make it difficult to access for inspection, and the space in the engine compartment on many cars is very limited.

This means that if the engine is in oil and drops of fresh lubricant are visible under the car after parking, then it is highly advisable to drive the car into an inspection pit, lift it on a lift or drive onto an overpass. This approach will make it possible to inspect the engine both from above and from below. By the way, if there is engine protection, this element will need to be removed. So, the main causes of oil leaks are as follows:

increase in engine oil level (overflow);
using the wrong type of lubricant;
problems with crankcase ventilation;
oil leak from under the valve cover;
oil leak in the distributor area;
oil flows from under the oil filter;
the oil pan is broken or cracked;
The front/rear crankshaft oil seal is leaking;

Quite often, car owners who change the engine oil themselves accidentally (sometimes deliberately) exceed the lubrication level. The result is increased pressure in the lubrication system; excess oil is simply squeezed out through gaskets and seals (especially on older engines). In this case, you need to pump out excess oil from the engine.

Also, oil may leak if the engine is filled with too “liquid” or counterfeit lubricant (SAE viscosity is not suitable, oil properties do not correspond to the declared ones). In such a situation, the lubricant must be drained, after which the engine is washed and a proven, high-quality product that meets the tolerances and recommendations is filled.

It may also be necessary to make additional adjustments for individual operating conditions (constant operation of the engine under heavy loads at high speeds, extreme heat in the region, etc.).

Let us add that certain malfunctions also lead to an increase in the level of lubrication. Such breakdowns include fuel getting into the oil, as well as antifreeze or antifreeze from the cooling system. In this case, the lubricant loses its beneficial properties and liquefies, forming an emulsion. Often in this case, oil leaks through the engine seals also appear.

The engine crankcase actually acts as an oil reservoir on many vehicles (except for dry sump systems). As the piston rings and CPG wear out of the combustion chamber, some of the exhaust gases escape into the boat. This leads to an increase in pressure.

This excess pressure must be compensated by the crankcase ventilation system. If the system does not work or does not work correctly, the exhaust gases “squeeze” the oil out of the crankcase. Often the driver may find that the entire engine is covered in oil, and the oil dipstick has been squeezed out.

Valve covers most often leak due to failure of the valve cover gasket, as well as as a result of deformation or damage to the cover itself.

Depending on the problem, it is necessary to replace the cover with a new one or limit yourself to only replacing the valve cover gasket. The lid can also be sealed with a special sealant.

On domestic cars, one of the most common places for oil leaks is the distributor. If oil leaks from under the distributor, in some cases the problem can be solved quite simply.

Crankshaft oil seals

If an oil puddle has formed under the car, you need to find out where the engine oil may be leaking from. One of the most likely paths is crankshaft oil seals that are damaged due to the use of low-quality engine oil or have exhausted their service life. The wear-resistant rubber from which they are made is also subject to aging - due to high temperatures, as well as aggressive external influences. Overheating of the motor, contamination, frequent use of flushing, poor lubrication - all this gradually destroys the material of the seals.

To replace them, you will have to do some serious work - disconnect the gearbox, rear-wheel drive driveshaft (if equipped), starter, clutch and other components. After replacement, all this will need to be installed back. Often, the crankshaft bearings are replaced along with the oil seals - so as not to disassemble the whole thing twice.

Causes

For what reasons can motor fluid leak from under the crankshaft oil seal (hereinafter referred to as SCV)? This question interested every car enthusiast who encountered this problem. Now we will try to give a detailed answer to this question. There may be several reasons, as you might understand.

Oil leak from under the front SCV

First, you must decide which oil seal is leaking. There can be two of them in a vehicle:

You must clearly know which oil seal is leaking. If an oil leak has been detected at the rear of the engine, then it is necessary to visually check the pan and gearbox unit. To understand what kind of oil is flowing, drop it on the surface of the water. If the transmission fluid immediately spreads across the water surface, the engine fluid will remain in a droplet.

Now let's move directly to the reasons why the crankshaft oil seal may leak. As stated above, there may be several of them:

Car engine disassembled

Now let's clarify some details about the production of oil seals. You should not purchase parts from unverified sellers or manufacturers unknown to you. This way, you can not only buy a low-quality oil seal, the installation of which will backfire on you, but will also cause new problems. Well-known and trusted manufacturers of elements today are:

It should be noted that the products of these companies end up not only in automobile stores, but also in the used parts market.

Filter gasket

When the engine lubricant is changed, the oil filter is also replaced. Before installing it in place, be sure to lubricate the rubber gasket with oil. This helps to screw the cleaning device more tightly to the engine body. If this is not done, which is sometimes carelessly forgotten, the gasket will be deformed when screwed in, which can lead to engine fluid leakage. Fixing this problem is quite simple. In most cases, it is enough to tighten the filter harder.

How to fix the problem?

We figured out why fluid leaves the engine, now let's talk about how to solve this problem. Below we will discuss solutions to the most common faults. In all these cases, you will need a set of wrenches and a quality sealant.

If there is a leak from under the valve cover

If the oil leaks for this reason, then the problem can be solved on your own. This problem is one of the most common. To solve it, you need to:

Open the hood and remove the valve cover.
Wash it with acetone or kerosene, thoroughly wash away all traces of drips so that you can determine the result of the work.
Take the sealant and coat the lid gasket well so that it fits tightly.
After this, mount the cover in place and take a test drive. Check the result.

Leakage of consumables from under the valve cover

If it is leaking from under the oil filter

Remove the filter element if oil leaks due to it.
Visually assess its condition. Perhaps there are visible signs of mechanical damage on it or it is broken, resulting in a leak of consumables.
If the filter really looks bad, then you should replace it with a new one.
If everything is in order with the filter, then dismantle it and lubricate the rubber part of the element with a drop of MM, then install it in place. Tighten it tighter - usually after this the problem disappears.

Fluid leaking from the oil filter

If there is a leak from under the distributor

Open the hood and remove the distributor cover. Mark or remember the location of the slider so that you can set it correctly later.
Using a wrench, unscrew the mounting screws and remove the distributor itself.
Take the sealant and coat the installation location of the device.
Install the distributor into the installation location by aligning the slider.

If there is a problem with the crankcase

Leaking car sump
Sometimes, if oil has leaked from the engine due to a leak from the crankcase, installing a protection will help solve this problem. To do this you will need:

Remove the pallet by unscrewing the screws securing it with a wrench.
If mechanical damage is visible on the pallet, then it must be eliminated.
Take a new pan gasket and coat it with sealant just in case.
Reinstall the tray by tightening all screws.

Oil seals

These parts have another name - valve seals. The valves, which are part of the gas distribution mechanism, are located in the upper part of the cylinder head. To prevent oil from the intake and exhaust valves from entering the combustion chambers, valve stem seals are used. They are made from special rubber, but over time it loses its qualities. If at least one oil seal begins to leak, the lubricant enters the chambers, where it burns along with the fuel. Since the oil does not burn completely, various types of deposits form in the engine, accelerating its wear. Even if the lubricant mixture is of very high quality, it may not cope with so much carbon deposits. This phenomenon is often observed in engines with high mileage. How to fix an oil leak? Only by disassembling the cylinder head block and replacing all caps with new ones.

Piston rings

This is one of the most common causes of grease waste. If the piston rings are worn out or skewed due to the use of a poor-quality oil composition, the latter enters the combustion chambers.

The situation is very similar to a malfunction of the oil deflectors in the valves. Only here the lubricant leaks through a different route. The consequences are the same - blue smoke from the chimney, large excess consumption of lubricant, loss of engine power. In this case, sometimes flushing the engine helps - it decarbonizes the rings. If there is wear and tear, only engine overhaul will help, there are no other ways.

Consequences of oil leakage

If a problem has occurred with a leak of the lubricant mixture, it is absolutely impossible to delay repairs. The results can be devastating to the engine. For example, if you take damage to the BGC gasket, several unpleasant consequences occur at once, in addition to loss of oil. If liquid from the cooling system gets into the engine crankcase, everything can end with water hammer and jamming of the engine. Here you can’t get by with a major overhaul - you’ll have to completely change the engine. The same thing can happen if you damage the crankcase - engine fluid leaks out, but you drive without noticing it. As a result, the power plant will also fail.

Conclusion - monitor the oil level with a dipstick and check for leaks regularly. If the oil sensor on the dashboard is working, it should notify you of a problem in time. If not, you need to replace it with a new one.

Consequences

Now, let’s take a look at the consequences that can arise when oil regularly leaks from under the crankshaft oil seal. The timing belt is located next to the front oil seal: if engine fluid gets on it, the belt may break faster during operation.

Installation of the front SCV

The clutch mechanism is located next to the rear oil seal, and if consumables get on it, the system will lose its friction characteristics. One way or another, in both the first and second cases, fluid leaks and engine contamination are inevitable,

Engine oil leak: how to find the cause