Engine & Performance
Oil Leak Repair
Oil runs downhill and lands somewhere other than where it left. We use UV dye and a clean engine to find the actual source before we quote a repair.
Signs you need this
- Oil spots on the driveway or a burning smell after driving
- Smoke from the engine bay at a stoplight
- Oil level dropping between services
- Visible wet residue on the block, bell housing or undertray
How we approach it
The usual suspects by chassis: valve cover gaskets on nearly everything, oil filter housing gaskets on M272 and M276, oil cooler seals on M156 and M273, turbo oil return lines on diesels, and rear main seals on high-mileage cars. Each of those quotes very differently, so identifying the right one matters. We degrease, add dye, run the engine, and show you exactly where it is coming from — with photographs — before any work is authorised.
What the job includes
- 01Engine degrease and UV dye leak trace
- 02Photographic documentation of the leak source
- 03Valve cover, cam cover and spark plug tube seal replacement
- 04Oil filter housing and oil cooler seal replacement
- 05Rear main and front crankshaft seal replacement
- 06Post-repair road test and re-inspection
Common questions
Is a small oil leak actually urgent?
Sometimes. Oil on a serpentine belt, an alternator or a motor mount turns a $300 gasket into a much larger bill, and oil dripping onto an exhaust is a fire risk. A leak onto an undertray with no hot components nearby can often wait for the next service.
Why did another shop say it needed a rear main seal?
Because oil at the bell housing looks like a rear main. It is very often a leaking oil filter housing or valve cover running down the back of the block instead — which is a fraction of the cost. Dye testing tells the truth.
Let us take a look at it.
Call and describe what the car is doing. We will give you an honest assessment before any work begins.
7492 Slater Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 · Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm
Related services
Engine Rebuild
Complete rebuilds to factory tolerances for M272, M273, M156, M271, M274 and more.
Timing Chain & Tensioner
Stretched chains, worn guides and failed tensioners — caught before they cost you an engine.
Balance Shaft & Idler Gear
The M272 and M273 gear wear issue — diagnosed by serial number, quoted honestly, fixed once.