Posted on 1/30/2026
Oil leaks rarely start as a dramatic mess. More often, you notice a small spot where you park, a faint burnt-oil smell after a drive, or a little smoke curling up near the back of the engine. The tricky part is that oil can travel, so the puddle on the driveway doesn’t always point to the exact part that’s leaking. If you know the usual leak spots, you can catch it sooner and avoid the kind of leak that turns into low oil level, belt damage, or a bigger cleanup than you ever wanted. 1. Valve Cover Gaskets And Plug Well Seals Valve cover gaskets are one of the most common sources of oil seepage, especially as rubber ages and heat cycles harden it. You may see oil staining along the edge of the valve cover, or smell oil burning when it drips onto a hot exhaust surface. On some engines, oil also leaks into the spark plug wells, which can cause misfires or rough running. We’ve seen plenty of “small” valve cover leaks turn into a smoky, sme ... read more