Getting your oil changed regularly is one of the best things you can do to help extend the life of your engine and your car. The oil in your engine is essential to quiet and smooth operation of your vehicle and reduced friction in your engine. When you are getting on the highway or merging into traffic your engine can be turning as much as 6000 RPM meaning that your engine will make 1 full revolution every .01 seconds! While your engine is spinning that fast it is also transmitting a surprising amount of power and torque through the spinning crankshaft so the loads on the bearings can be quite substantial. Besides your main bearings traveling fast and carrying a lot of load, your pistons are flying up and down in the cylinder and incredible rates, sometimes traveling at over 45 miles per hour themselves!
All these high numbers mean it is extremely important to keep these components well lubricated. The lubrication will reduce the friction it takes to move everything in your engine which will help your engine operate more efficiently with more power transmitted to the wheels. Better lubricated and less friction also means less heat and wear on your engine’s components which will allow it to last much longer.
Engine oil has progressed a significant amount in the past few years and there are many options available to drivers today. Conventional oil, as it is called today, is a petroleum product and has been used to lubricate engines since cars have been around. It is made through a refinement process out of crude oil and offers great protection for your engine. Synthetic oils, made from a variety of products, have also recently become popular replacements for conventional oil and are even recommended in some newer and higher performance vehicles. For a quick read on synthetic oils, check out this article about synthetic oil technology. Both conventional and synthetic oils today are available with lots of additives to help fight sludge in your engine, high mileage wear, and even leaks.
Before we get into why leaks tend to pop up after oil changes, we feel obligated to make a quick mention of oil weight, or viscosity. As you’ve been shopping for oil you’ve probably seen something like “5W-30” on a bottle of oil. The number represent the thickness, or viscosity of the oil. The “W” indicates it is a multi-viscosity oil meaning it is thinner at colder temperatures. “5W-30” means this oil will act like a 5 weight oil, which is very thin, when cold and a 30 weight oil when warm. This is a benefit to your engine because when it is cold, a thinner oil can offer more protection but at normal operating temperatures you need a thicker oil to support the bearings in your motor. When you’re choosing the proper oil for your car, the best place to go is the owner’s manual. There is no universal right or wrong weight oil for every car. The oil your car needs is based on how the engineer’s that built it designed the bearings and oil passages. If your motor has tight tolerances and small bearing clearances it will need a lighter oil to perform properly. Make sure you choose the right oil for your car based on the climate you live in.
To answer why you have an oil leak after an oil change, we’ll go back to all the additives put in oils today. Old conventional oils were known for creating sludge or gunk in your engine. If temperatures got too hot the oil could literally bake onto the inside of your motor. Or if you let an oil change go too long, the wear products suspended in it could get caught in passages and corners of your engine blocking oil flow and reducing lubrication which will slowly kill your engine. To counter this, oil manufacturers started putting detergents and solvents in oils to help remove this sludge and the buildups that may be created. In many cases, especially in older cars, these buildups could often form at the point of a slow leak. Once the cleaners in the new oil wash the buildup away, the fresh oil can easily escape through that leak making a mess of your engine and driveway.
If you discover an oil leak after an oil change it may not be your mechanic’s fault. The good news is these kinds of leaks are usually small enough to be easily repairable! Simply pick up a bottle of BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak and add it to your new engine oil. BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak is safe to leave in your car until your next oil change and will mix with your oil to create a powerful leak sealing agent. BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak will travel through your vehicle’s engine revitalizing the old gaskets and seals restoring them to their original size and shape sealing your leak without the hefty repair bills.
For more information about BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak, visit our product information page here: Oil Stop Leak
If you’re ready to stop your oil leaks, stop by any of our partnering local auto parts stores and ask for BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak!
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- Bennett Auto Supply
- CarQuest Auto parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Fast Track
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Specialists
- S&E Quick Lube Distributer
- DYK Automotive
Pictures Provided by:
oil_change.jpg – By Dvorty Girl – Licensed by Creative Commons Via Wikimedia – Original Link
just got the oil changed and added blue devil. This is my second bottle. Still have a few leaks. Will it hurt to try another bottle.
George-
No, it would be safe to add a 2nd application. Feel free to contact our tech support team at 888-863-0426 with any further questions.
Thank You!
-BDP
I have an old 4wheeler Merc ML350. It has crossed 195000 km. The power steering oil seems to be leaking and I have to top it up every 3 day. Will Blue devil help me. I can’t get it fixed as they charge me a fortune here and I cannot afford it.
Jerry-
Yes, add 1/3 of a bottle of the BlueDevil Power Steering Stop Leak to seal the leak coming from your power steering unit. You should notice results after about 100 miles of driving.
Thank You!
-BDP
Hi i just picked up a bottle of blue devil oil stop leak and going to see if it will stop a leak that has been hard to track down on my 1986 cressida, my question is i just did the oil change 300 miles ago, if i add this and let it go till my next oil change, will i have to keep adding it to the oil at every oil change?, or is one application all that is needed if the leak stops?. Thanks much and god bless.
Tony-
Thank you for asking about your Toyota Cressida. Once the BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak seals, it would create a permanent seal. If you are not experiencing a leak, you would not need to re-use the product.
Thank you!
-BDP
I just got a oil change and my car is leaking oil what can I add to stop the leak
Naomi-
Based on your description, we would recommend using the BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak. The Oil Stop Leak is a universal application and would treat an oil pan gasket, valve cover seal, rear main seal, etc. You should expect to see results after about 100-200 miles of driving.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have just brought a little manual lancer and the clutch is completely gone in it I have an engine flush and new oil filter but I can see leakage will this help?
Crystal,
Thanks for your question about your Lancer. If you are experiencing oil leaking from your engine then yes, BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak can seal the oil leak and keep your oil level from getting low. As far as your clutch being worn out, unfortunately all you can do in that case is have the clutch replaced. Since that will include removal of the transmission you may have the mechanics check for oil leaks while they’re replacing the clutch.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have been having to recharge my A/C every Spring. The last mechanic to work on my truck said I may have a small leak somewhere, but the test for it is expensive. How long will the A/C seal last until I can save to get it fixed?
Kay-
Once the Red Angel A/C Stop Leak creates a seal, it would be a permanent seal. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi, I have a low mileage Chrysler 300 owned since new. It just turned to 30k and I decided to move to Mobile One’s Full Synthetic 5w20. After doing so it began leaking within a week and it never leaked a drop prior. It’s a 2.7 engine and the leak appears to be coming from the center as it sits on our driveway. Possibly from the oil pan. What would be your recommendations for my car? Thanks!
Richard-
Thank you for asking about your Chrysler 300. Based on your description, we recommend using the BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak. You should expect to see results after about 100-200 miles of driving. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2000 CLK 320 Mercedes Benz just got my oil changed about a thousand kilometers ago now my car’s been sitting with a flat tire for about two weeks in the cold I just fixed the tire started it up moved it and noticed a big puddle of oil is it from sitting in the cold or what what should I do
Derek-
Thank you for asking about your Mercedes Benz CLK 320. Based on your description, we recommend using the BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak http://store.gobdp.com/oil-stop-leak-49499/. The BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak is a universal application, so it would treat leaking oil pan gaskets, valve cover seals, rear main seal, etc. You should expect to see results after about 100-200 miles of driving.
Thank you!
-BDP
My car has an oil leak started smoking then I filled it up again and got drained within a day will this help it wasn’t doing that before just started out of nowhere
Manuel-
Based on your description, unfortunately, you my be losing oil a little too quickly for the BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak to be affective. You may want to bring the vehicle in to a certified ASE mechanic for a proper diagnosis as to where the leak is coming from. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
I just had a oil change and my mmi oil indicator was full in the beggining and after 15 miles the mmi oil indicator said it was half way full ?
Ricky-
Based on your description, we recommend bringing the vehicle back to the shop where the oil was changed to ensure everything was put back and secured properly. It seems pretty strange to lose half of your oil capacity after 15 miles of driving. If everything is attached and clamped properly, we recommend using the BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak (http://store.gobdp.com/oil-stop-leak-49499/) to help stop the oil loss. You should expect to see results after about 100-200 miles of driving.
Thank you!
-BDP
I just had the oil drained and oil filter because I had a oil leak. What can I do I have a Peugeot 206 reg 53.
Leejay-
We recommend applying BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak (http://store.gobdp.com/oil-stop-leak-49499/) to stop your oil loss. Expect to start seeing results after approximately 100 miles of driving.
Thank you!
-BDP