[amg2000]

So my 2013 volt (that I just got used) had its oil change and this new service department wrote that it has a "minor oil leak" but the service guy told me it's nothing to worry about because it's just "seepage" and "all cars have that." (direct quotes). This was at a Chevy dealership.

Anyone have experience with this? Will the "seepage" ever cause an old 1970s car smell?

Edit: The car has 94,000 miles and only 4,000 of those miles were electric as you can see below.

 

[Steverino]

Seepage from where? Could be a gasket, could be a cracked oil cap, could be a bad hose, etc.

BTW, thanks for posting the model year and miles

 

[Jefferios]

All cars do not leak or seep oil. That is not true. Where is it coming from? The drain plug?

 

[amg2000]

Thanks for your reply. I should have asked but didn't since the GM dealer service tech was like waiving his hands and saying "buhahhaha don't worry about that notation in the inspection report all cars have seepage that's nothing" (paraphrasing). He didn't even bring it up I read the inspection report and saw the line "minor oil leak." Is there any way an idiot can figure that out by popping the hood? Is the plug something you can see without a lift? Note there are definitely no drops on the floor.

 

[twright]

If there aren't any drops on the floor, it is definitely not worth worrying about. Any amount of "seepage" that won't show up on the floor is insignificant.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

One way for you to do a check for oil seepage is to drive up on ramps to elevate the front of the car (or some other, safe, alternative), and with a flashlight or trouble light check the underside of the engine, transmission and the undercarriage toward the rear for signs of oil. All areas should look dry. Engine oil has a neutral to black color. Transmission oil is dyed red. If you see a tinge of red, then I would have the leak looked after as there is no way for you to easily check the level of oil in the transmission. Obviously, you are able to check the level of the engine oil with the dipstick - which you should already be doing as part of your monthly examination of fluid levels in the engine compartment.

 

[Sly Bob]

If it's under a warranty of some sort I would have them fix it as all cars do not seep oil. As it might be a fairly costly repair depending where it is leaking from and it's not causing a mess I could let it go if I was paying for it.

 

[mpmoore1979]

Take it back to the dealership and have them show you the oil leak. Take a pic with your phone then have them clean it off. Have the dealership add oil dye and come back in about 1000 miles (you will need to run the engine to make sure if there is a leak that it has time to leak with the engine running or it may not show up). When you take the car back, have them show you the area that was leaking prior, if there is a leak, they can use a black light to show them were the leak is. This should be done for you at no charge.

 

[turboguy327]

Take it back to the dealership and have them show you the oil leak. Take a pic with your phone then have them clean it off. Have the dealership add oil dye and come back in about 1000 miles (you will need to run the engine to make sure if there is a leak that it has time to leak with the engine running or it may not show up). When you take the car back, have them show you the area that was leaking prior, if there is a leak, they can use a black light to show them were the leak is. This should be done for you at no charge.

Why would it be done at no charge? Seepage could take months to show on a dye test. Telling him there should be no charge is false info. Demanding the dealer do unnecessary work for free is no way to keep a good relationship with a dealer, or any shop.