My car recently started leaking oil, what are the odds it's just something minor that needs to be fixed?

It's not very old, 2003 hyundai tiburon. Runs great, never had any mechanical problems. A couple weeks ago the engine was making a noise, so I checked the oil and it was almost non-existent. It had only been a couple months since my last oil change. So I poured 2 quarts in and the noise stopped. Been on the look out and sure enough it's leaking oil. I've had to put another 4 quarts in since then. I'm taking it to my mechanic on Monday. But I was just wondering what do you think the odds are that it could just be something minor like a broken seal or a hole in a line or a tube that can easily be replaced? I'm trying to prepare myself for how much money it's going to cost me.My car recently started leaking oil, what are the odds it's just something minor that needs to be fixed?
You ran the oil so low that it started making a noise? Even if it's just the gaskets, which I doubt, it's gonna be expensive.My car recently started leaking oil, what are the odds it's just something minor that needs to be fixed?
Hope it is as simple a job as our misunderstanding was.


;-)
If it's leaking that much, it could be a seal around your oil pump. that is cheap but labor could be a hour or 2.





It could be your oil pan, but not likely to be dumping out that much.





If its not leaving ginormus puddles on your driveway, then it's something to do with the oil pump. That is moving the oil when the car is moving, but not when its shut off.





Also the oil sending switch can be a leaker (works in conjunction with the oil pump.) They are around 30 bux and usually a hr labor.
Could just be a seal. Take it to someone to look at it and give you a professional opinion. Remember, you don't have to pay them to do the work. But, you may have to pay them a fee for the time it took to diagnose it. It's better to just pay to find out, then having tons of anxiety over what it could be... :)
Depending on mileage, the odds are fair to good that it is a minor problem like a valve cover or oil pan gasket. Possibly you just may need a new drain plug.





By the way, replacing a seal is not typically cheap. It involves a fair amount of labor.





Good luck!
You need to figure out whether it is burning the oil (there would be some blue smoke when you hit the gas coming out of the exhaust - get a friend to watch the exhaust when you hit the gas while in neutral) or if it is leaking the oil directly onto the ground(park in a space without any oil spots or over a big piece of scrap cardboard or paper the next morning see if there are oil spots when you move the car. Also, note whether the spots appear to be front the front or back or side areas under the engine. To lose a quart of oil a week is considered a major leak or large oil burner. In fact you may be able to pour in a quart at top and then quickly duck down and watch underneath to see it dripping out. If it is burning oil at that amount then you would see a little blue smoke almost everytime you hit the gas pedal.





If it is buring oil then you should try getting some oil stop leak fluid at an auto parts stores to try (they are like $5 at most) that you either add to the oil or add to the gas. If that doesn't really stop it then you can't really fix it exactly, the the inner engine parts are worn or not fitting together right. The fix would be an engine rebuild which would cost thousans usually. Excessive oil burning (usually defined as more than a quart a week or for 1,000mi traveled) may be covered under the powertrain warranty that came with the car. Hyundais usually have 10yr/100K manufacturers warranties.





FYI common cars like yours don't generally have any external oil lines. The oil travels in passages and lines that are fully contained within the engine unlike the fuel line (from the tank to the engine) or the brake lines, power steering, water/coolant. Oil leaks come from the main seal (ie between the engine and transmission) the oil pan seal (seals the oil pan to the bottom of the engine block) the oil plug itself. The seals themselves only cost maybe $20 the labor to get the work done may be a couple hundred. To have it just start leaking or burning that much oil so fast is very rare. Usually that is a small problem to start that gets bigger over time. You may want to go to your oil change place and say my car is losing oil suddenly after the last oil change can you look at it. Jiffy lube will do this for free. That may give you somehting.
well hopfully its a seal or a oil line. you can always go to your parts store and pick up a bottle of anti leak. it lubes all the seals in the engine. also, when you did your oil change last, there is a round rubber seal on the oil filter, sometimes when the old one is removed, the seal stays on the motor. have someone check to see if its still on there under the new filter. its more common then people think.