The Altima and other cars made by Nissan typically are durable, but as you start racking up the miles, you might notice problems related to normal wear and tear. One of the most common problems is an oil leak. You'll might see a large and unsightly oil slick that your parked car left in your driveway or the smell of burning oil while you're driving. An oil leak isn't necessarily an expensive problem to fix. Troubleshooting the problem early should result in a swift resolution.
Park your Altima on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
Open the hood and inspect the valve cover and the engine block for signs of an oil leak. You may have to use a flashlight to see all the spaces and crevices in the engine compartment.
Replace the valve-cover gasket if you determine that oil is leaking from that area. The valve-cover gasket is one of the most likely culprits because it has to endure high temperatures and comes into contact with a lot of road debris.
Look for oil leaks in the pipelines under the hood. Leaks in pipes can be sealed with heat-resistant silicone.
Lift your Altima with a jack, lay flat on your back and slide underneath the car to inspect for leaks in the oil-pan gasket. A damaged gasket will have to be replaced.
