Oil Leak in a 2023 Hyundai Tucson

The Cheapest Oil Change Can Be the Most Expensive Ron Ananian The Car Doctor™ tells us about a customer that brought in a 2023 Hyundai Tucson after a poor oil change at a dealership led to an oil leak. The dealership provided unsatisfactory service, so the customer came to Ron for a second opinion. What he found was a sloppy, preventable issue that could have destroyed the engine. 1. First Red Flags: Sloppy Work Missing valve stem cap on the right rear tire. Crooked oil change sticker on the windshield. Both are small things, but signal a lack of care or attention. 2. Oil Leak Diagnosis Massive leak observed under the vehicle. Oil had reached the catalytic converter and rear differential — which was clearly visible and spreading. The leak was traced to the oil filter housing on the driver’s side. The issue wasn’t complex: the O-ring was improperly installed. It was not seated in the groove properly, leading to oil escaping past it. 3. O-Ring = Big Deal The incorrectly seated O-ring was pinched and raised. A new properly installed O-ring resolved the issue completely. The difference in appearance between the old and new O-rings was stark: the damaged one was visibly bent and misshapen. Ron's Tip: Take your time during oil changes and always double-check O-ring placement. 4. Aftermarket Filter Improvements Ron used a Wix filter and pointed out a smart design feature: A tamper-prevention collar blocks access to the housing until the drain plug is removed. This prevents the filter from being removed prematurely. Ron considers this a valuable improvement, helping prevent over-tightening or housing damage. 5. Final Results: Dry and Clean After replacing the filter and installing the O-ring correctly: The housing was bone dry. The drain plug was tight and verified clean. Tire pressure was corrected. Valve cap was replaced. Excess oil was cleaned from the undercarriage.