schlag

Ok.. my car burned/leaked -NO- oil until I recently brought it to a mechanic to have the waterpump and thermostat done. I have the car back now. Today I was driving around (about an hour from home) and at a stop sign I noticed my car was TAPPING HORRIBLY. Luckily I was near a motorcycle shop and I bought some oil, poured it in and drove it home. I look under the car and:

** OIL IS EVERYWHERE **

All over the a-arm bushings, tie rod ends, sway bar.. absolutely everywhere, dripping etc. It's a huge amount! It looks like it's concentrated toward the front near all the suspension stuff. The headgasket I believe is OK because there's no smudge under the oel cap and no milkshake mixture with the coolant at all.

Is there a hose or something that maybe has a hole or lost a clamp? Did the mechanic screw up the waterpump job? What could have gone wrong that would result in all of my oel going all over the place?

Guess I wont be driving my car to Hershey <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

Bryan

Check the oil pressure sender. Make sure it's in tight.

Bryan

schlag

It's funny you mention it because I noticed my oil pressure gauge dropping really really low at idle, sometimes to the point of flickering the warning gauge. I was told by a mechanic that screwed me over a few months ago that it was probably the gauge at fault. (Not the mechanic that screwed me this time, but another one that screwed me....)

What exactly is the oil pressure sender btw?

Bryan

The oil pressure sender is screwed into the oil cooler housing, the same housing into which the oil filter is screwed. The sender is silver, roughly cylindrical, and has two wires leading to it. You tighten it with a 24mm wrench.

Bryan

schlag

OK great thanks.

Is it a frequent failure item or is it most likely just loose? Is it something that has to be tightened after a water pump job (ie. did my mechanic screw it up?)

schlag

OK I looked and it seems like it's not the oil pressure sender thats leaking but something somewhere between the sender and the filter? That area just has a lot of oil on it. Any idea what it could be?

pete944

The mech may have bunged up the front seal or the balance shaft seals when replacing the belts and waterpump. Have them tow it back on their dime and fix it pronto.

EDIT-If the timing and balance belts have oil on them demand that they are replaced. Don't reuse them.

Tremelune

Take your *** back to that mechanic and tell him to look at what he's done. Hit him on the nose with a rolled up newspaper.

Jerad

Your mechanic may have messed up your camshaft and balance shaft oil seals. They are right there while changing belts and waterpump. I don't know too much about it, just know those are usually replaced along with waterpump and belts. You can find more info on <a href="http://www.clarks-garage.com" target="_blank">clarks-garage.com</a>. First thing is to clean everything up and find out where it is leaking.

-edit- Pete got to it before I could post.

schlag

Yeah we just cleaned it up a bit, going to wait til my dad comes home and we'll try to find out where it's coming from. Thanks for all your help so far.

I'm quite upset.

schlag

...

Micah

Jon,

If it's related to those seals, then light that moron up. Don't forget to make sure he knows it was your quick actions that ensured he didn't have a several grand repair job on his hands...

Micah

schlag

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Micah Jones:
<strong>Jon,

If it's related to those seals, then light that moron up. Don't forget to make sure he knows it was your quick actions that ensured he didn't have a several grand repair job on his hands...

Micah</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Very true. If the engine seized I would have no other choice but to have him replace it. Going to do some testing after dinner to see if it's those seals. Will update.

Toolmaster

Schlag -

If you were tapping, then that's BAD. How much oil did you have to add back in? Did you run really low? If you were more than a couple quarts low, then I'd talk to the shop about rod bearings too... Oil starvation can sieze them suckers, and you're in for a lot more than a timing belt there.

Let us know.

schlag

Even worse news folks, oil and milkshake in the coolant reservoir.

Guess it's the headgasket and probably a whole lot more.

I might have no choice but to sell it or part it or something. . sigh.