Oil leak turning into Nightmare with GS400
03-23-11, 01:18 PM
#1
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Oil leak turning into Nightmare with GS400
I noticed and smelled an oil leak on my 2000 GS400 (165k miles)
I brought it to a local shop who said it was a valve cover gasket and that I needed the timing belt replaced. They quoted me $300 for the timing belt which sounded okay so I did it.
Then they attempted to replace the valve cover gasket but broke one of the things that holds one of the engine coils to the engine (including the coil is $100+), so they needed to order a new part for that.
Finally they got the part and put it on but then the engine was leaking they say the valve cover is not sealing correctly it must be warped (not the valve cover gasket).
They said a after market part price is $450, so they send the warped part out to be adjusted to make it fit.
If this doesnt work I am looking at another $450 for the part - I am waiting to see if the existing part is now working.
Bottom line is I brought the car in running with a slight oil leak and now it is not running.
Does what the mechanic is telling me make sense?
I brought it to a local shop who said it was a valve cover gasket and that I needed the timing belt replaced. They quoted me $300 for the timing belt which sounded okay so I did it.
Then they attempted to replace the valve cover gasket but broke one of the things that holds one of the engine coils to the engine (including the coil is $100+), so they needed to order a new part for that.
Finally they got the part and put it on but then the engine was leaking they say the valve cover is not sealing correctly it must be warped (not the valve cover gasket).
They said a after market part price is $450, so they send the warped part out to be adjusted to make it fit.
If this doesnt work I am looking at another $450 for the part - I am waiting to see if the existing part is now working.
Bottom line is I brought the car in running with a slight oil leak and now it is not running.
Does what the mechanic is telling me make sense?
03-23-11, 01:24 PM
#2
I have never seen a warped valve cover on a GS400 before, nor have I ever heard of adjusting the cover to make it fit.. Place the cover on a flat table and see if there are any large abnormal gap. I'm not aware of any aftermarket valve covers for our cars anyways. Even a used OEM cover is considerably less than $450.
03-23-11, 01:50 PM
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the mechanic just called and said its working now, he had the part filed b/c it wasnt sealing right.
I dont think he was mucking with me on this part of it b/c it didnt cost me anything,
I'm more concerned these mechanics may not be the sharpest tools in the shed...
I dont think he was mucking with me on this part of it b/c it didnt cost me anything,
I'm more concerned these mechanics may not be the sharpest tools in the shed...
03-23-11, 07:18 PM
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Yea i agree with you but with these cars its not like a honda where you can just jack up the car and start wrenching, its a heavy car and 9 out of 10 times if you dont have the proper tools of excellent quality like snap on you will be **** out of luck if you get into a roadblock.
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03-23-11, 10:28 PM
#8
I basically took the whole front and rear suspension, brakes, and did the timing belt with the same set of Crapsman I've been using to work on Hondas and Nissans within the first week of ownership. Before this car, I've never touched a Toyota before. Easy car to work on.
Yea i agree with you but with these cars its not like a honda where you can just jack up the car and start wrenching, its a heavy car and 9 out of 10 times if you dont have the proper tools of excellent quality like snap on you will be **** out of luck if you get into a roadblock.
03-24-11, 03:07 AM
#9
You got hosed by the so called "mechanic"...
GS valve covers are cast metal IIRC, you can't really reform, twist or rebend cast valve covers (cast wheels maybe).
He probably miraculously fixed the leak by running a thin bead of form-a-gasket around the OEM gasket before replacing the valve cover. Ask him to show you where he SPECIFICALLY "had to file" the cover so you can pay attention to it for leaks and check to see if it was actually changed , in the future. Oh and if he charged you $450 for "filing" and some Form-a-Gasket ... I have a bridge to sell you.
GS valve covers are cast metal IIRC, you can't really reform, twist or rebend cast valve covers (cast wheels maybe).
He probably miraculously fixed the leak by running a thin bead of form-a-gasket around the OEM gasket before replacing the valve cover. Ask him to show you where he SPECIFICALLY "had to file" the cover so you can pay attention to it for leaks and check to see if it was actually changed , in the future. Oh and if he charged you $450 for "filing" and some Form-a-Gasket ... I have a bridge to sell you.
03-24-11, 03:14 AM
#10
I basically took the whole front and rear suspension, brakes, and did the timing belt with the same set of Crapsman I've been using to work on Hondas and Nissans within the first week of ownership. Before this car, I've never touched a Toyota before. Easy car to work on.
03-24-11, 03:55 AM
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I basically took the whole front and rear suspension, brakes, and did the timing belt with the same set of Crapsman I've been using to work on Hondas and Nissans within the first week of ownership. Before this car, I've never touched a Toyota before. Easy car to work on.
03-24-11, 09:05 PM
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My apologies OP. I didn't mean for this to get turned into a whole "I do all my work by myself" thread. I originally meant to say that its not a bad thing to have to research most of these problems yourself first as opposed to taking it to someone and not learn anything about your car. In no way did I mean to assume or insinuate that you have no knowledge of cars. /disclaimer
