21
votes
Cascading Repair Costs following Blown Head Gasket on a 2004 Subaru Outback
Sorry for your situation, but this is one of those times when it's best to put the car out to grass. The car is 15 years old. I kept a Subaru running until 300,000, but there was always 'just one more ...
- 8,612
12
votes
Accepted
Did the mechanic damage our car?
I think Meineke was taking you for a ride (pun intended). Here is my reasoning:
If it was leaking as bad as they say (or showed you) it was, you wouldn't have had any oil in your vehicle when you got ...
- 140k
9
votes
Accepted
Did the mechanic break my camshaft?
I'm struggling to find the question you are asking here but taking the literal question "Would you assume the mechanic broke your camshaft if your car would not start due to broken camshaft around 30 ...
- 23.3k
8
votes
Accepted
How to test for a leak in the exhaust manifold gasket?
Seeing as how your car has a turbo, the only place it would be leaking and you'd hear a ticking noise is pre-turbo, so the exhaust manifold at the head (header) and the down pipe on the hot side to ...
- 140k
8
votes
Should I get 2nd Opinion on head gasket issue?
It is ALWAYS good to get a second opinion. I would highly recommend taking it to another shop and have them tell you what they think it is even if you believe the first shop to be right.
That being ...
- 1,948
8
votes
Cascading Repair Costs following Blown Head Gasket on a 2004 Subaru Outback
I concur with user9181; I would add a suggestion of having a non-dealership mechanic render a second opinion. As noted, redecking the heads requires removal of the timing belt, and on reassembly it is ...
- 141
7
votes
Accepted
Can I use high temp RTV instead of a gasket?
The short answer is no. RTV silicon is a great modern sealant, but must be used in the knowledge that the sealant can block oil ways. It can destroy catalytic convertors, if it becomes diluted by ...
- 6,749
7
votes
Paying a mechanic to replace a blown engine for a used one - should he be responsible for changing gaskets?
It depends on whether you are paying him to rebuild the replacement engine, or to just fit it as it is...
- 28.6k
6
votes
Oil leaks after oil change - shop says engine oil pan gasket needs to be replaced
If there was no oil leak before the oil change, then there is a possibility of wrong repair done at the workshop. Generally, for changing oil, the oil pan need not be touched at all, except for the ...
6
votes
Accepted
Car can't start after rocker gasket change
The OP responded in the comments and stated the fix. He primed the motor with carb spray to get it going. Perhaps it had a mechanical fuel pump or needed the fuel rail primed in some way.
OP's ...
- 32.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Preventing debris from falling in engine while changing valve cover gasket
Yes, debris will cause damage, however the valves cover gasket doesn't stick that hard and if it is the original, they come with some kind of rubber material, very easy to take out even in one piece ...
- 3,296
6
votes
What all do I need to buy when installing new transmission and torque converter
If this is a newly rebuilt transmission which comes with a warranty, you won't need to replace the pan gasket and filter. These should be brand new and already be installed. Obviously you'll need the ...
- 140k
5
votes
Accepted
Gasket sealant with exhaust manifold
You shouldn't need to use sealant on the gaskets. Most exhaust manifold gaskets either come with their own sealant (like Fel-Pro's do with the silver looking stuff), or they are metal and don't ...
- 140k
5
votes
Accepted
Do valve cover gaskets need to be replaced every time you reopen the valve cover?
Generally:
Cork - always replace. (this includes rubber covered cork)
Rubber - replace if deformed or damaged.
On newer vehicles with the molded rubber ones which fit into a slot (I've seen on valve ...
- 140k
5
votes
What material should I look for in an oil drain plug gasket?
Assuming you're buying the OEM filter from a Subaru dealer, they should be giving you a new washer with each one. It's an aluminum washer that's sort of folded over on itself so that it crushes.
I ...
- 1,413
5
votes
Accepted
What factors are considered when deciding on gasket material?
Things to consider when choosing gasket materials:
Type of fluid/gas that should be contained
Pressure
Temperature range
Roughness of the sealing surfaces. The gasket needs to fill impurities in the ...
- 444
5
votes
Accepted
Oil leaking into spark plug well despite new gaskets -- is RTV a solution?
I'm not a fan of RTV
Others that are professional and hobbyists don't agree with me but, some do.
I just don't use RTV, it's like duct tape to me. I get a physiological reaction to the acronym. I ...
- 32.8k
5
votes
Fixing a gasket oil/transmission fluid leak with epoxy glue - possible reaction with oil?
If it is the oil pan bolt holes that are stripped out, using a Heli-Coil thread insert is the professional permanent solution.
Heli-Coil is the inventor of this repair method, but there are other ...
- 7,940
5
votes
Is it unreasonable to expect nation chain mechanics to recognize a blown head gasket from a radiator problem before installing new radiator?
I would not immediately assume the repair shop was out to get you. Its possible, but not likely. PepBoys is a national chain, and their best most profitable behavior is to quickly and efficiently ...
- 6,479
5
votes
Should a sealant be used, or not, when replacing a molded rubber valve cover gasket?
Generally you don't need to use any sealant on this type of gasket, mainly because the gasket is pliable enough and will seal on it's own. If I were going to use any sealant on it, it would be where ...
- 140k
5
votes
Accepted
Can you retighten timing chain cover without redoing RTV?
As long as you are not breaking the two pieces apart (completely removing the cover), you should have no issue doing what you want to do. I'm assuming the RTV which is there is fully cured? If so, you ...
- 140k
4
votes
Accepted
Can a Bad Valve Cover Gasket Cause Oil to be Burned?
In the video, when they are talking about "burning oil", they mean it is physically running off of the valve cover gasket and down onto the exhaust manifold, which burns outside of the engine. This ...
- 140k
4
votes
What material should I look for in an oil drain plug gasket?
I've been changing my own oil since 1975 or so, Daniel, more often than not, several cars at a time (it's been a long long time since I've only had one vehicle). I've never changed a drain plug gasket ...
- 2,534
4
votes
Oil leaks after oil change - shop says engine oil pan gasket needs to be replaced
Odds are they did a shady job and are now trying to rip you off. No reason why it should be like that unless if they did that by accident or (worse) intentionally.
If you can, take a look underneath ...
- 41
4
votes
Accepted
Oil leaks after oil change - shop says engine oil pan gasket needs to be replaced
I agree with @knocksAndMisfires - it sounds strange that the oil pan gasket would have to be touched for a routine oil change.
If the oil pan/lower sump was removed then this may necessitate a gasket ...
- 39k
4
votes
Accepted
Installing a new water pump - what to do about the gasket?
They are basically the same thing. Use the gasket and put the gasket maker on either side of it. It will do the same job and work just as well. Don't put it on too thick, just enough to hold the ...
- 140k
4
votes
Water underneath floor carpet - Mazda Protégé 2002
Certainly sounds like the heater core is leaking coolant into the car's interior. Like Ducatikiller said it should smell a little bit sweet, but if you still can't tell stick your finger in the fluid ...
- 348
4
votes
Accepted
Water underneath floor carpet - Mazda Protégé 2002
After removing the seat and looking underneath the carpet, there was no evidence of leaking from the heater core. It was rain water, about three gallons of it. Where did this all come from? Nothing ...
- 191
4
votes
Accepted
Rubber gasket maker on rocker cover
Rubber gaskets typically seal well. Cork ones are hit or miss. If the valve cover is stamped steel, its normal to use gasket maker rather than the gasket.
If a piece did fall off inside the engine, ...
- 8,403
4
votes
Accepted
Will any Gasket Work on a Ford L4 Engine?
If the par numbers cross reference, then they should be interchangeable. Otherwise they may not.
In some cases the difference in a gasket my not be the shape, but the materials as well. So even a ...
- 3,284
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