Oil Leak from Headgasket

[VNT]

This is on my 06 2.4 NA

I guess this isnt uncommon. Car has 19,250 miles.

I had the car at the dealer, I know the techs there and my freind is changing it today. I dropped it off for them to look at, was hoping it was the oil sender but took a look on the lift and it is leaking at the driver side, guess there is a oil return passageway. We double checked and made sure it wasnt something stupid like the cam sensor or valve cover but not so.

Also my friend showed me the TSB on it where the factory didnt torque the gaskets correctly and the "fix" was to loosen the bolts and retourque, 45 65 65 and 1/4 turn. Anyhow he told me that doesnt work, he tried it on a few and always had to redo them with a new gaskets so he doesnt even bother using the TSB.

So I guess my wallet will be a little lighter. He is going to throw a new water pump and timing belt in while it is apart. This is the first time I have been burned on anything major on my cars. I also got a killer deal when I bought this car last year, so I am still ahead. You win some you loose some.

[CREWZIN]

I know it sounds like a good idea to change the timing belt and water pump but you sure had a long way to go before that was really needed.

[Busted_PT]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

I know it sounds like a good idea to change the timing belt and water pump but you sure had a long way to go before that was really needed.

The one thing I have noticed, and CREWZIN may be able to verify this. That the very low mileage cars of late don't seem to make the 100k belt mark. Seem they break before that. I guess like tires. They dry rot sitting around.

[ptal]

Originally Posted by Busted_PT

The one thing I have noticed, and CREWZIN may be able to verify this. That the very low mileage cars of late don't seem to make the 100k belt mark. Seem they break before that. I guess like tires. They dry rot sitting around.

Is there an age limit for the belts? I have a 2001 with 50,000 miles on it so far. Waiting until 100,000 miles to change the belt would put it at around 22-24 years old.

[CREWZIN]

I put the question of mileage vs age to Google and from what I've read, depending on manufacturer, 7 to 10 years is recommended if the vehicle doesn't reach the mileage by then so I would say, ptal, your overdue.

[Busted_PT]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

I put the question of mileage vs age to Google and from what I've read, depending on manufacturer, 7 to 10 years is recommended if the vehicle doesn't reach the mileage by then so I would say, ptal, your overdue.

If the vehicle is driven on a regular bases. The dry rot would be less likely than say a car that sits maybe a month or two between drives.

[VNT]

Timing belt is 40 and the other two maybe 20$, so for 60$ and the water pump. I am paying for the labor so your damned if you do and damned if you dont.

I spoke to my pal and he said everything looked OK save the area on the head gasket where the oil return passage is. The head checked out OK.

I will pick it up tomorrow, wirh my bill

[VNT]

It was grammys car, when I bought it last year it had 4000 miles in 5 years, sat in the sons garage not driven much, he just wanted to get rid of it so I got a killer deal on it, it was basically a new car.

Originally Posted by Busted_PT

If the vehicle is driven on a regular bases. The dry rot would be less likely than say a car that sits maybe a month or two between drives.

[VNT]

Pic of the car