Joke of the day-Oil leaks

[Phrede]

While my car was on the lift working on for new tires, a saga in itself, the tech came and got me to show me the oil on the outside of all 4 of my shocks. The front ones were worse than the rear. He also discovered that the sway bar end link was bad, and an engine oil leak that appears to be a front main seal. Will my problems with this car never end?

I went to a dealer to schedule the warranty repairs. At first, the service writer told me the would need the car a couple of days to determine what parts to order. I must of had a astonished look on my face because the story soon changed to making an appointment so they can inspect it and order parts. OK.

The joke is that he then said that the shocks were probably not bad because Cadillac coated the outside of the shocks with oil to keep them from rusting!! He further explained how the complete underside of the car had undercoating applied and it can look like oil.

I am now thinking not to waste my time with this dealer. I am concerned about letting them do a big job, main seal, without causing some other problem.

 

[Tiffany's Dad]

Bruce had recently discovered a bad oil leak on my 04 that sounds similar. Have not taken to have looked at yet.

 

[Phrede]

They new dealer says that the oil leak is from the valve cover gaskets and the oil pan gaskets. This could be as I could not get a real good look to see for sure and if the front of the valve covers were leaking I suppose it could run down past the crank. I am more comfortable with them doing this over replacing the front main seal.

It goes in Monday for this and 4 new shocks. BTW, OEM shocks have a MSRP of $1002 EACH ! about half that from gmpartsdirect.com. A different service writer tried to convince me that the outside of shocks are coated with oil so that the dust boot is lubed. Just amazing. Considering that the boot has a much larger diameter than the shock on the bottom. They do not think the sway bar end link is bad, which I still disagree since I personally moved the sway bar back and forth causing a clunk. Their explanation was that the clunk is coming from the bad shocks. Time will tell, it will just require an additional visit to make the correction. This same service writer told me that bad shocks would not cause tire cupping or vibration. According to him a bad sway bar link would not do it either. Hmmm

After seeing all of the problems I have had with the car the service writer wanted me to promise to give them a good report or he would not work on the car. I explained to him that I will not hold him responsible for the poor service I have received from the other dealer and if he did a good job he would get a good review. I don't feel it appropriate to discuss my rating of there work BEFORE it is performed or to imply that they would not do warranty work based on if I give them anything but a perfect score!

The new wheels I ordered all had excessive radial run out and have been returned ($200 in shipping costs). The 10" wheel width with a 79mm offset will NOT work on the rear, the inner wheel lip was not close to clearing the fender liner on the inner side. The outer wheel lip was within 1mm of stock. So much for using a 285 width tire. The good news is the tire dealer called today to say he received 4 Bridgestone S04 in 255/40-19 to fit my stock rims. These are what I had ordered in different sizes to fit my new rims and this size was/is not listed in any of the catalogs. Had I known this tire was available to fit our stock rims I would have never considered the new rims.

Sorry for the Rant....... The Saga continues.

 

[b_pappy]

Wow, glad that is all under warranty. Good luck with the repairs.
Bruce

 

[Phrede]

Wow, glad that is all under warranty. Good luck with the repairs.
Bruce

Thanks,

I expect that the warranty costs on this car has been in excess of $20k and climbing in the past 4 months. Pretty amazing for a "certified" car, Eh?

 

[GizmoQ]

Fred, sorry to hear the wheels didn't fit. Was it just barely, I.e., 9.5 width might work? Or was it way too much? I know after all the research and planning you did for those wheels, this was quite dissappointing.

Glad the warranty work is covered.

Giz

 

[Phrede]

Fred, sorry to hear the wheels didn't fit. Was it just barely, I.e., 9.5 width might work? Or was it way too much? I know after all the research and planning you did for those wheels, this was quite dissappointing.

Glad the warranty work is covered.

Giz

Mine were not close at all with just the 10"rim. When you consider a 285 width tire is about 11.25" it was not close at all. I think that to use a 9.5" rim one would need such an offset that the tire would have to be outside the fender. Maybe something around a 45 or 50 mm?? A 9.5" rim with a 48mm offset would put the outer lip of the wheel very close to 1" further to the outside of the vehicle from a stock V wheel.

Disappointing, yes. But I never forget that just because it works on paper is not a guarantee the things will actually fit. Murphy has a powerful law.

 

[onalaska]

They new dealer says that the oil leak is from the valve cover gaskets and the oil pan gaskets. This could be as I could not get a real good look to see for sure and if the front of the valve covers were leaking I suppose it could run down past the crank. I am more comfortable with them doing this over replacing the front main seal.

Fred, I had an oil leak which turned out to be the timing chain cover on the front of the engine. Diane's STS had an oil leak between the oil pan and the block and between the oil filter adapter and the engine. Two for two with my Northstars! All fixed and no more problems so far.

 

[2barhaven2]

Re oil leaks, I just had a warranty repair for leaking at the front cover. Found the gasket distorted at the bottom bolt hole. While working on that they discovered that the l/s seal in the steering gear was also leaking; the fluid was leaking onto the crossmember and showing up there. ('07 V @37000 mi)

 

[richardyoo]

Mine were not close at all with just the 10"rim. When you consider a 285 width tire is about 11.25" it was not close at all. I think that to use a 9.5" rim one would need such an offset that the tire would have to be outside the fender. Maybe something around a 45 or 50 mm?? A 9.5" rim with a 48mm offset would put the outer lip of the wheel very close to 1" further to the outside of the vehicle from a stock V wheel.

Disappointing, yes. But I never forget that just because it works on paper is not a guarantee the things will actually fit. Murphy has a powerful law.

I don't get it... my rears are 285 width and they fit within the fenders just fine - you can see from the photos that I posted that they do not extend past the fenders - I wonder why you're having such issues... I honestly think that 295's would fit.

 

[TED]

I to have 285/30/ 20 (with 10" rims ) on the rear with NO problem and let me say they look AWESOME ! Went with a MAYA 3 piece wheel I admit they were very pricey but you get what you pay for And a GOOD eye can easly spot a cheap wheel from the other side of the parking lot !

 

[onalaska]

I to have 285/30/ 20 (with 10" rims ) on the rear with NO problem and let me say they look AWESOME ! Went with a MAYA 3 piece wheel I admit they were very pricey but you get what you pay for And a GOOD eye can easly spot a cheap wheel from the other side of the parking lot !

That sounds awsome. I would like to see some pics of those. Any chance you can post a few?

 

[TED]

Sorry dont have a camera Waiting to upgrade to a smart phone but procrastanainting the $2,100 contract ! Dont do much more then make calls and text anyway. Trying to justify Not haveing much luck