How much leaked oil is too much?

[fatmike]

Originally Posted by silver-S

thanks for confirming my suspicions, everyone. I have an appointment with my local indie shop next week to have it looked at.

I love these threads where everyone takes the high road.

My car was weeping from the rear main seal for half a decade. I kept my eye on it, and it never progressed. At some point, I would have changed it (and the clutch), but I sold the car.

I got 60K trouble free miles from my car, and yes - it leaked a little oil...:ah:



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[jb92563]

01 S and not a single drop leaking from anywhere.

I walked away from several Boxsters while shopping, due to leaks.

Nothing good or cheap ever came from a leak.


Think of the leak rate as fixing costs at an exponential rate.

A few drops will take a few bucks to fix now, a dozen drops will likely cost 100 times more, and a gusher will cost you 1000's times more.

So really the question is how much can your wallet afford to bleed?

Better get the leak fixed at its first signs and save yourself a lot of money and grief.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by fatmike

I love these threads where everyone takes the high road.

My car was weeping from the rear main seal for half a decade. I kept my eye on it, and it never progressed. At some point, I would have changed it (and the clutch), but I sold the car.

I got 60K trouble free miles from my car, and yes - it leaked a little oil...:ah:



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And when we do a PPI for a prospective buyer, we deduct the cost of oil leak repairs from the asking price for the car. You want to let leak, fine by me, but you end up paying for the repairs either way...........

[fatmike]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

And when we do a PPI for a prospective buyer, we deduct the cost of oil leak repairs from the asking price for the car. You want to let leak, fine by me, but you end up paying for the repairs either way...........

That is a reasonable recommendation. What percentage of Boxsters that you look at show signs of oil weeping? 50%? More?


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[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by fatmike

That is a reasonable recommendation. What percentage of Boxsters that you look at show signs of oil weeping? 50%? More?


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Actually, not that many. The more important question for the buyer is where is the leak coming from; cam cover or plug tube leaks are cheap when compared to RMS or case bolt leaks. It's all relative............

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by fatmike

I love these threads where everyone takes the high road.

My car was weeping from the rear main seal for half a decade. I kept my eye on it, and it never progressed. At some point, I would have changed it (and the clutch), but I sold the car.

I got 60K trouble free miles from my car, and yes - it leaked a little oil...:ah:
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Not only ecologically irresponsible, but a complete lack of regard for the safety of other drivers, particularly the two-wheeled variety. But you save the cost of a repair, and that's the important thing, right? Good for you.

[haz]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

Not only ecologically irresponsible, but a complete lack of regard for the safety of other drivers, particularly the two-wheeled variety. But you save the cost of a repair, and that's the important thing, right? Good for you.

Well put. And just because this oil leak didnt cause any big issue for this owner, doesnt automatically mean all oil leaks should be ignored.

[fatmike]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

Not only ecologically irresponsible, but a complete lack of regard for the safety of other drivers, particularly the two-wheeled variety. But you save the cost of a repair, and that's the important thing, right? Good for you.

Mark T - I think your over-stating it a bit here. Moisture on the rear main seal is not the Exxon Valdez, deepwater horizon or Lance Armstrong...




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