RE: 2003 IS300 5spd manual with 243k miles.
It used to get a lot of love but has seen better days. It's still drivable.
It's currently leaking oil, as evidenced on the ground and the engine block. I took it a local mechanic, who said the oil is leaking from multiple places and wants to drop the engine and replace all the gaskets (to the tune of >$6K). This includes replacing the following:
- T-Belt Kit w/ water pump
- water outlet O-ring
- radiator hose-upper
- radiator hose-lower
- radiator cap
- crankshaft seal kit-front
- timing cover gasket set-upper
- valve cover gasket set w/o valve cover washers
- timing cover gasket set-upper
- timing cover gasket set-lower
- intake man. gasket set
- cylinder head gasket set
- oil filter
- motor oil - 5 quarts
- transmission mount-rear
- engine mount-front
- clutch kit
- ignition wire set TE79
- spark plug FR6T11 NGK
- Coolant/Antifreeze (RED) 1 gallon
- Fuel injection service
- intake cleaner
- fuel injection kit
This seems a bit outrageous and need some assistance helping me diagnose the source of the oil leak.
I will be taking it to get a second/third/forth opinion but I wanted to see if there was more efficient way to handle this oil leak issue before taking it somewhere else.
Should I steam clean, degrease, or something similar to the engine and underneath before getting another opinion?
Essentially, what's the best and most efficient way to validate where the leak is stemming from without having to drop the engine and replace all parts, which seems unnecessary?
Thanks!
Here's a Scotty video on that topic - don't do 23 things until you find out which ones you need and which you don't, unless you're doing a concours restoration
Put UV fluorescent leak dye in your engine oil, drive it around and get a UV light with funky yellow sunglasses, then get under the car and look around. The dye will come out with the oil where it's leaking.
Don't take it back to that guy, sounds like he was more trying to sell you stuff than actually diagnose the thing you came in for.
Thanks, I'll give it shot.
Find another mechanic who won't rip you off like this guy. It could be something as simple as a valve cover gasket.
should I attempt to clean all the residual oil first?
Thanks but I've seen this video and the vehicle he's working on has a crack in the oil pan. I do not have that issue or at least it wasn't called out as having that issue.
Why bother until after the leak is fixed? I don't understand what video you're talking about.
I thought cleaning it would help find the source of the leak but then another member mentioned UV Fluorescent Leak Dye. I think that might be the best course of action, what are your thoughts?
Disregard the video, I was responding to another comment
The leak dye test is the gold standard for finding the source of your leak.