Should I get these repairs done on car?

[StageLeft]

I'm hoping to get rid of this car in a month or two. It's only worth about $2k. 93 sentra with 155k miles on it. I just had an oil change and a nissan mechanic check it out and they said everything looks great except for "massive oil leaks". Repairs were estimated at:

$50 for oil pressure switch
$165 for front crank shaft seal
$500 for rear main seal (major labor involved).

Now in the last 4k miles the oil has gone from about full to 1/5 or so if that helps on how fast it's leaking (and I don't think the car burns much oil or any of significance).

What's the big deal letting these go? And in regards to doing it myself it's an absolute not-going-to-happen so please don't say things like "You can do that yourself for $1.50 and 30 minutes labor"

 

[Brutuskend]

If your gonna sell it, sell it as is (but I would let them know of the repairs "suggested" by the Mech.)

Just lower your asking price to reflect said repairs. (if you wanna be a nice guy that is!)

 

[hoihtah]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I'm hoping to get rid of this car in a month or two. It's only worth about $2k.
What's the big deal letting these go? And in regards to doing it myself it's an absolute not-going-to-happen so please don't say things like "You can do that yourself for $1.50 and 30 minutes labor"

it's definately not a 30 min labor... to do it yourself.

if you're planning on dumping the car in few months...
just ride it out.
make sure you have enough oil...
check & refill every week.

 

[Tominator]

Now in the last 4k miles the oil has gone from about full to 1/5 or so if that helps on how fast it's leaking (and I don't think the car burns much oil or any of significance).

If you have only used 1 quart in 4000 miles you have no 'massive oil leak.' Can you be a bit more clear? How often do you add a quart of oil? Does it leak to the point you leave a puddle everywhere you park?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Tominator

Now in the last 4k miles the oil has gone from about full to 1/5 or so if that helps on how fast it's leaking (and I don't think the car burns much oil or any of significance).

If you have only used 1 quart in 4000 miles you have no 'massive oil leak.' Can you be a bit more clear? How often do you add a quart of oil? Does it leak to the point you leave a puddle everywhere you park?

OK sorry - I meant that it went from full down to 1/5 of the oil amount - so it basically ran all the oil out except for 1/5 of it over the 4k. There are no puddles of oil on the ground that I've noticed. The car also drives like a champ. Personally I have no problem at all checking the oil constantly to make sure there is still enough in there - it's not so bad that it requires frequent checking because I never top it off. I just check it every 1000-2000 miles and bring it in every 4k or so and it gets an oil change there.

SO my question is other than the minor inconvenience of making sure it's not running out of oil is there anything else bad about leaving these repairs and not touching them in the near term...?

 

[Vette73]

If the oil switch is leaking then get a new one from AutoZone and put that in yourself, that is not that hard.

Has the timing chain be replaced yet? If it has not then the front seal will be replaced with the chain, no need to do one without the other.

The rear seal don't replace unless it is just spewing oil out, which I doubt it is. Cost more than it is worth.

And don't use 5W30, use 10W30.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
If the oil switch is leaking then get a new one from AutoZone and put that in yourself, that is not that hard.

Has the timing chain be replaced yet? If it has not then the front seal will be replaced with the chain, no need to do one without the other.

The rear seal don't replace unless it is just spewing oil out, which I doubt it is. Cost more than it is worth.

And don't use 5W30, use 10W30.

Timing chain no idea. I bought the car 13k miles ago. My understanding was with these timing chains just leave them be and you'll hear a rattling when it's time to change them. I am pretty sure I replaced the front crank shaft seal shortly after I bought the car; it would seem it's gone again. My understanding then was it's bad to leave these things because they can get oil in around belts and stuff...? I really have no idea.

The car is definitely not "spewing" oil though

 

[Mavrick007]

Do what you can yourself (if any), and then when you sell it as is, make sure you let the people know what is your concerns with it, and drop the price down a bit to reflect fixing costs.

 

[RossMAN]

Skoorbie, I feel your pain and know exactly what you're going through. Although my 94 Corolla didn't have as many problems, I decided to get the minimal repairs done before selling it. Of course we all know what happened after that, they took it to a Toyota dealership asked them to go through it with a fine tooth comb and they found $1,100 in repairs which needed to be done $700 parts and $400 labor, LOL.

So I would get the minimal repairs done then sell it, just sell it soon!

What are you going to replace it with?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Skoorbie, I feel your pain and know exactly what you're going through. Although my 94 Corolla didn't have as many problems, I decided to get the minimal repairs done before selling it. Of course we all know what happened after that, they took it to a Toyota dealership asked them to go through it with a fine tooth comb and they found $1,100 in repairs which needed to be done $700 parts and $400 labor, LOL.

So I would get the minimal repairs done then sell it, just sell it soon!

What are you going to replace it with?

I want to replace it with a 02 or 03 Altima. Still waiting on my visa renewal and see that mrs.skoorb's job situation is panning out properly and stuff first though!

I'm now thinking that I don't want to let anybody know about these repairs before selling but on the other hand I hate to rip somebody off so it seems the perfect opportunity to just use it as a dealer trade in and hope they aren't too anal on this..they likely would be though so I dunno. I really just need it to go a while longer without costing me a bunch of money so I need to know how mission-critical these repairs are. If it's the matter of just keeping a quart or oil in the car and checking it every week that sure beats $700 in repairs.

 

[notfred]

As long as you keep oil in the car it will run fine. Each time you get gas, check the oil. If it's low, fill it up. You keep doing that and you won't have any problems driving it around.

 

[Dead3ye]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
If the oil switch is leaking then get a new one from AutoZone and put that in yourself, that is not that hard.

Has the timing chain be replaced yet? If it has not then the front seal will be replaced with the chain, no need to do one without the other.

The rear seal don't replace unless it is just spewing oil out, which I doubt it is. Cost more than it is worth.

And don't use 5W30, use 10W30.

I would bet that you have a timing belt rather than a chain. You will have no warning when it goes. And depending on the type and brand of motor, you'll have some serious damage to the valve train if it lets go during full song. They should be changed every 60,000, so your probably due for a new one.

As for "leaking" oil, if there isn't any puddles under the car while it is sitting for periods over an hour, I doubt your rear seal is bad. My V6 626 uses a quart every 2000 mi, which is completely normal.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Dead3ye

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
If the oil switch is leaking then get a new one from AutoZone and put that in yourself, that is not that hard.

Has the timing chain be replaced yet? If it has not then the front seal will be replaced with the chain, no need to do one without the other.

The rear seal don't replace unless it is just spewing oil out, which I doubt it is. Cost more than it is worth.

And don't use 5W30, use 10W30.

I would bet that you have a timing belt rather than a chain. You will have no warning when it goes. And depending on the type and brand of motor, you'll have some serious damage to the valve train if it lets go during full song. They should be changed every 60,000, so your probably due for a new one.

As for "leaking" oil, if there isn't any puddles under the car while it is sitting for periods over an hour, I doubt your rear seal is bad. My V6 626 uses a quart every 2000 mi, which is completely normal.

well I was just talking to my friend and he says I left oil in his driveway. Not a heck of a lot but some...

You'd be surprised and I was too but it does in fact have a timing chain - 93 sentras have chains. They go for a long time. Apparently they are a ton of money to replace but most mechanics don't really recommend bothering to do a pre-emptive replace on them

 

[Dead3ye]

Huh, a chain? That is surprising. :Q

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Dead3ye

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
If the oil switch is leaking then get a new one from AutoZone and put that in yourself, that is not that hard.

Has the timing chain be replaced yet? If it has not then the front seal will be replaced with the chain, no need to do one without the other.

The rear seal don't replace unless it is just spewing oil out, which I doubt it is. Cost more than it is worth.

And don't use 5W30, use 10W30.

I would bet that you have a timing belt rather than a chain. You will have no warning when it goes. And depending on the type and brand of motor, you'll have some serious damage to the valve train if it lets go during full song. They should be changed every 60,000, so your probably due for a new one.

As for "leaking" oil, if there isn't any puddles under the car while it is sitting for periods over an hour, I doubt your rear seal is bad. My V6 626 uses a quart every 2000 mi, which is completely normal.

The Sentra, Altima, and NEW Maxima all have chains. The chains really don't go bad, but the plastic parts that hold the chain in do. And when they go it lets the chain go slack and it tears up the timing cover. They last on average 90K-160K. Some low some long

The Old Maxima had a belt, I don't do Maxima belts :disgust: I did one once and regretted it forever.

 

[Hammer]

Since you only plan on keeping for a couple of months, I say ride it out. Like someone said before, just lower the asking price to reflect the repairs.

 

[Quixfire]

Skoorb, IHMO I would replace the switch and front crankshaft seal. Let the rear main go and inform any buyer that it might be leaking.

 

[Zenmervolt]

If you're losing 4/5ths of the oil in 4,000 miles and don't absolutely love the car then SELL IT NOW. Leaks only get worse over time. It's quite possible that the car only leaks when the system is pressurised (engine running), which would explain why there are no puddles. When I was looking at 914's I saw one with a blown rear main seal. No oil puddles under the car, but once the car was running and warmed up oil smoke came pouring out of the engine compartment because the engine was spitting oil out onto itself. Get rid of the car ASAP.

As for the guy who said his car burns a quart every 2,000 miles, I realise that's only 50% of the "allowed" amount but wow. I lose maybe a pint in 3,500 miles and my engine's got 215,000 miles on it without any overhauls.

ZV

 

[Vette73]

Also if it is warm where you live, then you can use 20W50. Mobil has a good 20W50.

 

[Tominator]

Oil leaks on old cars are normal. The only thing to worry about is that oil pressure sending unit. That should be replaced. Let a local shop do it and not the dealer. He is the highest priced place in town!

I'd try an oil additive that says it stop seal leaks. An ingredient swells the old seals and makes them more pliable. Sometimes it works.

If the car has a manual tranny there is a possibility oil could contaminate the disc causing the cluth to slip if the rear main seal was indeed leaking.

If it were me, I take it to the local dyi car wash and degrease the motor. Then watch carefully for any leaks that are obvious.

Other than the oil pressure sending unit leak my advice is to ignore the rest. When reselling the car it is the buyers responsibility to find all the faults with it and not yours!

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
If the oil switch is leaking then get a new one from AutoZone and put that in yourself, that is not that hard.

Has the timing chain be replaced yet? If it has not then the front seal will be replaced with the chain, no need to do one without the other.

The rear seal don't replace unless it is just spewing oil out, which I doubt it is. Cost more than it is worth.

And don't use 5W30, use 10W30.

Timing chain no idea. I bought the car 13k miles ago. My understanding was with these timing chains just leave them be and you'll hear a rattling when it's time to change them. I am pretty sure I replaced the front crank shaft seal shortly after I bought the car; it would seem it's gone again. My understanding then was it's bad to leave these things because they can get oil in around belts and stuff...? I really have no idea.

The car is definitely not "spewing" oil though

Yes you will hear a rattle, the rattle of a head and valve meeting at 200mph. Shortly thereafter you will probably hear the "rattle" of a fractured piston arm slamming through the engine block. Don't mess with the timing man, engines explode if valves and pistons aren't in sync.

 

[Mister T]

I used to drive an 85 Lincoln Town car that ended up going 40,000 miles or about 2.5 years with oil leaks.
I would throw in 1 quart of 20W50 every 200 miles and never once changed the oil.

I ended up trashing the car with about 165,000 miles due to Transmission, Brake, and muffler problems.