Lexus Oil Leaks and Mechanic (Woes)

[Renken2000Classic]

Another whining car problems post...

How hard is it to find a GOOD mechanic shop? Or just a good mechanic; because in a shop with multiple guys (like most are), you don't really know what you're going to get.

I tried a new place with the son's Lexus ('02 ES300), to address some oil leaks (could smell it on the exhaust sometimes which was what worried me). Asked 'em to do the valve cover gaskets (which I'd already bought, but decided I didn't want to do that job in the driveway in freezing temps), and service the transmission. They did the plugs too while they had the covers off.

$950, which is about what I expected, but there was still a burning oil smell (maybe not as much). Put some cardboard under it and verified that it's still got significant dripping. I messaged the shop with a pic, asking for thoughts on where else it might be coming from (you know, assuming they did the cover job right), and got nothing in reply.

I'm like, I guess I should have asked THEM to find the leaks instead of just having them replace (X). I don't know these cars well and not sure off the top of my head what the other possible sources are.

The pic is after a couple of drives, one very short.

The front head looked less wet after the repair, but the rear one is the hardest to do. Don't know if they did a poor job of it, or there are just other leaks (which it would have been good of them to think about while they had it...).

 

[Renken2000Classic]

My boss related a story of recently having his minivan at the dealership, where the cam (one of them?) was eventually replaced due to a misfiring cylinder. Well, the misfire was still there after the work, and they eventually realized they had missed a more simple check in the diagnosis, but oh well. Sorry about that (that you had to pay way more than was necessary, not to mention having much more invasive work done).

I mean this thing seems rampant. One of my other kids had a front wheel bearing replaced, and found out not long after that the brake pads were nearly grinding into the rotors (which they shortly started to do). Did they not see that while they were in there doing the other work?

Is it the High Society thing, or they just don't care, or "bad luck", or ??

Kinda frustrating feeling like nothing's going to get done right unless you do it yourself. That can't completely be the case; there have to be good people out there working on this stuff, but still.

 

[Grub54891]

You did ask for just the valve cover gaskets. But I personally don’t think it’s a 950 dollar job. Some are a bugger to get to so take my comment with a grain of salt. Usually when I do a repair I clean up the motor and look for any thing else that could be an issue and inform the client what is going on. Find a different shop!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Bringing a car to a shop, asking to perform a valve cover replacement, plugs and transmission service was not asking them to find the leak and repair it. They did what you asked for

The only way to get a good shop is to ask around on the forums specific to the brand/make and get word of mouth referrals to a specialty shop.

I use the dealers when I have to. I also join the special forums and go through the archives. The dealers often misdiagnose issues, and usually only want to work on vehicles that are under warranty. Generally the dealership techs like to fire a parts cannon at the problem vs properly diagnosing because if the problem doesn't show up on the ALDL, they don't look further. For the repairs on my daily driver (Pontiac Solstice GXP), I usually end up leaving the dealership with a large bill and the problem persists or they tell me they can't help because GM discontinued the parts, then I do the majority of the work myself anyway

The local small shops usually dig thru the all-data vehicle repair database, however may not have experience or factory training. This will also lead to misdiagnosed issues.

The specialty shops I have used usually do not give you an estimate for the job initially, but estimate a window of time at shop rate to diagnose the issue, then give an estimate. This has been that way for the VW/Audi shops, the truck shops, the transmission shops.

Asking for Lexus info in a boating forum may get you generic answers unless a member here has BTDT experience, however asking the same questions in a Lexus forum will get you specific answers from those that BTDT. Many of the specialty forums have techs, tuners, enthusiasts , DIYers, shop owners , etc and that is with its weight in gold.

I would suggest at least searching the threads in a Lexus forum for oil leaks on ES300s. One that I found with a quick Google search was a leaking oil pressure sensor

 

[dingbat]

Bear in mind that most mechanics these days were in pre-school when that car was built. The odds of finding a “factory trained” tech to service a 2002 vehicle is next to nil.

I’m fortunate that I have an “Performance Shop” specializing in “older” imports, Toyota, Honda and Datsun/Nissian, etc.

Does a good job at a reasonable price. Just have to listen to the list of mods available for my Honda VTEC every time I take it in for service

 

[Lou C]

Sometimes you have to just get it up on jackstands, get down and get dirty and look all around with a bright LED work light. I found a leaky oil pressure sensor on my '07 5.7 Hemi that way, it eventually set a code.
Next thing is the leaky valve cover gaskets....
The "fun" thing about this job, was that they changed the hex on the sending unit, I needed one socket to remove it and a different one to install the new one!

then there's that "fun" red plastic lock on the Chrysler connector, getting that thing to move without breaking it took more time than changing the sensor itself!

 

[Lpgc]

then there's that "fun" red plastic lock on the Chrysler connector, getting that thing to move without breaking it took more time than changing the sensor itself!

Heh, I convert vehicles to run on propane and know exactly what you mean about those Chrysler connectors.

 

[Scott Danforth]

then there's that "fun" red plastic lock on the Chrysler connector, getting that thing to move without breaking it took more time than changing the sensor itself!

And when you do break the lock, you have to be creative with zip ties to hold the connector in place

 

[Pmt133]

The parts cannon thing is real. A relative went to school for heavy equipment and was a "tech". We have a new F550 at the shop (family business). A few years ago the heat went out one day. His immediate reaction was blend doors, sensors, thermostats etc. Okay... I went over before anyone did anything and just did a position relearn for the module... pull the fuse for like 5 minutes and start it up after inserting. That was 3 years ago and it's been fine since. I had found out the battery had gone dead since they left the dome lights on a few days prior after the fact. Explained everything. My relative knew this information while rounding up the parts cannon as he went out and jumped it that night....

My personal vehicle has an intermittent cam position code. Everyone keeps saying to replace the actuator (like a 5 minute job) but I'd actually like to throw the scope on it and meter it and make sure I am actually fixing the problem... call me crazy I guess. I don't know.

 

[Lou C]

Eric O at the South Main Auto you tube channel is great at those kinds of problems….

 

[Mc Tool]

Mind you some cars dont help . I have a Toyota Blade ( Arius ) with a 2gr V6 and I had to remove the whole intake manifold assy to get at the 3 rear spark plugs .... pretty much a days work , where as my 1980 Ford Capri I can change the clutch in less time ..... and I can see the spark plugs

 

[Lou C]

Same thing on Chryslers 3.6 Pentastar
You have to remove the upper & lower intake manifold to change:
Oil filter housing
Spark plugs
Temp sending unit
Oil pressure sending unit

 

[Scott Danforth]

My personal vehicle has an intermittent cam position code. Everyone keeps saying to replace the actuator (like a 5 minute job) but I'd actually like to throw the scope on it and meter it and make sure I am actually fixing the problem... call me crazy I guess. I don't know.

If it's an ecotech, the solenoids are very common failure

 

[Pmt133]

If it's an ecotech, the solenoids are very common failure

Actually not an ecotec, 4th gen high feature V6. But yes, pretty much any vehicle I've had with a solenoid based VVT it typically is a common failure.... I just want to know for sure though. And like... I'm bored.

 

[Renken2000Classic]

Thanks for the thoughts. The forum thing is a good idea (and getting under it myself to look about, lol). I was kind of hoping for an all around place I could take any of my stuff to, and trust them. Anyone know who works on OMC? (totally kidding, heh).

There's a guy on YT does a real thorough video on the gaskets (for a 330; Brian Eslick) - but he's on the west coast; and I'm not (lol).

I "found" this place I tried through a car donation I made. The place the tow driver came from had an old school performance sounding name. I asked him about the shop - small operation or single mechanic (what I'd like to find); said the guy was "good", etc. (turns out there mighta been more than that one guy doing the work; sort of an auction place too). I thought, if they can do the performance stuff right, they ought to be able to get normal repairs right...

The Lexus was sort of a test, but they didn't really pass. Yes, my fault on not asking them to diagnose further. So my Acura still awaits ME to get it back on the road. Don't think I'll be taking the old truck to them for the stem seals and o-rings job either (which crossed my mind, and it really needs...). I might try calling them just to get some kind of answer on the oil drips, since he didn't respond to e-mail.

I still think someone should have been thinking, and passing info. back to me about other possibilities instead of just handing me the keys and a bill. It'd be better they overlooked something else though, than this being shoddy work.

My brother goes to a place (that also came recommended to me from a different source), but he just had his truck in there twice for a leaking coolant smell (they thought it might be heater core, but didn't fix it right on the first try; it turned out to be the heater core), so that didn't fill me with confidence about going there. Might try it anyway.

 

[Scott06]

Another whining car problems post...

How hard is it to find a GOOD mechanic shop? Or just a good mechanic; because in a shop with multiple guys (like most are), you don't really know what you're going to get.

I tried a new place with the son's Lexus ('02 ES300), to address some oil leaks (could smell it on the exhaust sometimes which was what worried me). Asked 'em to do the valve cover gaskets (which I'd already bought, but decided I didn't want to do that job in the driveway in freezing temps), and service the transmission. They did the plugs too while they had the covers off.

$950, which is about what I expected, but there was still a burning oil smell (maybe not as much). Put some cardboard under it and verified that it's still got significant dripping. I messaged the shop with a pic, asking for thoughts on where else it might be coming from (you know, assuming they did the cover job right), and got nothing in reply.

I'm like, I guess I should have asked THEM to find the leaks instead of just having them replace (X). I don't know these cars well and not sure off the top of my head what the other possible sources are.

The pic is after a couple of drives, one very short.

The front head looked less wet after the repair, but the rear one is the hardest to do. Don't know if they did a poor job of it, or there are just other leaks (which it would have been good of them to think about while they had it...).

Yes you absolutely never want to self diagnose the issue and ask them to do specific tasks. on Toyotas the PS pump is usually down there and hose to reservoir can be a leaker.

take it down there and face to face ask them to look at it may be a issue from their work or may be a different problem. Would ask to walk through their findings while its up on the lift

 

[Lou C]

Another thought for the shop
Put dye in the motor oil and use an black light to find source of the leaks

 

[Renken2000Classic]

Yeah I was wondering about some kind of dye. And I do probably need to check with them again instead of just dropping it.

 

[Mc Tool]

Another thought for the shop
Put dye in the motor oil and use an black light to find source of the leaks

We used to do that for all sorts of refrigeration ( not domestic fridges ) and air-con

 

[cyclops222]

New car dealers had small profits from each new car sold.
BUUTT
They made thousands of money on repairs over the life of the car.