Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
#2
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
==========================
Clean battery terminals, FREE DIY if you have a wire brush (you can buy a battery terminal brush for like $2-5).
Google it, and I'm sure everyone has some baking soda laying around the kitchen. Even I have a box somewhere around here LOL
====================
Ball joint boot can be replaced by itself IF the joint is still good. HOWEVER, there are caveats that would cause one to instead replace the ball joint:
If there is any play in the joint, it needs the whole joint.
If the tech even suspects the joint may go bad soon due to dirt and water entry and loss of grease, he had better cover his *** and recommend replacing the ball joint.
IF the car has high mileage, it's gonna get a ball joint just because of age and mileage.
On top of that, it may end up needing knuckle(s) if a new joint does not fit tight enough. Honda released a service bulletin addressing this issue.
================
Oil pan reseal, price might be reasonable. IMO
BUT just how bad is the leak?
Does it leak faster than you can pour oil into it? $220.45 can buy a lot of oil.
==================
Cam plug, price is not reasonable unless the engine is equipped with an EGR valve.
If there is no EGR valve in the way, it's a $10 and 10 minute replacement DIY.
If there's an EGR valve, it becomes a huge PITA.
Clean battery terminals, FREE DIY if you have a wire brush (you can buy a battery terminal brush for like $2-5).
Google it, and I'm sure everyone has some baking soda laying around the kitchen. Even I have a box somewhere around here LOL
====================
Ball joint boot can be replaced by itself IF the joint is still good. HOWEVER, there are caveats that would cause one to instead replace the ball joint:
If there is any play in the joint, it needs the whole joint.
If the tech even suspects the joint may go bad soon due to dirt and water entry and loss of grease, he had better cover his *** and recommend replacing the ball joint.
IF the car has high mileage, it's gonna get a ball joint just because of age and mileage.
On top of that, it may end up needing knuckle(s) if a new joint does not fit tight enough. Honda released a service bulletin addressing this issue.
================
Oil pan reseal, price might be reasonable. IMO
BUT just how bad is the leak?
Does it leak faster than you can pour oil into it? $220.45 can buy a lot of oil.
==================
Cam plug, price is not reasonable unless the engine is equipped with an EGR valve.
If there is no EGR valve in the way, it's a $10 and 10 minute replacement DIY.
If there's an EGR valve, it becomes a huge PITA.
#3
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My oil pan gasket seeps. Between oil changes (i do my own) it leaves a nice protective sheen of liquid gold on the pan. The nuts and bolts are tight and I just wipe it off with a rag.
My engine doesn't burn oil and no drips in my driveway. The dipstick still shows full after 6 months/5k miles.
So if the time comes when I am doing something major & need to drop the pan, it will get the gasket replaced. Until then, I'm leaving it alone.
#4
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Rep Power: 485 Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
dx/lx oil pan is a physical gasket. Jack up the car, drain oil, remove bolts on oil pan, drop oil pan, clean surfaces, replace gasket, reinstall stuff, torque to spec. I'm a stickler for proper torque.
ex oil pan is an RTV gasket. Same process, just "draw" the gasket on with the tube of RTV, reinstall pan, torque to spec.
$221 for an oil pan gasket? It's a few steps past an oil change, with an extra part (or materials) involved.
ex oil pan is an RTV gasket. Same process, just "draw" the gasket on with the tube of RTV, reinstall pan, torque to spec.
$221 for an oil pan gasket? It's a few steps past an oil change, with an extra part (or materials) involved.
#5
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
Labor rate multiplier is almost 2, plus the exhaust is in the way, plus materials and an oil change for good measure. I can see the price as reasonable, and in my dealers shop it would be higher than her estimate.
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Rep Power: 485 Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
I can see your point. Can't you technically squeeze it out of the way and keep the exhaust system in tact?
#7
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
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Interesting, thanks guys. I guess that I forgot to mention that this is a Vtec engine and the EX model, but don't know if it makes any difference.
#9
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
EX would have an EGR valve which would make replacing the cam plug a PITA, but IMO that doesn't make it worth $200+ by any means.
The rest of the work would be about the same.
The rest of the work would be about the same.
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Will check the oil level. We've had the car for about 700 miles now. They try to panic us sometimes, especially with us women, so "if it works, don't fix it".
I'm also wondering about that "loose tie rod". Cant it just be tightened? They didn't say "bent".
#11
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
You'd need to jack up the front end and give it a shakedown to see where the looseness is, and more inspection to see which exact part has the excessive free play.
The normal failure is wear (and thus free play or looseness) of the ball-and-socket in the joint, in the steering system on that car I'd expect it would usually be the outer tie rod end, although any of the parts can develop wear issues.
ball-and-socket applies to tie rod ends and ball joints, and on these cars the swaybar links use the same type of joints. They have to be able to move in all directions to accommodate suspension and steering movements.
So do hips and shoulders LOL
Similar:
#13
Dr Krieger of Modification
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
You could do the oil pan your self pretty easy, especially so if you already have the tools for an oil change.
basically
jack up car
drain oil
disconnect exhaust
unbolt pan
replace gasket
re-install pan
re-install exhaust
remove oil filter
replace oil filter
add oil
drop car
test filter
there's also some stuff not listed above like removing the skid plates and some mounts that attach to the oil pan, which are pretty easy.
basically
jack up car
drain oil
disconnect exhaust
unbolt pan
replace gasket
re-install pan
re-install exhaust
remove oil filter
replace oil filter
add oil
drop car
test filter
there's also some stuff not listed above like removing the skid plates and some mounts that attach to the oil pan, which are pretty easy.
#14
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You could do the oil pan your self pretty easy, especially so if you already have the tools for an oil change.
basically
jack up car
drain oil
disconnect exhaust
unbolt pan
replace gasket
re-install pan
re-install exhaust
remove oil filter
replace oil filter
add oil
drop car
test filter
there's also some stuff not listed above like removing the skid plates and some mounts that attach to the oil pan, which are pretty easy.
basically
jack up car
drain oil
disconnect exhaust
unbolt pan
replace gasket
re-install pan
re-install exhaust
remove oil filter
replace oil filter
add oil
drop car
test filter
there's also some stuff not listed above like removing the skid plates and some mounts that attach to the oil pan, which are pretty easy.
#15
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
After reading the battery terminals and then this, yeah they are charging you way too much. If you don't have any mechanical ability, now is the time to pick up some or buy another car.
#16
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
==========================
Clean battery terminals, FREE DIY if you have a wire brush (you can buy a battery terminal brush for like $2-5).
Google it, and I'm sure everyone has some baking soda laying around the kitchen. Even I have a box somewhere around here LOL
====================
Ball joint boot can be replaced by itself IF the joint is still good. HOWEVER, there are caveats that would cause one to instead replace the ball joint:
If there is any play in the joint, it needs the whole joint.
If the tech even suspects the joint may go bad soon due to dirt and water entry and loss of grease, he had better cover his *** and recommend replacing the ball joint.
IF the car has high mileage, it's gonna get a ball joint just because of age and mileage.
On top of that, it may end up needing knuckle(s) if a new joint does not fit tight enough. Honda released a service bulletin addressing this issue.
================
Oil pan reseal, price might be reasonable. IMO
BUT just how bad is the leak?
Does it leak faster than you can pour oil into it? $220.45 can buy a lot of oil.
==================
Cam plug, price is not reasonable unless the engine is equipped with an EGR valve.
If there is no EGR valve in the way, it's a $10 and 10 minute replacement DIY.
If there's an EGR valve, it becomes a huge PITA.
Clean battery terminals, FREE DIY if you have a wire brush (you can buy a battery terminal brush for like $2-5).
Google it, and I'm sure everyone has some baking soda laying around the kitchen. Even I have a box somewhere around here LOL
====================
Ball joint boot can be replaced by itself IF the joint is still good. HOWEVER, there are caveats that would cause one to instead replace the ball joint:
If there is any play in the joint, it needs the whole joint.
If the tech even suspects the joint may go bad soon due to dirt and water entry and loss of grease, he had better cover his *** and recommend replacing the ball joint.
IF the car has high mileage, it's gonna get a ball joint just because of age and mileage.
On top of that, it may end up needing knuckle(s) if a new joint does not fit tight enough. Honda released a service bulletin addressing this issue.
================
Oil pan reseal, price might be reasonable. IMO
BUT just how bad is the leak?
Does it leak faster than you can pour oil into it? $220.45 can buy a lot of oil.
==================
Cam plug, price is not reasonable unless the engine is equipped with an EGR valve.
If there is no EGR valve in the way, it's a $10 and 10 minute replacement DIY.
If there's an EGR valve, it becomes a huge PITA.
Thanks Ezone. Well I'll happily do the battery terminal myself now, and save a few bucks. Understand the baking soda thing - had high school chemistry in 1966. ;-)
Will check the oil level. We've had the car for about 700 miles now. They try to panic us sometimes, especially with us women, so "if it works, don't fix it".
I'm also wondering about that "loose tie rod". Cant it just be tightened? They didn't say "bent".
Will check the oil level. We've had the car for about 700 miles now. They try to panic us sometimes, especially with us women, so "if it works, don't fix it".
I'm also wondering about that "loose tie rod". Cant it just be tightened? They didn't say "bent".
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#20
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There must be a happy medium here. Like find a good mechanic that won't charge double?
#21
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Jeez, if I wasn't 66 and had it to do over, I'd love to learn the mechanic's trade. And it would come in as a handy skill if the global economy hits the fan, the money is no good and all we have is trade.
#23
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
And I'm female
/peeve
Plenty of men can't either.
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You're right, thank you!
AND I'm a former Electronics Research & Development Technician with an ASEET ( Associate in Science in Electronics Engineering Technology ), so I have natural technical skills.
And I don't like to use age as an excuse either. I'm 66 and am still doing martial arts, in fact I beat 5 other women ( over 40 division - green through brown belts ) in the spring tournament, in sparring.
AND I'm a former Electronics Research & Development Technician with an ASEET ( Associate in Science in Electronics Engineering Technology ), so I have natural technical skills.
And I don't like to use age as an excuse either. I'm 66 and am still doing martial arts, in fact I beat 5 other women ( over 40 division - green through brown belts ) in the spring tournament, in sparring.
#25
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Sounds like you gotta get up in there and perform DIY repairs. lol
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Nobody is super strong, and if they are, they don't fit in the tight places the engineers created. You just need the right tools and some creative thought.
Let me know when that happens. The economy is great, isn't it?
#27
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
Nobody is super strong
Later on, Archimedes stole the idea.
#28
Dr Krieger of Modification
Re: Is an oil pan gasket THAT hard to replace?
imo, and I know it's a dick move to say but
If you are not willing to take the hours and hours of time to study how to fix your own vehicle, or invest in the right tools, or bust up your hands working in tight spaces, or take the time out of your day to actually complete the task...
then you have no right to think the price of an automotive service is too high because you have no idea what is involved.
cars are a fuc-in bitch to work on, if it was easy and didn't take multiple years of studying then everyone would work on their own car; and if it's not your baby then hell ya a mechanic should charge high.
just remember if you do find cheap service it is cheap for a reason.
If you are not willing to take the hours and hours of time to study how to fix your own vehicle, or invest in the right tools, or bust up your hands working in tight spaces, or take the time out of your day to actually complete the task...
then you have no right to think the price of an automotive service is too high because you have no idea what is involved.
cars are a fuc-in bitch to work on, if it was easy and didn't take multiple years of studying then everyone would work on their own car; and if it's not your baby then hell ya a mechanic should charge high.
just remember if you do find cheap service it is cheap for a reason.
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