[V8] Oil Seals

[Coleman, David]

> ... So, I let them do the work that I couldn't be 
> bothered with - RMS.

Welcome aboard Ron!  Hang around for a while and you'll probably start to see the frivolty of this issue, as Camrys these cars ain't.

>From my backyard, it sounds like you'd have a microscopic case if you hadn't taken the car back and done what you could (valve covers) and returned for just the RMS.  But only microscopic -- At best you should be at the front of the line for getting back in the shop to continue the repair process.

It rubs me the wrong way that the guy blamed the crankcase pressure or whatever, rather than saying, "whelp, the valve covers must not have been the only source of the leak up front.  Do we keep going?"  If the customer (you) doesn't understand the unique difficulty in diagnosing this sort of thing, it's likely not the type of customer the shop wants anyway.  OTOH, the shop would go bankrupt in a week waiting around for customers of such understanding.

Having BTDT on several early Jags, know that multiple oil leaks are diagnosed and repaired two ways:

(1) Fix what you know is leaking, thoroughly wash the motor top and bottom, kill whatever electrical gremlin you awoke by washing, and wait for another leak to surface.  Repeat.  Of course, washing a V8's motor is practically dumb, let alone futile in this case due to the t-belt cover.
OR
(2) Remove motor, replace every dang seal there is at once.  Pray nothing leaks.  Charge a year's worth of A4 payments.

For the record, I did #2 above on my car (with help), and the motor's FINALLY dry.  Of course the hydraulic system promptly sprung a new leak -- so it's like shovelling sand with a pitchfork anyway.

Save your "fury" for cases of gross negligence or the Super Bowl, and wait for your t-belt to need replacing.  If this guy was able to R&R a V8's trans without incident, perhaps he's a candidate for the belt job as well... perhaps.  Don't burn a bridge.

My friendly yet candid $8.19

-DaveC.
'91 V8 5M