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timing chain cover oil leak
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Nich
New User
Apr 27, 2012, 2:38 PM
Post #1 of 2
(2512 views)
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timing chain cover oil leak
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OK. I'm fighting with a local shop's insurance company. I had a water pump, timing chain, and guides replaced. After the repair I found that a bolt had been left out of the timing chain cover. It was one of the lower bolts behind the harmonic balancer. It's pretty obvious what happened, they didn't spin the engine to reveal the other bolt hole. Before the bolt was replaced the check oil light had come on, and at the time the bolt was replaced the engine had run low on oil for the second time. A short time after the bolt was replaced the engine started knocking. The shop wouldn't do anything for me, so I went to their corporate office. They turned the matter over to their insurance Co. Now the insurance company's "independent" inspector says that one bolt missing from the timing chain cover is not enough to cause an oil leak that would amount to anything. "One missing bolt wouldn't amount to a leak capable of reducing the engine oil by by even one quart in a month. The seal for the timing chain is just too good even with one bolt missing for it to matter." I saw the leak, I experienced the leak, and now they are basically telling me that it was all a figment of my imagination. "It just couldn't happen." I don't have any knowledge base to draw from for this situation, and even the shop I took it to is siding with them. Initially they seemed to be siding with me saying that it was possible, and now it's as if I'm dealing with different people. It really feels like the insurance company got to them some how. Like paid them off or something. I'm guessing it's not a conspiracy, but they have done a 180 from how they were talking when I approached them with the car in the first place. How do I fight this inspector's report, and get them to make it right? I know the leak was there, but how do I prove it? I've tried searches for similar situations, but it's my guess that not many mechanics are careless enough to just have an extra part and say "Oh well."
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 27, 2012, 2:53 PM
Post #2 of 2
(2486 views)
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Re: timing chain cover oil leak
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If you want to fight it and prove the leak is there put a bottle of UV dye in the oil. Its available at any parts store. Run the motor and use a black light to look at the engine while you video it. Have the whole area cleaned off with brakleen before you start so it is dry. With the black light and a running motor you will see easily where its coming out and how fast. The dye makes the oil glow under UV rays.
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