I'll just cut to the chase here, it was an unavoidable incident.

Like the title states, I took a pretty big hit to the guard bar in front of the oil pan last Friday. I get home last night and I notice a couple of oil spots where I park.

So, I jack her up and drop the plastic guard to inspect. There is a small amount of oil; it's a nice coating on the pan and the plastic guard. But to put it in perspective, my oil level is right on the money, so it really isn't that much.

The oil pan doesn't have a single mark on it! Not a scuff, scratch, dent, etc...NOTHING.

So where did this oil come from? I'm picking up a new plastic guard today and I'm going to clean everything up real good so that I can tell if I have a leak.

My question I guess is, even though there was zero physical damage to the pan, could the impact have warped it? I mean, that bar is there to protect it, and if an impact to the bar causes the pan to warp, it's not doing a very good job protecting it...OR, could the impact have cause enough stress to allow oil to leak from somewhere temporarily (during the impact).

Sincerely

Bummed the fauck out in Virginia

 

Anybody?

 

Don't freak out. Shiit happens.

Cleanse the area the around the oil pan thoroughly. Then examine it to see if any leaks are occurring.

Provide pictures if you need more help, or just take it to the stealership.

 

ya, kinda hard to tell with out getting in there and really cleaning everything up.

if you dont have a dent or anything on the pan you more than likely dont have a leak from it. i highy doubt the pan can warp. its attached to a pretty hefty lower pan.

let us know what you find?

-j

 

Thanks guys, I'm going to clean it up good after I put the new plastic guard. I'll take pics of the damage.

 

double post

 

Be careful..that oil had to come from somewhere.

 

LOL, Obviously it did come from somehere, I just don't know where, yet, but I am keeping a close eye on spotting and oil levels. It was a pretty hard impact.

 

From what I saw yesterday, the position of the oil relative to the overall oil pan, I think its coming from the seal between the lower pan (black pan) and the upper pan (aluminum pan). I just don't understand how if there was no physical impact to the actual oil pan.

 

clean it off and dust a bunch of flower on it (the stuff u bake with). if the leak starts up again, it will be easy to trace back on the flower

 

Aweseom Idea!!!!!!!! Thank you so much.

 

either that, or your engine will have baked you an Oil Souffle!

 

This guard bar you keep refering to... That is not there to protect the oil pan. Its the sway bar.


edit: unless the HR's have some sort of guard the DE's dont.

 

just leave it and file a oil consumtion defect!!!

 

that would be good......if there was oil consumption on the HR.

+1 to the souffle

 

You are right, it is the sway bar. I noticed that last night when I got under her and got a better look at everything. It does also act as a guard bar for the bottom of the oil pan. But all is ok with the sway bar.

UPDATE: So I picked up the plastic skid plate, took the old one out and cleaned everywhere, which wasn't much cause it is a small leak. So small in fact, that after cleaning the area I started her up and let her run for about 15min while every once in while holding her a 5k (110 oil psi). I could NOT get her to leak.

But, after driving her a few places last night and one sprint at WOT in first and 2nd the oil has returned. It's not much, but it’s behind the oil pan where the last two screws are for the plastic skid plate. I haven't had a chance to take plate off again yet, not till this afternoon, but the oil is coming somewhere from behind the oil pan. It’s not physically on the oil pan, just on the plastic skid plate, that last little bit where the back two screws are, motor side obviously.

As much as I don't want to say this, do you guys think it may be the rear main seal? I'm actually going to call my friends shop today and have them put it on the lift today or tomorrow.

 

Well, I called my insurance and filed a claim for what happened. Wish I could have fixed this myself but I believe it’s a little beyond my powers.

There goes my accident free discount and you can surely bet my premium will be going up next time around. Oh well, at least everything will be fixed properly (the brighter side of things)

So, since this was "my fault" and doesn't fall under warranty work, and my car is under warranty, am I obligated to have the dealership fix it or can I have my insurance select service fix it?

 

?
I would have just taken it to a shop and gotten it fixed. Why the insurance?

 

Cause I can bet you anything theres over 5k in damage. We'll see. Insurance cause I only pay a $250 deductible. vs. $$$$$

 

5k in damage man, I would have expected you to have nailed a deer head on to rack up a bill of 5k. You never did tell us what you did hit, all you state is "I took a pretty big hit to the oil pan". I can guarantee you do not have 5k of damage if your only getting small small small small amounts of oil after a few WOT sprints. I would have taken it to a shop and received a professional opinion before getting insurance involved. My personnel opinion, keep us updated with the bill and if you do have a 5k repair bill then I am completely amazed. Did you drive the Z off a cliff and land directly on the oil pan? lol...