Oil cause alternator failure?
#1
Oil cause alternator failure?
First, thanks to all those who helped me diagnose my alternator issue. (Charged, wouldn't charge, had "10 minute delay" charge, etc.).
Here's my question: when I was visiting family over Christmas I had a reputable shop replace the clutch, and while they had it told them to replace the leaking front valve cover gasket. Clutch is great, but whoever did the valve cover gasket missed a chunk of OEM silicone, and unbeknownst to me at the time, was pouring a fine stream of oil out - passenger side, directly above alternator. I went to swap out the alternator today and see that it's caked with oil/grime, especially the connector.
I'm wondering - I know alternators are pretty tough, but could THIS have caused my failure? Just curious if I should try to have the shop eat the cost. Now, before you get all gung-ho and have me trying to own the place, let me say it's the original alternator, with 243,000 miles on it. (Clutch was original, too, same mileage...gotta love a Max that lasts!).
Thanks,
Jack
Here's my question: when I was visiting family over Christmas I had a reputable shop replace the clutch, and while they had it told them to replace the leaking front valve cover gasket. Clutch is great, but whoever did the valve cover gasket missed a chunk of OEM silicone, and unbeknownst to me at the time, was pouring a fine stream of oil out - passenger side, directly above alternator. I went to swap out the alternator today and see that it's caked with oil/grime, especially the connector.
I'm wondering - I know alternators are pretty tough, but could THIS have caused my failure? Just curious if I should try to have the shop eat the cost. Now, before you get all gung-ho and have me trying to own the place, let me say it's the original alternator, with 243,000 miles on it. (Clutch was original, too, same mileage...gotta love a Max that lasts!).
Thanks,
Jack
#3
#4
as far as i remember oil damages the lacquer around the copper windings. every single wire in that ball of winding is separated from eachother with that lacquer
#5
my first alty had 221,000 miles on it and was soaked in oil. did'nt do anything until 1 day she just up and died. have had 2 napa alternators since and i put a piece of roofing shingle that i cut and wrapped around compressor line for ac and bent it under tc to keep from killing off my 2nd alty. works like a charm!!
#7
As for fixing the oil leaks, well first - the Max is, unfortunately, known for this problem. In my particular case, it was fixing the leak that worsened the problem. Okay, to be fair, it wasn't fixing the leak that was the problem, it was trusting that someone at a shop could be trusted to do what *I* should have done.
At any rate, the alternator's dead at 243,000...and I figure I got my money's worth, so enough said.
Thanks guys,
Jack
#8
The oil clogs up the brush holder assembly causing them to not make contact it also causes the carbon to build up around the slip rings causing them to short.the actual windings of the rotor and stator are not effected by oil as they are epoxy encapsulated and also have a heavy varnish rated upto 500*f the oil will also affect the rubber seals on the DE and SRE bearings causing them to swell and sling the grease out and fail.
#9
#10
thanks for clearing it up, always thought the lacquer was affected
#11
Oil leaking on alternator
I saw Max Ride's solution; it is similar to what I have planned to do. Except I was thinking of aluminum roof flashing. After a quick look I wonder how and what to attach this gizmo to? I have also considered spraying degreaser right into the alternator and giving it a good cleaning when it starts to look heavily oiled. I've replaced two alternator's in 122,000 miles. The first one was warentied, this one is not because pep boys caught on to the leaking/alternator relationship. We've had this Maxima 16 years and right after we bought it my wife became totally disabled. I don't foresee us buying another car. Uhh, my other car is a 1974 Triumph TR6 which isn't working and my son has a 2000 Subaru 2.5 RS with a badly BLOWN engine. I'm 65. Thanks for any help.
#12
Also don't you forget to tighten the exhaust manifold, after i changed alt and my vc gaskets i still had a oily residue from exhaust gases on the corner where the two lil brackets mouts the alt onto the engine ,which lead me to change the manifold gaskets (oem).
If i had searched i could have saved me some labor
If i had searched i could have saved me some labor
Last edited by nestorlugo; 05-13-2014 at 10:50 AM.
#14
Oil on alternator, just had mine rebuild
I didn’t go through all the comment on this thread, I’ll just say that oil will ruin the alternator and according to the person who rebuilt mine water will also ruin it. Mine I believe went out because of oil, I think I failed to push the dipstick all the way in and oil leaked from there on the alternator that is just below.
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