maxinout93

I don't know if I'd go thru all that, but I took a look at the dipstick and there was some thickness that was dark colored and the oil seemed a but runny like light brown oil but watery texture. I took off the oil cap and looks like sort of a soot color on some parts of the valve cover like sumthing got really hot in there. But what puzzles me is it still starts up.

DougR

Oil floats on water. It appears you have two distinct textures on the dipstick. "A light brown oil but watery texture" would be primarily water that settles to the bottom of the oil-coolant-water slurry. This component is mostly water and any water soluble chemicals that result in a light brown color. Water is a very poor lubricant. Engine bearings are not protected, resulting in direct metal to metal contact between the bearings and a steel or aluminum journal, specifically the crankshaft, engine block or cylinder head. "...some thickness that is dark colored" is oil mixed with soluble components of antifreeze. It forms a viscous mixture that is difficult to pump and does not lubricate well. When the engine is running, the oil-water-antifreeze mixture quickly heats up above 212 F at which point, water begins turning into steam, a highly reactive gas that rapidly rusts steel, erodes the engine bearings, dissolves sludge baked onto internal surfaces and redeposits it on the valve covers and oil cap. Water in the oil also explains the steam you observed when you removed the oil cap (as described in your original post). The engine still starts up, however total engine failure is eminent. It could fail in 1 mile or 50 miles, depending on how much water is in the oil. You have confirmed coolant leaked into the engine oil.

I suggest you call the shop that installed the second water pump and tell them the symptoms in this order (or you can write down the following and take it to the shop manager). You added coolant when the level was low. While driving on a freeway, the engine made a rattling sound. Car would not accelerate. You slowed down and oil light came on. You shut off engine, opened oil cap and steam came out. Parked car and came back later to pull the dipstick. You found a dark colored thick substance on part of the dipstick and a watery light colored substance on the rest of the dipstick. The water pump has leaked coolant into the engine oil and damaged the engine. Your shop installed the water pump about 2-3 weeks ago. Report back on their response.

maxinout93

ok i finally got the car to the shop, had to be towed about 50 miles from where it broke down. According to them yes the engine is bad, and so they say the engine is bad due to the last water pump having some type of metal shavings. Now to my knowledge they changed the water pump and gave me the old one as well as the old chain tensioner, no one said anything about any metal shavings then. And the pump was changed because it was leaking bad. Now the guy says the engine will have to be replaced which i already knew, and they were sopposed to call me today, but i havent heard from them.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

I think it's pretty obvious the water pump was installed wrong. They probably ripped the O ring installing it (very easy b/c fit is tight to get it into position), then coolant leaked into oil. This shavings crap is made up bull****. That's 100% impossible and fabricated story. They're bad liars and are seeing if you're stupid enough to believe some cockamamie story.

I hope you took an oil sample and recorded everything. Tell them you know coolant is in the oil, b/c they installed it wrong and you want a new ****ing engine.

DougR

Is the car at the same shop who put in the second (most recent) water pump? If so, I hope you still have your receipt for repair. If yes to both, then they are liable for replacing or repairing the engine IF they messed up the water pump installation. They are also liable for towing costs. Let's call them the "We Mess Up Auto Repair"

The metal shavings story has to be false. The water pump consists of these parts … an exposed impeller (engine coolant side), a shaft, a sealed bearing assembly and a gear (engine oil side). A chain drives the gear, turns the shaft, spins the impeller, which pumps the coolant. I've never heard of a water pump releasing metal shavings into the engine oil (in 45+ years of experience). Child Korn is correct. Obviously, they are not owning up to what happened. I suspect they will give you the run around and deny responsibility in an effort to make you go away. This makes it difficult to determine responsibility and receive restitution.

I think you'll have to take the car to another shop for a written second opinion. Do you have a reputable shop nearby? Let's call this shop "Honest Abe Auto Repair". Before you take the car to Honest Abe, I think you should briefly tell them what has happened. Ask what it would take to determine if the other shop is at fault. The root cause has to be determined. Was the o-ring cut upon installation? (The most likely cause.) Or did something else happen that may indicate We Mess Up Auto Repair is not responsible (Much less likely but still a slight possibility). You need an expert willing to "testify" on your behalf. I would ask Honest Abe Auto Repair what assistance (if any) they can offer to help you resolve this issue with the other shop. If they don't want to get involved, you'll have to find another shop for a second opinion. The second opinion shop must be willing to follow through to resolution. I think they will want to pull out the water pump (to verify a cut o-ring) and then they must be willing to help you mediate with the We Mess Up shop and they must also be willing to offer sworn testimony or a sworn statement in the event your case ends up in small claims court.

If you can get a free 30 minute consultation with a lawyer that handles this type of claim, that would be helpful, to verify what I've suggested.

maxinout93

Pretty good advice guys and I will look into it, and yes I still have the receipt for the installation.