My car needs a new alternator and an oil pan gasket (there's a leak in it), today i can only fix one, which one is the most important, i wont be able to fix the next problem until the 1st of Jan 08....Please HELP!!!
2007-12-17 06:32:00 · 11 answers · asked by aloha1782 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Cant drive the car without an alternator, if you dont do it you may to pay for a tow. A leak isnt as serious, unless it pours out. Just keep an eye on the oil level.
Have them check and make sure the pan threads are OK as well. Would hate to see ya pay to get that done and find out a month later you should have got a new pan as well.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
2007-12-17 06:37:00 · answer #1 · answered by mishi h 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What kind of car is this????? There's a good chance that all you really need to do to your oil pan is to tighten the bolts, not replace the gasket. Your car can run if the leak isn't too bad, but it cannot run without a functioning alternator.. Also. shampoo your engine compartment at a do-it-yourself car wash to physically see the damage. Sometimes what happens is that the valve cover gasket is the real problem and needs to be tightened or replaced. When this baby leaks it can drip oil into your alternator causing the contacts to slip or the diode plate to wear out. Sometimes just power steaming the junk from the alternator will get it to work again,. Try Gunk engine spray, regular.
2007-12-17 07:15:26 · answer #2 · answered by Robert M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd hafta say that the alternator is much more important (unless the oil is leaking so much that you can't put a quart of oil in every week or so). Without the alternator you can't keep the battery charged and flat out won't be able to go anywhere.
I know people that have lived with a leaking pan gasket for a couple years...not really cool to leave your oil mark on everyone's driveway...but when in a financial bind ya gotta choose one over the other.
Hope that helps.
That's my .02, your mileage may vary, objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are...
2007-12-17 06:38:28 · answer #3 · answered by LongBen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes fix the alternator first, you can always keep adding oil. Let me ask this, how do you know your alternator is bad? Have it tested before you change it. The problem may be somewhere else in the charging system, like dirty battery post's or a bad battery. just thought I would throw that out there good luck
2007-12-17 06:39:04 · answer #4 · answered by last time I try 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would take care of the alternator problem first. Then try tightening the oil pan.
2007-12-17 06:44:47 · answer #5 · answered by jamzm2002 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Replace Alt Watch oil closely
2007-12-17 06:37:45 · answer #6 · answered by shazaamazam 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
And oil leak (as long as it isn't a huge leak) can wait. You can continue to just add oil for now.
If your alternator fails, a fixed oil pan won't do you any good.
Go for the alternator.
Good Luck.
2007-12-17 06:36:12 · answer #7 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Keep an eye on your oil level and get the alt. fixed. The oil pan gskt. will be more expensive to fix but can wait for a while.
2007-12-17 06:38:14 · answer #8 · answered by orangecrush 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well Patrick there are many other places the oil can be coming from, If you feel its starting out up high you may have a rear cam/rocker shaft seal going its a common thing. Usually it can be stopped by simply tightening the bolts.
2016-04-10 04:30:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to fix the oil sump with gasket sealant .
It will cost one hours work plus the sealant about £1.50
job done .
2007-12-17 06:58:28 · answer #10 · answered by keith p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋