Hi Guys

Now - from being on here for a time, I do know that the 3.5's can and do give trouble with engine oil leaks. Now - I'm seriously thinking about this Verada - and the owner claimed to have done BOTH the rocker cover and plug seal gaskets?

But I had a mechanic do an inspection on Thursday (I'm 3.5 hours away) and he found a fair bit of leaking as shown in the shots HERE. (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/stevegask/slideshow/Verada)

One shot in particular looks like fairly fresh oil to me - yet he says that its old oil leak evidence?

Other things noted in the report were front tyres down to 20%, rear brake pads legal but getting down and windscreen chips. Would love your feedback?

Steve

Linky no worky

My feedback would be to offer the guy a ridiculously low amount and if he takes it, you'll probably find other things wrong with it because if it looks like it's leaking it probably is and if he's lieing about that what else isn't he telling you, so if/when you purchase be prepared to sink an instant couple grand on it to bring it up to reasonable standards

Could be a classic case of over-torqueing the rocker cover bolts, or even worse some bozo has used gasket sealant.
Shouldn't be hard to check, just get the mechanic to whip off the front bank rocker cover and have a looksee, and a 'feel' of how tight the bolts are.

Link works now,

Did the guy degrease the engine before and after the work?
I always give mine a good degrease before and after. He may have done the top, but not under the car.

so if/when you purchase be prepared to sink an instant couple grand on it to bring it up to reasonable standards

OUCH! Thankfully the inspection highlighted most of the things that need attention; so I'd pretty well be going into the deal "eyes wide open". However, I realise - there's still no 100% guarantee; even with an inspection.

Steve

Could be a classic case of over-torqueing the rocker cover bolts, or even worse some bozo has used gasket sealant. Shouldn't be hard to check, just get the mechanic to whip off the front bank rocker cover and have a looksee, and a 'feel' of how tight the bolts are.

Hey Tree - we're up to Season 5 of Breakin' Bad - loving it! :woot:

Anyway - the (rather expensive) mechanic has been and gone now and I'm not sure that I want to spend more than I have to date. Maybe - I use that info to get him to get it fixed before renegotiating his selling price.

Cheers

Steve

Did the guy degrease the engine before and after the work? I always give mine a good degrease before and after. He may have done the top, but not under the car.

He says that he left it on purpose - so that a buyer would see that he wasn't hiding anything? Maybe - maybe not?

Steve

Leaving it hides the new leaks, degreasing it allows me to see if and where things need re doing and if there are other leaks present elsewhere

Leaving it hides the new leaks, degreasing it allows me to see if and where things need re doing and if there are other leaks present elsewhere

Great point! I have asked him to degrease it - and check - and if he cannot establish where its from to get a written quote.

Steve

Hey Tree - we're up to Season 5 of Breakin' Bad - loving it! :woot:

Anyway - the (rather expensive) mechanic has been and gone now and I'm not sure that I want to spend more than I have to date. Maybe - I use that info to get him to get it fixed before renegotiating his selling price.

Cheers

Steve


Steve,


You're the first one to comment on my new avatar.
It's coz after watching every episode of Breaking Bad while on four weeks leave, and I never shave while on leave, but I needed to do something to tidy up the unsightly face fungus mess, I decided a 'half shave' going for the Heisenberg look was the way to go.
I've had the right glasses and the right shades for ages (fit overs), just need to find the right hat - black pork pie with black satin trim.
But I'm baulking at going all the way and shaving the bonce, I still have a pretty good head of hair for an old fart.

Oil all down the front of the engine and on the exhaust system is classic leaking rocker covers, some of it looks like it has been there for a long time.
Worth buying? Don't know, depends on km, price and your inclination.

Looks like my verada except mine is lower and has a sunroof and a couple of extras :) I'm with MadMax all depends on price etc

But I'm baulking at going all the way and shaving the bonce, I still have a pretty good head of hair for an old fart.

Can't say I blame ya really - mind you nature is slowly forcing it on me I think! :kb:

Steve

Oil all down the front of the engine and on the exhaust system is classic leaking rocker covers, some of it looks like it has been there for a long time. Worth buying? Don't know, depends on km, price and your inclination.

Yeah - well he did say that it had happened a while back and been repaired (new gaskets). I'm guessing that something has gone wrong with the gasket tensioning - or as someone suggested; Silastic may have been used?

It has around 180K on it and I may be able to get it around the low $4000's. I like Magnas - so I guess that answers the inclination part? :happy:

Steve

Just get the engine cleaned, no one can tell what is going on with all that old oil there. Once cleaned then you will see if anything done

Also if gaskets were done at least the rocker covers and bolts would be clean even if lower parts were not cleaned. Remember most doing gaskets including us do not generally clean the rest of the motor as under EPA rules you can not let this oily water and crap go into storm water thus you need to be set up to clean motors such as the case with car detailers

Just get the engine cleaned, no one can tell what is going on with all that old oil there. Once cleaned then you will see if anything done

Thanks Mal. Do you not feel (as I do) that the pictures look to show fresh oil leaks? He said he repaired quite a while back - but I think I can see what appears to be oil movement; which would suggest fresh leaking? The picture showing the oil filter in particular looks to show this movement IMO? Also the inspection mechanic said that he smelt burning oil when he returned from his road-test and the oil on the exhaust pipe does look wet and fresh.

Cheers

Steve

Its hard to tell for sure from the pictures as when looking at these things you need to move your head around to see the fresh oil due to the angle of the light. However there doesn't appear to be any drips of oil at the low points so couldn't be too bad of leak.

Any used car is a gamble, this one is no different. (Then again, a new one can be too.)

Expect to have to do a fair bit of work on this one.

Buy the car, clean it up, fix any leaks you find. simple.

Then again, $4K is a bit of an ask.

Expect to have to do a fair bit of work on this one.

Are you basing that off distance travelled?


Then again, $4K is a bit of an ask.

Curious now - he seems really solid at $4K too - what would you expect to pay??

Cheers

Steve

Are you basing that off distance travelled?
Curious now - he seems really solid at $4K too - what would you expect to pay??

Cheers

Steve

Of course I'm basing it on km, seeing i haven't eyeballed or driven the car. lol

"expect to pay" . . . . very subjective, but you must realise that $4K + $2K for a cam belt/water pump change + brakes, exhaust, suspension etc puts you in the financial territory of something much younger and lower km needing minimal work.
Hell, if you really want the car, offer him $2K or just leave your phone number without any offer, and walk away.
He's not desperate to sell, but you seem desperate to buy. You need to wait until the situation is reversed. lol

"expect to pay" . . . . very subjective, but you must realise that $4K + $2K for a cam belt/water pump change + brakes, exhaust, suspension etc puts you in the financial territory of something much younger and lower km needing minimal work. Hell, if you really want the car, offer him $2K or just leave your phone number without any offer, and walk away. He's not desperate to sell, but you seem desperate to buy. You need to wait until the situation is reversed. lol

Hey Madmax - sure the price question was subjective - that's why I was asking for your and other opinions? :kb:

The timing belt (and pump) has been done so I wasn't expecting to be up for that. Exhaust was OK'd by the mechanic, rear brakes soonish - front OK, suspension came up OK in the test at this point. Can't afford to go too much higher than where I'm at. Besides - I've looked around and there are lots of higher Km cars for similar money and no super bargains with low Kms?

Anyway - just for your info; I'm not desperate to buy? I've have already paid to have two mechanical inspections on cars where I have just walked away. On this one the guy has been a bit of a fusspot on servicing and I like that. BUT - will I buy a LEMON - big fat NO - that's why I paid someone again to go and give it a 250 point check for me.

Cheers

Steve

Hey Madmax - sure the price question was subjective - that's why I was asking for your and other opinions? :kb:


Fair enough. I'm not in the market for a Magna, so I'm not even going to guess what I'd pay for one. If he put a$5 price on it I still wouldn't be interested.
I guess "subjective" really means:
- what do YOU think is a fair price?
- what else is available in your part of the world, in the same condition and price range?

Fair enough. I'm not in the market for a Magna, so I'm not even going to guess what I'd pay for one. If he put a$5 price on it I still wouldn't be interested. I guess "subjective" really means:
- what do YOU think is a fair price?
- what else is available in your part of the world, in the same condition and price range?

I joined this forum because of the collective wisdom on here and to date - I have learnt a great deal - enough for me to filter through the BS that some sellers or dealers use. BUT I am still no expert - in fact - way off - hence the questions.

When you ask for advice (in some cases) ....... well let's just say it can be seen as a sign of weakness. But I am mature enough to take the risk; since I certainly don't have all the answers relating to Magnas and their particular issues and even pricing queries?

For what it's worth:


I love driving our TJ wagon.
I know how much I have to spend.
I know that I generally get a whole lot more car for my money with a Magna.
Heck I don't even like much of the competition.


So - I'll continue to hunt for opportunities and maybe even negotiate with this guy further if that's the way it goes. But there's no hurry - I have transport and can wait. Further questions are very likely though.

Cheers

Steve

That is really amusing! Because fixing a leak and cleaning up the mess made by the leak is no where close to hiding anything. Either a high level of stupidity or a high level of BS! Naturally he has to prove this is old oil (by getting it cleaned) or suffer in how much he is getting for the car. It doesnt look obviously fresh though. Either way, if youre handy... its an easy and fairly cheap fix. Even with installing some iridium plugs.
Good luck Steve

Curious now - he seems really solid at $4K too - what would you expect to pay??

Cheers

Steve

I paid $2800 for a TJ1 (6/2001) with 158 on the clock, mags, tints, lowered, new rubber (although cheap rubber) and 4 months rego.
So far, have changed oil and filter (normal) flushed tranny,(was running on molasses) changed front rotors (undersized) and pads. Had to fit new muffler due to speed hump at Maccas. (my fault)..Apart from that, Ive driven it up to 171,000k and no issues that have made me regret it. Not a scratch on it. Same colour (and mags) as sheeza (above). Only problem is manual window winders, but that dont make the car stop !