Off-Topic: Help with other vehicle. Please.

So I figured I would try this on here... Please don't be mad, but I'm looking for some help.

In addition to my Tacoma, I own a 2002 Saturn SC2 which has had its fair share of issues. Currently I have an issue that concerns and bewilders me, while taking time away from my Tacoma. I tried posting on the Saturn forums for help and was banned. Best part is the reason for being banned was "No reason was specified." What a supportive forum.

Anyways here's my situation...

I haven't been driving it very much since I have been driving the Taco for the winter. Last week I took it for a 150 mile drive. Once I got back, it seemed apparent there was an issue. There was oil all over the vehicle. Passenger side wheel well is coated in oil, the passenger side is speckled with oil, and the under carriage is covered from the front wheel well to the rear. I got under the vehicle and tried to figure out where it was coming from. The oil filter resides directly above the axle... no leak. After looking at it for an hour or so, I had it towed to our mechanic. A day later I call him to find out whats going on and he said they could find no problem with the vehicle. The oil was low, so he topped it off. He ran it and found no leaks. Put it on lift and found no leaks. When asked where the oil came from, he said I probably drove through it.

So here's my questions:

1. Is it possible to drive through oil and get that much on the vehicle? (Hopefully more evident from the pictures I will add later)
2. Should I get a second opinion?
3. What is the best cleaning product to remove the oil from the paint and under carriage?
4. Am I the only one that thinks this is strange and doesn't sound right?

Here's some pictures... I'll add more later.





P.S. Please don't ban me for this question. I'm just seeking help.

 

Looking at the pattern it does look like you drove through it. Its splashed towards the inside of the wheel well and covered completely directly above the tread from front to rear. If it was coming from inside the engine bay I would think there would be more of a spray pattern above the treads rather than a full coat and less towards the inside of the fender.

I am not a mechanic by trade however so who knows. If it was your car that made that mess I would expect you also to be out of oil and there would be signs of an obvious leak inside the engine compartment.

I would not sweat it and I would check your oil everytime you get done driving it for the next several trips. If all looks good don't worry about it.

So far as removing it take it to a touch-less car wash that has undercarriage coverage and go through it a couple times.

 

Which Saturn forum did you ask the question? My gf drives a 99 Saturn SL2 and the guys on SaturnFans have been a big help. That's BS!

I agree with the shop you took it to and the above.. it definitely appears you drove through a puddle of oil. It doesn't make sense how you would get the oil splashed up where it's at from the engine of the car. I've had our SL2 apart a few times now and there's nothing on the passenger side that would cause that.

 

Thanks. I was on http://www.saturnforum.com/

 

Is that oil in your wheelwell pure black? Not brown and see through like used oil, but black like tar? To me it looks like you drove through fresh pavement, like maybe they filled potholes or a trench in the road.

Smear it with your finger. If it comes off easily like water and you can see through it, it's motor oil. If its harder to smear, sticky, gooey and you can't easily see through it, it's likely tar/fresh pavement.

 

Yes I did the finger thing. It's oil. No paving here as it was below freezing last week

 

Perhaps someone less fortunate than you did lose alot of oil on the same section of road and you happened to drive through the puddle.

I agree with Matt, keep a close eye on the oil level, but otherwise if your mechanic can't find a leak, and you can't find a leak, there probably isn't a leak.

 

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on it and try to get it clean this weekend.

 

OP, I owned an SC2 previously. bought new in '98 and kept for 5 years, having never encountered anything like your scenario. agree with the others, sounds like you drove thru another source of oil not yours. either way good luck.

 

Here's the other pictures.





Thanks again everyone. Little more confident in the vehicle now.

 

Maybe someday I'll pay off the Taco and replace the Saturn, but for now looks like it'll live.

 

Methinks you have a good mechanic. I agree with him.

 

X2