Toyota Avalon puddle of oil

I don't drive my 2001 Avalon often because it is a rattle box. But it was
out of the garage today so I could blow the garage dust into the neighbors
yard (just kidding). Anyway I discover a good size puddle of fresh clean
oil on the garage floor where the Avalon sits. Oil was changed maybe 6
weeks ago at the idiot dealership in Raleigh. I go there so I have receipts
for when the engine sludges up. Anyway I check all fluids and everything is
up to level. I let the engine run for a while and check underneath for oil
but there is no sign of a leak at all. So I have only 2 theories. One is
that there was a leak after the oil change and it sealed itself.... highly
unlikely. The other is that the dealer poured fresh oil someplace on the
chasis and it drained onto the garage floor. Also unlikely because the
dealership is at least 12 miles away and that is assuming I came straight
home from it which I doubt. Any other theories?

Art, our 98 fairly often and the 02 maybe once a year, will dribble a bit
of oil after the dealers change it. Apparently some of them are a slightly
clumsy when dropping oil or filter and get some in the chassis. I griped
about it and it stopped in the 98 but has only happened a couple of times in
the 02.

I never really paid too much attention if it is dirty. I have it done
3000/3 month interval with "lifetime" changes. It hardly gets discolored.
I use castrol 5-30 by the way.

Ron

I am betting this was 3 or 4 ounces of oil. It was a thick puddle about 6
inches wide. Every see that much after a sloppy oil change and driving 12
miles from the dealer? If yes, I can rest easy tonight.


"ron" <randus3remove@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:zyH4e.17868$zl.12599@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...[color=blue]
> Art, our 98 fairly often and the 02 maybe once a year, will dribble a bit
> of oil after the dealers change it. Apparently some of them are a
> slightly clumsy when dropping oil or filter and get some in the chassis.
> I griped about it and it stopped in the 98 but has only happened a couple
> of times in the 02.
>
> I never really paid too much attention if it is dirty. I have it done
> 3000/3 month interval with "lifetime" changes. It hardly gets discolored.
> I use castrol 5-30 by the way.
>
> Ron
>[/color]

In article <moH4e.1544$sp3.894@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> I don't drive my 2001 Avalon often because it is a rattle box. But it was
> out of the garage today so I could blow the garage dust into the neighbors
> yard (just kidding). Anyway I discover a good size puddle of fresh clean
> oil on the garage floor where the Avalon sits. Oil was changed maybe 6
> weeks ago at the idiot dealership in Raleigh. I go there so I have receipts
> for when the engine sludges up. Anyway I check all fluids and everything is
> up to level. I let the engine run for a while and check underneath for oil
> but there is no sign of a leak at all. So I have only 2 theories. One is
> that there was a leak after the oil change and it sealed itself.... highly
> unlikely. The other is that the dealer poured fresh oil someplace on the
> chasis and it drained onto the garage floor. Also unlikely because the
> dealership is at least 12 miles away and that is assuming I came straight
> home from it which I doubt. Any other theories?[/color]

did you check to make sure they 1. reinstalled the oil pan drain plug,
( I doubt you would have made it home if they had not)? 2. remembered
to reinstall the oil filler cap (you surely would have smelled somthing
on the way home). They might have also spilled some oil on the engine
and it took awhile for it to reach the ground, but I doubt it. The
other idea is that you don't drive it much so the seals are drying up
and leaking oil all over the place. Are you sure it's motor oil?
--

Yes to all.


"tz" <nospam@sp`am.com> wrote in message
news:nospam-91C9F4.05014006042005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=blue]
> In article <moH4e.1544$sp3.894@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
> "Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I don't drive my 2001 Avalon often because it is a rattle box. But it
>> was
>> out of the garage today so I could blow the garage dust into the
>> neighbors
>> yard (just kidding). Anyway I discover a good size puddle of fresh clean
>> oil on the garage floor where the Avalon sits. Oil was changed maybe 6
>> weeks ago at the idiot dealership in Raleigh. I go there so I have
>> receipts
>> for when the engine sludges up. Anyway I check all fluids and everything
>> is
>> up to level. I let the engine run for a while and check underneath for
>> oil
>> but there is no sign of a leak at all. So I have only 2 theories. One
>> is
>> that there was a leak after the oil change and it sealed itself....
>> highly
>> unlikely. The other is that the dealer poured fresh oil someplace on the
>> chasis and it drained onto the garage floor. Also unlikely because the
>> dealership is at least 12 miles away and that is assuming I came straight
>> home from it which I doubt. Any other theories?[/color]
>
> did you check to make sure they 1. reinstalled the oil pan drain plug,
> ( I doubt you would have made it home if they had not)? 2. remembered
> to reinstall the oil filler cap (you surely would have smelled somthing
> on the way home). They might have also spilled some oil on the engine
> and it took awhile for it to reach the ground, but I doubt it. The
> other idea is that you don't drive it much so the seals are drying up
> and leaking oil all over the place. Are you sure it's motor oil?
> --
>[/color]

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 15:07:45 GMT, "Art"
<begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Yes to all.
>[/color]

I wonder if it could be someone at the dealership getting back at ya
for your lousy attitude?

Sorta like what happens to your meal when you gripe about it in a
restaurant??


--
Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
news:ksv751d1f4e90uhk015nbu21ogqf8e7q74@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 15:07:45 GMT, "Art"
> <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Yes to all.
>>[/color]
>
> I wonder if it could be someone at the dealership getting back at ya
> for your lousy attitude?
>
> Sorta like what happens to your meal when you gripe about it in a
> restaurant??[/color]

This you must know from experience. LOL
[color=blue]
>
>
> --
> Scott in Florida[/color]

Tape some newspaper on the garage floor and park your car so you know
exactly where the front on the oil pan is relative to the front edge of the
newspaper. Wait for oil to appear on the newspaper. At least you'll have an
idea from where the oil is dripping. It could be a gasket, seal or sloppy
filter change. The drip location should help determine what it's from.

"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:moH4e.1544$sp3.894@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
> I don't drive my 2001 Avalon often because it is a rattle box. But it was
> out of the garage today so I could blow the garage dust into the neighbors
> yard (just kidding). Anyway I discover a good size puddle of fresh clean
> oil on the garage floor where the Avalon sits. Oil was changed maybe 6
> weeks ago at the idiot dealership in Raleigh. I go there so I have[/color]
receipts[color=blue]
> for when the engine sludges up. Anyway I check all fluids and everything[/color]
is[color=blue]
> up to level. I let the engine run for a while and check underneath for[/color]
oil[color=blue]
> but there is no sign of a leak at all. So I have only 2 theories. One is
> that there was a leak after the oil change and it sealed itself.... highly
> unlikely. The other is that the dealer poured fresh oil someplace on the
> chasis and it drained onto the garage floor. Also unlikely because the
> dealership is at least 12 miles away and that is assuming I came straight
> home from it which I doubt. Any other theories?
>
>[/color]

Personally, I'd make sure the filter was tight. Can you
relate the drip location to the car?

Ed

Art wrote:[color=blue]
>
> I am betting this was 3 or 4 ounces of oil. It was a thick puddle about 6
> inches wide. Every see that much after a sloppy oil change and driving 12
> miles from the dealer? If yes, I can rest easy tonight.
>
> "ron" <randus3remove@pacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:zyH4e.17868$zl.12599@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...[color=green]
> > Art, our 98 fairly often and the 02 maybe once a year, will dribble a bit
> > of oil after the dealers change it. Apparently some of them are a
> > slightly clumsy when dropping oil or filter and get some in the chassis.
> > I griped about it and it stopped in the 98 but has only happened a couple
> > of times in the 02.
> >
> > I never really paid too much attention if it is dirty. I have it done
> > 3000/3 month interval with "lifetime" changes. It hardly gets discolored.
> > I use castrol 5-30 by the way.
> >
> > Ron
> >[/color][/color]

C. E. White <cewhite3@nospam.com> top posted like a moron and wrote:[color=blue]
> Personally, I'd make sure the filter was tight. Can you
> relate the drip location to the car?[/color]

He should mark the tires when he parks it next. Then, when he moves, he
can easily figure out where it's leaving the bottom of the vehicle. That
isn't always where the leak is, of course. But it's a start.




--
gburnore@databasix dot com
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Art wrote:[color=blue]
>
> I don't drive my 2001 Avalon often because it is a rattle box. But it was
> out of the garage today so I could blow the garage dust into the neighbors
> yard (just kidding). Anyway I discover a good size puddle of fresh clean
> oil on the garage floor where the Avalon sits. Oil was changed maybe 6
> weeks ago at the idiot dealership in Raleigh. I go there so I have receipts
> for when the engine sludges up. Anyway I check all fluids and everything is
> up to level. I let the engine run for a while and check underneath for oil
> but there is no sign of a leak at all. So I have only 2 theories. One is
> that there was a leak after the oil change and it sealed itself.... highly
> unlikely. The other is that the dealer poured fresh oil someplace on the
> chasis and it drained onto the garage floor. Also unlikely because the
> dealership is at least 12 miles away and that is assuming I came straight
> home from it which I doubt. Any other theories?[/color]

I've seem oil pool up on cross members and stay in place
until there was a minor change (like you garage floor is at
a slight angle, or you got out of the car, so the angle
changed slightly). It is also possible that the oil pooled
up in one location, and that as you drove, the air flow
under the car "blew" it to another location and that it
leaked from this location.

Since the oil showed up after an oil change, I'd suspect
something related. My number one guess would be the oil
filter.

Ed

I checked today in the garage where the car sat for 24 hours. Not a drop.
Doesn't leak when it runs either. Must have been a lot of oil left on the
chasis during the oil change.


"C. E. White" <cewhite3@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:42554427.90538672@nospam.com...[color=blue]
> Personally, I'd make sure the filter was tight. Can you
> relate the drip location to the car?
>
> Ed
>
> Art wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> I am betting this was 3 or 4 ounces of oil. It was a thick puddle about
>> 6
>> inches wide. Every see that much after a sloppy oil change and driving
>> 12
>> miles from the dealer? If yes, I can rest easy tonight.
>>
>> "ron" <randus3remove@pacbell.net> wrote in message
>> news:zyH4e.17868$zl.12599@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...[color=darkred]
>> > Art, our 98 fairly often and the 02 maybe once a year, will dribble a
>> > bit
>> > of oil after the dealers change it. Apparently some of them are a
>> > slightly clumsy when dropping oil or filter and get some in the
>> > chassis.
>> > I griped about it and it stopped in the 98 but has only happened a
>> > couple
>> > of times in the 02.
>> >
>> > I never really paid too much attention if it is dirty. I have it done
>> > 3000/3 month interval with "lifetime" changes. It hardly gets
>> > discolored.
>> > I use castrol 5-30 by the way.
>> >
>> > Ron
>> >[/color][/color][/color]

On Fri, 08 Apr 2005 01:49:58 GMT, "Art"
<begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I checked today in the garage where the car sat for 24 hours. Not a drop.
>Doesn't leak when it runs either. Must have been a lot of oil left on the
>chasis during the oil change.[/color]

.....or you parked your Crapsler there for a night? <g>
[color=blue]
>
>
>"C. E. White" <cewhite3@nospam.com> wrote in message
>news:42554427.90538672@nospam.com...[color=green]
>> Personally, I'd make sure the filter was tight. Can you
>> relate the drip location to the car?
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> Art wrote:[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> I am betting this was 3 or 4 ounces of oil. It was a thick puddle about
>>> 6
>>> inches wide. Every see that much after a sloppy oil change and driving
>>> 12
>>> miles from the dealer? If yes, I can rest easy tonight.
>>>
>>> "ron" <randus3remove@pacbell.net> wrote in message
>>> news:zyH4e.17868$zl.12599@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>>> > Art, our 98 fairly often and the 02 maybe once a year, will dribble a
>>> > bit
>>> > of oil after the dealers change it. Apparently some of them are a
>>> > slightly clumsy when dropping oil or filter and get some in the
>>> > chassis.
>>> > I griped about it and it stopped in the 98 but has only happened a
>>> > couple
>>> > of times in the 02.
>>> >
>>> > I never really paid too much attention if it is dirty. I have it done
>>> > 3000/3 month interval with "lifetime" changes. It hardly gets
>>> > discolored.
>>> > I use castrol 5-30 by the way.
>>> >
>>> > Ron
>>> >[/color][/color]
>[/color]

--
Scott in Florida

My 300M does not leak a drop of anything even though it has almost 50k miles
on it. Just changed the original 6 year old battery even though it seemed
fine. I did notice that the automatic driver seat glide back that is
triggered after you turn off the car has more ommph now so apparently the
battery had lost capacity. Glad I changed it.


"Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
news:m9qb519fri3fi0anefpmslnap076gpvecq@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Fri, 08 Apr 2005 01:49:58 GMT, "Art"
> <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>I checked today in the garage where the car sat for 24 hours. Not a drop.
>>Doesn't leak when it runs either. Must have been a lot of oil left on the
>>chasis during the oil change.[/color]
>
> ....or you parked your Crapsler there for a night? <g>
>[color=green]
>>
>>
>>"C. E. White" <cewhite3@nospam.com> wrote in message
>>news:42554427.90538672@nospam.com...[color=darkred]
>>> Personally, I'd make sure the filter was tight. Can you
>>> relate the drip location to the car?
>>>
>>> Ed
>>>
>>> Art wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I am betting this was 3 or 4 ounces of oil. It was a thick puddle
>>>> about
>>>> 6
>>>> inches wide. Every see that much after a sloppy oil change and driving
>>>> 12
>>>> miles from the dealer? If yes, I can rest easy tonight.
>>>>
>>>> "ron" <randus3remove@pacbell.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:zyH4e.17868$zl.12599@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>>>> > Art, our 98 fairly often and the 02 maybe once a year, will dribble
>>>> > a
>>>> > bit
>>>> > of oil after the dealers change it. Apparently some of them are a
>>>> > slightly clumsy when dropping oil or filter and get some in the
>>>> > chassis.
>>>> > I griped about it and it stopped in the 98 but has only happened a
>>>> > couple
>>>> > of times in the 02.
>>>> >
>>>> > I never really paid too much attention if it is dirty. I have it
>>>> > done
>>>> > 3000/3 month interval with "lifetime" changes. It hardly gets
>>>> > discolored.
>>>> > I use castrol 5-30 by the way.
>>>> >
>>>> > Ron
>>>> >[/color]
>>[/color]
>
> --
> Scott in Florida[/color]