Questions and Answers

Aerostar Oil Leak

Q. I have a 1994 Ford Aerostar with a 3.0 liter engine that started to leak a fair amount of oil recently, about a quart every couple of weeks. It has about 70,000 miles on it and is driven 100 - 150 miles a week. The oil seams to be leaking from the front of the engine. I received a quote of $450.00 from a local shop for the repair.

Does the engine need to be lifted to do the job? Why would it be so expensive? Is this a repair that the weekend mechanic could do or should it be taken to a repair shop?

Thanks for your advice in advance,
Jim

A. The engine doesn't necessarily need to be lifted to do the job, but it does entail a lot of work in either case. If the leak is from the front crankshaft seal as I suspect it is, then $450.00 is not out of line. That engine is crammed in there pretty tight and there is a lot of stuff that has to be taken off to get to the lower crankshaft pulley. Then the pulley has to be removed, the seal replaced and put back together.

Is this a job for the weekend mechanic? That is always tough to answer because skill levels vary. To illustrate this I had a guy walk in and said his car wouldn't start. He described the problem and I told him it sounded like the alternator was bad. So he purchased an alternator from me and went home to put it in. He came back about two hours later and said he put the new alternator in and the car still wouldn't start. I asked him if he charged the battery and he replied; "No., You gotta do that?"

As I always suggest when asked this question, go to the library and read the steps involved in doing the job. if, after reading up on it, you feel you are up to the challenge, then go for it. If you feel it's too much for you, then take it in and have it done. if you decide to do it, allow yourself plenty of time. It would take a professional a full day to do it, so you can figure on spending. at least, twice that long to do it.