I hate this city sometimes

[MentalSideArm]

So I am driving down the road yesterday, minding my own business, when i hear a rather loud clunk, look behind me and see an unmarked obscured raised manhole cover... Drive my car back to my friends house and put it out of my mind, only to have a trick or treater say, "something is leaking pretty bad out of that car on the driveway" that "something" is approximately 4ish litres of my oil....
I have no idea what is dammaged, be it the whole oil pan, the plug etc. As I really can't see anything under there, other than where oil is coming from. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, I am looking for ideas. I don't have a ton of money to repair this, and need it done asap as it's my only ride.

HELP!!!
PS... MKIV golf TDI

[stefan]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

george @ tundub did my oil pan when i hit a rock on beddington a few months back. i'd go there for best price. i don't know how something like that goes in terms of possible compensation.

[R_Ethug]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

if it was unmarked as in no paint showing the stupid crap road call the city and make them pay for it.. same goes with potholes.. once they put orange paint by it.. then they are covered but until then

[Compton]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

if it was unmarked as in no paint showing the stupid crap road call the city and make them pay for it.. same goes with potholes.. once they put orange paint by it.. then they are covered but until then

x2

Complain to the city!!

[Khyron]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

Oilpan replacement is about 400-500 bucks.

[niXon]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

Oilpan replacement is about 400-500 bucks.

So glad I drive a MK2.

$30 oilpans FTW!

[RONDAL]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

first: go take a picture of the manhole, make sure to include a reference marker so you can tell how big it is.

second: document everything, including photos of the damage, receipts, EVERYTHING

third: present this to someone at city hall, have your photos printed out on 8x11 so that they are clear.


and for the love of GOD!!! if you EVER hit ANYTHING on the underside of your car turn the key off while driving to kill the engine, coast to the shoulder and inspect. You could have drained your oil and run the engine dry causing thousands of dollars of damage.

[stefan]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

when i took mine to VW on my second oil spilling incident, they asked how long the oil light was on. I said 'a few seconds'. He responded that he had seen it on for up to 45 seconds with no noticeable damage. So yeah.. you don't have a lot of time once you loose pressure. (especially on a turbo'd system). Sounds like yours was a much slower leak though. Mine dropped all 4 litres in about a minute....

[Benjamin]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

Um asap puts you in a little bit of a bind or else I would say go the ebay route. I just put my hybrid pan on my new tdi engine going in or else I would offer it up. Honestly should not cost you 400 as you should be able to source the pan for $150 and do the work yourself. Another option once you get this done is a skid plate!!! $350 before discounts at concept1 and you would not have had this problem again. I have hit sewer grates at 45 km/h with the skidplate, only to have the car ride over it. Here is the hybrid pan that I got, http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volks...f/Engine/149/8
See the prices as well, so $400 sounds a little steep.
Best of luck
Benjamin
PS going after the city is a good idea, I had a 98 bmw come in with a wrecked wheel and some front end damage to the shop to have the city cover it completely. This all was from an unmarked pot hole.

[MentalSideArm]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

Well my oil light didn't come on at all, not even when i hesitantly backed the car onto the street to clean up the oil spill on my buddy's driveway. I am too afraid to turn it on again, but the oil was JUST starting to leak out (after 10 mins of driving and being parked for about an hour) when i was told there was a problem. So I am starting to think the leak is a rather small one, but large enough to let all the oil out. Anyone know of a good tow service?

[nordex]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

I would get a friend who has ama and get them there. If they say they were with you and the car just broke down your covered under theyre membership but they have to have been there and claim they were driving.

Second, go take pictures immediatly .

[FlyBoy]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

My gf hit an unmarked pot hole that destroyed the rim and tire on her Mazda 3 on Country Hills by the Superstore at Sarcee. Called the city to report it, and submitted pics and reciepts to the city. She got a letter back from their legal department that said they are only responsible damage caused by potholes that have been reported but not marked, and her call was their first indication that there was a pothole so they won't pay for anything. What a crock.

[Stonewall]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

Sorry to hear about your luck but it does sound like you now belong in the "should have bought a skidplate" club. I payed just over $300 for mine and it has more then likely saved me double that already. My bet is you have a crack in the pan since it took a while to leak out. Do not start the car again unless you want to be buying a new engine. The hybrid metal/alum oil pan is going to be the cheapest route to go but as I am sure Stefan can tell you it still won't be cheap.

[stefan]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

it still won't be cheap

[MentalSideArm]

Re: I hate this city sometimes

I talked to George @ Tunedub, and being the awesome guy he is, said he would fit it in to his overbooked shop in a same day service and charge me a very good rate including an oil change!
Thanks for the help guys!
I took pics of the place it happened and called 311 talked to someone and they are setting up a claim once I send in a written version of what happened. so hopefully they are picking up the tab!