SportKa MOT advisories question - oil leak

salubrious

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Or, it could be a perfectly decent little Ka with a holed radiator. Being worth a few hundred quid versus a few hundred grand doesn't make it more likely to get a stone through the rad, or develop corrosion in the core.

If it's just the radiator, get a new one chucked in and keep on driving.

Read the thread, it's been a catalogue of problems, and some of those problems have only had temp repairs done to them.

There does come a point when its time to move things on, but by all means, the op can take your advice, and pop a radiator on it (if it is even that) and carry on until the next problem rears its head.

BeenThroughItAll

salubrious wrote: »

Read the thread, it's been a catalogue of problems, and some of those problems have only had temp repairs done to them.

There does come a point when its time to move things on, but by all means, the op can take your advice, and pop a radiator on it (if it is even that) and carry on until the next problem rears its head.

I have read the thread, and played an active part in it thanks. A temporary repair to rusty sills might have given the car another year. It's passed its MOT earlier this year anyway.

New lambda sensor? Not unusual on any vehicle.
Light switch? These things happen.
Bulbs? Erm...
Buckled wheel and coil spring? Even brand new cars aren't immune to potholes you know.

As far as I can tell, there's not been anything wrong with this Ka that couldn't be wrong with any 10yo car. Unless the OP wants to buy a brand new car with a warranty, repair costs are inevitable - but even brand new cars can end up costing you money when things aren't 'wear and tear', plus depreciation, etc.

This Ka sounds like cheap enough motoring to me, and the OP clearly likes it.

AliceBanned

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I have read the thread, and played an active part in it thanks. A temporary repair to rusty sills might have given the car another year. It's passed its MOT earlier this year anyway.

New lambda sensor? Not unusual on any vehicle.
Light switch? These things happen.
Bulbs? Erm...
Buckled wheel and coil spring? Even brand new cars aren't immune to potholes you know.

As far as I can tell, there's not been anything wrong with this Ka that couldn't be wrong with any 10yo car. Unless the OP wants to buy a brand new car with a warranty, repair costs are inevitable - but even brand new cars can end up costing you money when things aren't 'wear and tear', plus depreciation, etc.

This Ka sounds like cheap enough motoring to me, and the OP clearly likes it.

Thanks BeenThroughItAll. Some people just see the worst in every situation. The whole point of the thread is trying to find that balance between keeping an old car and moving on, and I appreciate your balanced opinion.


The mechanic is coming round at 11am tomorrow - will report back.


It's hard when all these things happen at once but as you said, most of them are just wear and tear or back luck. It is the inconvenience of things more than anything.

AliceBanned

salubrious wrote: »

Let's face it, it's a money pit.

Well you don't even know what the problem is yet, so how can you can't really say that. It is no more a money pit than any car - probably most of them are but we have to get around.

AliceBanned

I meant 'you can't really say that'.

AliceBanned

BTW I realised (doh) that the liquid has covered several parts underneath because it was still emptying when it was hoisted up to be towed away. I put newspaper underneath it last night to try to find out which area the leak was from but most of it has drained out so only got a few rust-coloured spots on the newspaper, towards the front offside.

Robisere

A bit late with this, but as a retired workshop foreman, I can add some advice that may help others regarding oil leaks. If the filter is suspected, find it before you drive anywhere, use a clean bit of old rag and wipe all round the filter. After getting home, let it cool down, then look again. If it's dry, not the filter. Mostly it's from higher up, usuallythe camshaft cover seal. Always use a sheet of material under an old car to spot leaks.

Oil and filter changes are not recommended before 12,000 miles for most cars nowadays, but that does not take the age of an engine into account. Make it 6,000 miles and you will be helping that old engine to stay younger, longer.

AliceBanned

Robisere wrote: »

A bit late with this, but as a retired workshop foreman, I can add some advice that may help others regarding oil leaks. If the filter is suspected, find it before you drive anywhere, use a clean bit of old rag and wipe all round the filter. After getting home, let it cool down, then look again. If it's dry, not the filter. Mostly it's from higher up, usuallythe camshaft cover seal. Always use a sheet of material under an old car to spot leaks.

Oil and filter changes are not recommended before 12,000 miles for most cars nowadays, but that does not take the age of an engine into account. Make it 6,000 miles and you will be helping that old engine to stay younger, longer.

Thanks - that makes mine due an oil change soon. This problem is not oil - it is definitely the coolant that has leaked out.

arcon5

At this point in its life an oil change isn't that critical tbh. The engine is now likely to outlive the chassis anyway even if you never change it hereon

s_b

my opinion is as suggested is to stop throwing money at this car
ive had enough ka.s through my hands to know when they need shooting